Scotland
Cairnoch Hill
414M
1357FT
About Cairnoch Hill
Sitting within the Kilsyth Hills, this modest Central Scotland summit offers a straightforward walk over often-boggy moorland. Reaching 413.5m, it is crowned by a trig pillar providing clear perspectives over the Carron Valley Reservoir and the neighbouring bulky silhouette of Meikle Bin to the west.
Key Statistics
Rank
92nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Scotland
Prominence
?
123.1m
Nearest Town
Stirling
Geology
This hill is built from ancient layers of lava. These volcanic rocks contain a mix of large and tiny crystals, revealing the hill's fiery origins.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS697856
Latitude
56.0463°N
Longitude
4.0932°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is rooted in the Gaelic carn, meaning a stony hill or cairn, with the added Scots suffix "-och" suggesting a place characterised by these features.
- •The summit provides a grandstand view of the Carron Valley Reservoir, an expansive body of water created in the late 1930s to provide water for the Stirling and Falkirk areas.
- •It is often included in a circular route through the Carron Valley forest, serving as a quieter, less-trodden alternative or extension to the popular ascent of nearby Meikle Bin.
- •Despite its modest height, the hill is a Hump (Hundred Metre Prominence), meaning it stands out significantly from the surrounding undulating moorland of the Kilsyth Hills.
- •Given the terrain, the "stony hill" implied by its name is often hidden beneath a thick, squelchy layer of moss and peat, making waterproof boots far more essential than climbing shoes.