Jock's Shoulder

A grassy summit in the Ettrick Hills rising to 536 metres, offering straightforward walking over rolling Border terrain. The unusual name invites speculation, though its precise origin remains uncertain. The hill forms part of a higher ridge system and serves as a satisfying objective for those exploring this quieter corner of the Southern Uplands.

• •The name 'Jock's Shoulder' most likely derives from Scots dialect, where 'Jock' is a familiar form of John and 'shoulder' describes a rounded spur or ridge feature extending from a higher summit—suggesting this hill may have been associated with a particular landowner or shepherd.
• •The hill qualifies as a Dodd, a classification for Scottish hills between 2000 and 2999 feet with at least 15 metres of prominence, making it part of a list completed by hillwalkers seeking out the quieter corners of Scotland's lower ranges.
• •Jock's Shoulder sits within the Ettrick Hills, a remote and less-frequented range that stretches between the Ettrick and Yarrow valleys—traditional Border country once shaped by sheep farming and raids between Scottish and English clans.