Scotland
Birkscairn Hill
662M
2171FT
About Birkscairn Hill
Often serving as the introductory climb for the expansive Dun Rig horseshoe near Peebles, this broad, heather-clad Donald offers a steady pull from the Glensax burn. It marks the transition from the lower valley slopes to the high, rolling plateau that characterises the wilder heart of the Manor Hills.
Key Statistics
Rank
61st Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
61.9m
Nearest Town
Peebles
Geology
You are walking across layers of muddy sandstone known as wacke. These sturdy rocks form the solid foundation of the hill beneath your boots.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT274331
Latitude
55.5867°N
Longitude
3.1522°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Scots word 'birk', meaning birch tree, suggesting that these hardy trees once colonised the lower slopes of the hill more extensively than they do today.
- •As the lowest summit in the Southern Uplands to be classified as a Donald, it is frequently used as the gateway to the classic 'Dun Rig Horseshoe' circuit, which begins south of Peebles.
- •The summit provides a clear perspective of the winding River Tweed and the town of Peebles to the north, contrasted against the bulk of the Moorfoot Hills on the far horizon.
- •The terrain is dominated by thick heather and peat hags; while the path is generally firm, a damp day can quickly transform the approach into a masterclass in Southern Upland bog-trotting.