Scotland
Blackcraig Hill
701M
2300FT
About Blackcraig Hill
Rising above the head of Glen Afton, this bulky moorland Graham is the highest point in the Carsphairn Hills. Its broad, grassy slopes offer a straightforward but substantial climb from New Cumnock, rewarding walkers with a feeling of immense space and isolation characteristic of the Southern Uplands.
Key Statistics
Rank
20th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
235m
Nearest Town
New Cumnock
Geology
The ground beneath you consists of hard, gritty sandstone from the Blackcraig and Kirkcolm formations, creating the rugged landscape you see today.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS647064
Latitude
55.3331°N
Longitude
4.1334°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a literal description of the dark, rocky outcrops on its steeper slopes, combining the English 'black' with the Scots 'craig', derived from the Gaelic creag, meaning a crag or rocky place.
- •The hill overlooks the Afton Water, a river immortalised by Robert Burns in his poem 'Sweet Afton'; the valley provides the most popular approach route via the Afton Reservoir.
- •The summit offers a commanding perspective over the Southern Uplands; on clear days, look south-west to see the granite peaks of the Galloway Forest Park, including Merrick and the Rhinns of Kells.
- •As a Donald, it ranks among the more significant summits in the Scottish Lowlands and is frequently bagged alongside its neighbour, Blacklorg Hill, as part of a high-level circuit.
- •Navigation on the broad plateau is famously aided by a series of sturdy fence lines, which serve as a reliable handrail for walkers when the Ayrshire mist rolls in.