Scotland
Blacklorg Hill
681M
2234FT
About Blacklorg Hill
Rising above the eastern shores of Afton Reservoir, this broad Southern Upland Donald offers a quiet, often boggy experience. It forms part of the high rim surrounding Glen Afton, frequently tackled alongside neighboring Alhang. The summit is a sprawling, grassy plateau, characteristic of the remote and undulating Carsphairn range.
Key Statistics
Rank
29th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
148.1m
Nearest Town
East Ayrshire
Geology
The hill is built from hard, gritty sandstone known as wacke. These sturdy rocks from the Galdenoch and Kirkcolm formations form the rugged foundation beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS653042
Latitude
55.3138°N
Longitude
4.1226°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Gaelic word 'lorg', meaning a track, footprint, or ridge, combined with the Scots 'black' to describe the dark, heathery appearance of its slopes.
- •It is a central point on the Afton Horseshoe, a high-level circuit that encircles the Afton Water and provides expansive views toward the Galloway Hills to the west.
- •The summit offers a bird's-eye view of the Afton Reservoir, which sits in the valley immortalised by Robert Burns in his 1789 poem, 'Flow Gently, Sweet Afton'.
- •Despite its height and Donald classification, the plateau is notoriously featureless in mist; the fence line running near the summit often serves as the most reliable navigational aid for walkers.
- •The terrain is a classic example of Southern Upland peat hags, ensuring that even in a dry summer, the 'Black' in its name can just as easily refer to the colour of the mud on your gaiters.