Scotland
Cairnkinna Hill
554M
1818FT
About Cairnkinna Hill
Rising above the quiet glens of Shinnel and Scaur, this grassy Southern Uplands summit offers a sense of profound isolation. As the highest point of the Scaur Hills, its broad, wind-scoured slopes provide an expansive vantage point over the Lowther Hills and the distant, rugged profile of the Galloway Forest Park.
Key Statistics
Rank
124th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
163m
Nearest Town
Sanquhar
Geology
This hill is built from layers of hardened mud and gritty sandstone, creating the solid ground beneath your boots today.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS791018
Latitude
55.2960°N
Longitude
3.9057°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Gaelic carn (cairn) and ceann (head or end), marking its position as the prominent 'head' above the deep valleys of the Scaur and Shinnel waters.
- •It is the highest point of the Scaur Hills, a sub-range of the Southern Uplands that remains significantly quieter than the nearby Moffat or Lowther ranges.
- •The summit offers a direct line of sight to the distinctive white radar dome on Great Lowther to the northeast and the sprawling Galloway Forest peaks to the west.
- •Most ascents involve crossing the Southern Upland Way, which skirts the lower slopes of the hill near the remote bothy at Polskeoch.
- •Given the terrain, the local sheep usually outnumber hillwalkers by a factor of roughly fifty to one, making it an ideal choice for those who find other people a bit much.