Scotland
Chapelgill Hill
698M
2289FT
About Chapelgill Hill
Rising steeply above the A702 south of Biggar, this prominent Southern Upland peak offers a brisk, direct ascent on grass. It is most often visited as part of a high-level circuit with Culter Fell, providing clear views across the Upper Tweed Valley towards the Moffat Hills.
Key Statistics
Rank
35th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
108.5m
Nearest Town
Nisbet
Geology
Chapelgill Hill is built from the Kirkcolm Formation, a sturdy layer of muddy sandstone. These durable rocks form the solid foundation you are standing on today.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT067303
Latitude
55.5581°N
Longitude
3.4805°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Middle English 'chapel' and the Old Norse 'gil', referring to a narrow, steep-sided ravine. This likely describes the sharp valley of Chapel Gill which bites into the hill’s northwestern flank.
- •As a Donald—a classification of Scottish Lowland hills over 2,000 feet—it is a staple for those ticking off the Southern Upland summits, often paired with its higher neighbour, Culter Fell.
- •The summit offers a commanding vantage point over the Upper Tweed Valley, with the distinct, isolated mass of Tinto visible to the northwest and the higher, rolling plateau of Broad Law across the valley to the southeast.
- •The hill's smooth, steep western face is a well-known site for paragliding, providing excellent lift for pilots launching into the prevailing winds of the Southern Uplands.
- •The ascent from the north is essentially a vertical wall of grass that doesn't believe in zig-zags, ensuring your calves remain fully engaged for every second of the climb.