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.

• •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.