Scotland
Colt Hill
598M
1962FT
About Colt Hill
Tucked away in the quiet Carsphairn Hills, this 598m summit offers a classic Southern Uplands experience of rolling grass and solitude. Often climbed alongside its higher neighbour, Blackcraig Hill, it provides clear views over the Afton Reservoir and the sprawling wind farms that characterise this remote, wind-swept corner of Scotland.
Key Statistics
Rank
75th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
245m
Nearest Town
Polskeoch
Geology
The ground here is part of the Portpatrick Formation. It consists of wacke, a rugged and muddy sandstone that originally formed on an ancient seafloor.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NX698990
Latitude
55.2680°N
Longitude
4.0495°W
Did You Know?
- •The summit marks a point on the boundary between Dumfries and Galloway and East Ayrshire, making it a literal border crossing for hillwalkers.
- •It is frequently tackled as part of a high-level circuit starting from Glen Afton, usually paired with Blackcraig Hill and the 635m summit of Meaul.
- •The summit offers a distinct perspective of the Afton Reservoir to the north, a body of water immortalised by Robert Burns in his poem 'Sweet Afton'.
- •Falling just two metres short of the 600m mark, it narrowly misses out on Graham status, remaining instead a primary target for those ticking off Scotland’s Marilyns.
- •The 'Colt' in the name is thought to refer to a young horse, reflecting the area's long history of upland grazing and livestock farming.
- •In typical Southern Uplands fashion, the most challenging part of the ascent isn't the gradient, but navigating the wet, mossy 'hags' that guard the cols between summits.