Deer Law

Standing in the quiet heart of the Manor Hills, this rounded Southern Upland summit offers a classic Borders walking experience. Often overlooked for its higher neighbour, Dollar Law, it provides a fine vantage point over the deep Glenrath Hope and the long, winding Manor Valley stretching north toward Peebles.

• •The name 'Law' is a common Scots term for a prominent, often rounded hill, derived from the Old English 'hlāw'. The 'Deer' prefix likely reflects its historical status as part of the extensive hunting grounds that once characterised the Southern Uplands.
• •The summit serves as an excellent grandstand for observing the dramatic horseshoe of hills encircling the Glenrath Burn, with the massive, antenna-topped bulk of Broad Law clearly visible to the southwest.
• •Deer Law is most frequently climbed as part of a high-level ridge circuit from the Manor Valley, typically linked with Stob Law and the higher Dollar Law via the long, undulating fence lines that define these ridges.
• •Like many summits in the Borders, the top is marked by a wire boundary fence; these long-running markers serve as invaluable navigation aids when the thick mists common to the Manor Hills roll in.
• •While the name suggests a high probability of spotting local wildlife, a modern visitor is significantly more likely to encounter a sturdy galvanised fence and a patch of damp peat than a majestic stag.