Scotland
Deer Law
629M
2064FT
About 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.
Key Statistics
Rank
76th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
40m
Nearest Town
Cappercleuch
Geology
You are walking on the Queensberry Formation, a sturdy mix of hardened mud, sand, and compressed pebbles that shapes this landscape.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT222255
Latitude
55.5175°N
Longitude
3.2323°W
Did You Know?
- •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.
