Scotland
Drake Law
484M
1588FT
About Drake Law
Situated in the rolling Southern Uplands near Crawford, this grassy hump offers a quiet vantage point overlooking the M74 corridor. Part of the Lowther Hills, its rounded summit provides a broad perspective of the Evan Water valley and the higher, radar-crowned peaks of the range to the west.
Key Statistics
Rank
276th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
118m
Nearest Town
Glencaple
Geology
Beneath your feet lies the Kirkcolm Formation. This landscape is shaped from a gritty, muddy sandstone known as wacke.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS906220
Latitude
55.4798°N
Longitude
3.7323°W
Did You Know?
- •The name follows the common Southern Uplands convention where 'Law' derives from the Old English 'hlāw', meaning a prominent, rounded hill. 'Drake' likely refers to the presence of wildfowl in the surrounding mosses or a local family name.
- •From the summit, walkers gain an excellent view across the valley to Culter Fell, the highest point in South Lanarkshire, which dominates the skyline to the north-east.
- •The hill is often grouped with its neighbours, Rome Hill and Mid Hill, to create a circular route that stays high above the deep-cut glens of the Lowther range.
- •Its position provides a unique perspective on the Southern Upland Way as it passes through the nearby village of Beattock, though the hill itself sits just outside the official long-distance path.
- •The summit offers a rare opportunity to enjoy the silence of the hills while watching the frantic pulse of Scottish commerce on the motorway 300 metres below.