Scotland
Earl's Seat
578M
1896FT
About Earl's Seat
As the high point of the Campsie Fells, this broad, peaty plateau offers an expansive perspective over Central Scotland. The climb from Strathblane via Dumgoyne provides a sharp contrast between that iconic volcanic plug and the undulating, often boggy moorland leading to the summit trig point.
Key Statistics
Rank
23rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Scotland
Prominence
?
511m
Nearest Town
Blanefield
Geology
You are walking on ancient layers of cooled lava and hardened volcanic ash. These basalt rocks and fragments form the rugged foundation of Earl’s Seat.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS569838
Latitude
56.0257°N
Longitude
4.2963°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely commemorates the Earls of Lennox, the historic landowners who held sway over the surrounding territory from the 12th century.
- •The summit view is defined by the Highland Boundary Fault; looking north, the landscape transforms from the rolling Lowlands into the rugged peaks of the Southern Highlands, with Ben Lomond standing prominently to the northwest.
- •While the lower slopes are often busy with walkers heading for the shapely peak of Dumgoyne, the push to Earl’s Seat involves navigating a mile-long ridge of notorious peat hags that stay damp long after the rain has stopped.
- •At 578 metres, it is the highest point in the Campsie Fells, and its status as a Marilyn is a result of its significant prominence over the surrounding glens of Strathblane and Fintry.
- •The walk serves as a stark reminder that topographical prominence and underfoot drainage have absolutely no correlation.