Erie Hill

Rising steeply above the Talla Water, this compact Donald offers a classic Southern Upland experience of rounded, grassy slopes and wide horizons. The summit provides an excellent vantage point for surveying the deep trench of the Talla Reservoir and the nearby sprawling mass of Broad Law across the glen.

• •The name is thought to derive from the Gaelic 'àirigh', referring to a shieling or summer hill pasture, a reminder of the centuries-old tradition of driving livestock to higher ground during the warmer months.
• •The most direct approach involves a stiff climb from Talla Linnfoots, often combined with the neighbouring Talla Cleuch Head to complete a satisfying horseshoe around the head of the reservoir.
• •The summit offers a clear perspective on the Talla Reservoir's dam and the dramatic glacial carving of the Games Hope valley, which cuts deep into the surrounding moorland.
• •To qualify as a Donald, Erie Hill must be a summit in the Scottish Lowlands over 2,000 feet; it sits comfortably in this category, distinguished by its relatively sharp profile compared to its bulkier neighbours.
• •While the climb from the north is undeniably efficient, the local terrain ensures that your boots will likely remain damp long after you have descended back to the valley floor.