Hods Hill

Rising above the M74 corridor near Elvanfoot, this rounded Southern Upland peak offers a quiet alternative to the busier masts of Lowther Hill. Its Marilyn status ensures a sense of isolation and expansive views over the Daer Valley and towards the distant, bulky profile of Culter Fell across the Clyde valley.

• •The name likely derives from the Scots word 'hod', meaning a hiding place or a shelter, or perhaps a corruption of a personal name common to the Border Reivers who once frequented these valleys.
• •From the summit, the eye is drawn north to the distinct, isolated cone of Tinto, while to the south-east, the waters of the Daer Reservoir sit cradled within the surrounding Lowther ridges.
• •Despite its modest height of 569 metres, its classification as a Marilyn—a hill with at least 150 metres of prominence—ensures it stands with a surprising degree of independence from its neighbours.
• •Its proximity to the M74 motorway provides the rare therapeutic pleasure of watching the nation's traffic flow from a distance while you stand in total, boggy stillness.