Scotland
Knowes Hill
374M
1227FT
About Knowes Hill
Situated on the northern fringe of the Moorfoot Hills, this rounded heathery dome overlooks the expansive waters of Gladhouse Reservoir. It offers a quiet, often trackless ascent typical of the Borders, rewarding walkers with a clear perspective across the Lothian plain towards the distant skylines of Edinburgh and the Pentlands.
Key Statistics
Rank
644th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
100.6m
Nearest Town
Clovenfords
Geology
You are walking on the Gala Group, a foundation made of a type of gritty, muddy sandstone.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT437383
Latitude
55.6351°N
Longitude
2.8953°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Knowe' is a Scots term for a knoll or small hill, stemming from the Old English 'cnoll', which accurately describes this modest, rounded summit.
- •The hill provides an excellent vantage point over Gladhouse Reservoir to the northwest, a protected site that serves as one of the most important wintering grounds for pink-footed geese in southeast Scotland.
- •To the south, the horizon is filled by the higher, rolling ridges of the Moorfoot plateau, with the nearby peak of Dundreich clearly visible across the valley of the South Esk.
- •Despite its modest stature, it is classified as a Hump, meaning it has a drop of at least 100 metres on all sides, giving it a surprising degree of independence from the main Moorfoot range.
- •The summit is a place of such reliable solitude that the local red grouse often seem genuinely surprised to encounter anyone who isn't there to check a fence line.