Scotland
Lochcraig Head
801M
2627FT
About Lochcraig Head
Guarding the northern edge of the Moffat Hills, this steep-sided Donald provides the range’s most dramatic scenery. While much of the surrounding upland is rounded and grassy, this summit perches directly above the crags of Loch Skeen, offering a rugged, airy feel that contrasts with the area's more typical rolling plateaus.
Key Statistics
Rank
8th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
108m
Nearest Town
Meggethead
Geology
You are walking across the Queensberry Formation. These hills are made of layers of compressed sand, fine mud, and stones packed with smooth pebbles.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT166177
Latitude
55.4465°N
Longitude
3.3190°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a literal Scots description of the hill's geography, marking it as the high point or 'head' of the crags that overlook Loch Skeen.
- •The hill forms the dramatic backdrop to Loch Skeen, the highest significant body of water in the Southern Uplands; the loch’s outflow creates the 60-metre Grey Mare’s Tail, one of the UK's loftiest waterfalls.
- •It is usually climbed as part of a classic horseshoe circuit starting from the A708, often paired with its higher neighbour White Coomb via the 'Midlaw' ridge.
- •The summit offers a clear view north-east across the remote Ettrick Forest, while looking south-west provides a perfect profile of the 'Black Trough,' a deep glacial corrie carved into the side of the neighbouring hills.
- •While the views into the corrie are spectacular, the summit itself is a masterpiece of Southern Upland peat hags and wire fencing, requiring some nimble footwork to reach the actual highest point.
- •In the 19th century, the cliffs below the summit were one of the last breeding strongholds for Peregrine falcons in the region before their population faced significant historical declines.