Meikledodd Hill

Sitting on the high ridge east of the Afton Reservoir, this rounded summit is a characterful part of the Carsphairn Hills. Its grassy slopes offer a quieter alternative to the more popular Blacklorg Hill nearby, providing expansive views across the Southern Uplands towards the Rhinns of Kells and the rolling Ayrshire moors.

• •The name is derived from the Scots word 'meikle', meaning large or great, and 'dodd', a term frequently used in the Southern Uplands and the Borders to describe a rounded, bare hill.
• •It is a key feature of the 'Afton Horseshoe', a demanding high-level circuit that traverses the ridges surrounding the Afton Reservoir and the headwaters of the River Afton.
• •The summit offers a clear perspective of the Galloway Forest Park to the south, with the granite peaks of the Merrick and the Dungeon Hills visible on a clear day.
• •The hill lies close to the historic county boundary between Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire, marking part of the high watershed that separates the northern and southern drainage systems of this range.
• •Despite being named 'Meikle' (Great), the hill is significantly overtopped by its immediate neighbour Blacklorg, proving that in the Southern Uplands, size is relative to which glen you are standing in.