Scotland
Saddle Yoke
736M
2413FT
About Saddle Yoke
Standing as a dramatic, grassy twin-peak in the Moffat Hills, this summit marks the southern end of the narrowest ridge in the Southern Uplands. Flanked by the steep-sided troughs of Blackhope and Carrifran, it offers an exhilarating sense of exposure and a steep, direct ascent from the Moffat Water valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
20th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
30.3m
Nearest Town
Saddle Yoke
Geology
You are walking on the Queensberry Formation. This landscape is made from layers of sand, mud, and rounded stones that compressed into solid rock.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT144123
Latitude
55.3980°N
Longitude
3.3530°W
Did You Know?
- •The name describes the mountain's profile; a 'yoke' refers to the wooden beam used to couple oxen, reflecting how the narrow ridge joins this summit to its higher twin, Under Saddle Yoke.
- •While the Southern Uplands are typically characterised by rolling plateaus, the crest between the two Yokes is remarkably sharp, making it the narrowest summit ridge in the region.
- •The hill is a highlight of the Hart Fell Horseshoe, a classic high-level circuit that encircles the deep glacial corries of the Blackhope Burn.
- •From the top, you look directly down into the Carrifran Glen, where a major long-term ecological project is restoring native woodland to the once-bare slopes.
- •A defunct electric fence line crosses the ridge just north of the summit; it has not seen a current for forty years, serving now only as a weathered navigational aid.