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.

• •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.