Scotland
Shiel Dod
668M
2191FT
About Shiel Dod
Rising in the southern folds of the Lowther Hills, this grassy, rounded summit offers a quieter perspective than its better-known neighbours. The terrain is classic Southern Upland—soft underfoot and often pathless—providing a fine vantage point to survey the deep grain of the Potrail Water valley and the radar-capped heights of Lowther Hill.
Key Statistics
Rank
35th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
25.4m
Nearest Town
Durisdeer
Geology
Shiel Dod is built from the Gala Unit 4. This foundation consists of wacke, a type of sandstone made from a mixture of sand and mud.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS947032
Latitude
55.3122°N
Longitude
3.6601°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Scots 'shiel', meaning a summer hut or pasture, combined with 'dod', a term common in the Southern Uplands for a rounded, blunt hill.
- •The hill sits above the headwaters of the Potrail Water, a significant stream that flows north to join the Daer Water, eventually forming the River Clyde.
- •The summit offers an excellent, unobstructed view across to the Daer Reservoir and the high, rolling plateau of the Southern Uplands extending toward the Moffat Hills.
- •In a range dominated by the massive 'golf ball' radar station on nearby Lowther Hill, Shiel Dod provides the rare local luxury of feeling like you aren’t being monitored by civil aviation authorities.