Scotland
Skelfhill Pen
532M
1745FT
About Skelfhill Pen
This steep, conical peak brings a welcome bit of character to the rolling Teviotdale skyline. Climbing sharply from the valley floor near Skelfhill farm, the summit provides a fine vantage point over the remote Southern Uplands, with particularly clear views of the sprawling, peat-covered plateau of neighbouring Cauldcleuch Head.
Key Statistics
Rank
249th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
103m
Nearest Town
Frostley Burn
Geology
You are climbing the remains of an ancient volcanic vent. The summit features rare volcanic rocks, while the surrounding slopes are made of hard, muddy sandstone.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT441030
Latitude
55.3188°N
Longitude
2.8815°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a linguistic blend; 'Skelf' likely derives from the Old English 'scelf', meaning a shelf or ledge, while 'Pen' is the Cumbric word for hill or headland, reflecting the mixed Celtic and Saxon heritage of the Scottish Borders.
- •Despite its modest height, the hill is far more visually prominent than its higher parent peak, Cauldcleuch Head, due to its isolated position and sharply tapering slopes that dominate the view from the A7 south of Hawick.
- •The hill is frequently climbed as part of a circuit starting from the head of the Teviot, often combined with a visit to the Nine Stone Rig, a prehistoric standing stone circle situated on the moorland to the north-east.
- •The steep northern lee of the Pen provides one of the few spots in this exposed stretch of the Southern Uplands where you can reliably unfold a paper map without it immediately attempting to fly back to Hawick.