Scotland
Smidhope Hill
644M
2113FT
About Smidhope Hill
Rising as a broad, grassy shoulder within the Ettrick Hills, this high Tump offers a quiet, pathless experience characteristic of the Southern Uplands. Situated on the ridge between Croft Head and Capel Fell, it provides a sense of deep isolation and expansive views over the remote Moffat Water valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
66th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
33.4m
Nearest Town
Potburn
Geology
The ground beneath you is the Selcoth Formation. These hills are built from ancient, hardened layers of sand and mud, known as sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT168076
Latitude
55.3560°N
Longitude
3.3137°W
Did You Know?
- •The name incorporates the Old English term 'hope', which describes a small, secluded valley or a hollow in the hills. This suffix is ubiquitous across the Ettrick and Yarrow valleys, marking the landscape's deep history of Anglo-Saxon settlement.
- •Access is often gained via the Selcoth Burn to the west, where a steady climb leads onto the high ridge connecting the hill with its loftier neighbour, Capel Fell.
- •The summit offers a clear, unobstructed view across the deep trough of the Moffat Water to the high plateau of White Coomb and the dramatic hanging valley of the Grey Mare’s Tail.
- •Navigating the summit area is a masterclass in Southern Upland walking, where the primary challenge is not the gradient, but finding a dry line through the ubiquitous and surprisingly deep peat hags.