Scotland
Spartleton
468M
1535FT
About Spartleton
Rising as a prominent high point in the Lammermuir Hills, this broad, heather-clad dome offers a quintessential Southern Uplands experience. The summit provides a sense of immense space, overlooking the nearby Whiteadder Reservoir and offering a clear sightline across the East Lothian coast to the distinctive profile of the Bass Rock.
Key Statistics
Rank
443rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
156m
Nearest Town
Millknowe
Geology
You are walking over the Gala Group, a foundation of wacke. This is a gritty, muddy sandstone formed by layers of sediment on an ancient seabed.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT653655
Latitude
55.8818°N
Longitude
2.5559°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Scots word 'sprit' or 'spret', referring to the tough, jointed rushes that dominate much of the surrounding moorland.
- •From the summit, you can see the expansive Crystal Rig Wind Farm to the west, which contrasts sharply with the ancient, quiet ruins of Gamelshiel Castle in the valley below.
- •On a clear day, the view extends southwards across the Merse to the long, dark line of the Cheviot Hills marking the Anglo-Scottish border.
- •The ascent is often made from the Whiteadder Reservoir, following old estate tracks that offer a steady, if occasionally boggy, introduction to these rolling uplands.
- •It is a hill that rewards those who enjoy solitude, as you are frequently more likely to share the summit with a circling red kite than another walker.