The Wiss

Rising steeply above the southern shores of St Mary’s Loch, this prominent Southern Upland dome offers a classic Borders experience. Its broad, grassy slopes provide a straightforward but steep climb, rewarding walkers with an exceptional bird's-eye perspective over the narrow col separating the Loch of the Lowes from its larger neighbor.

• •The name likely derives from the Old English 'wisc', meaning a meadow or marshy land, a reference to the damp ground typically found on the lower slopes near the loch side.
• •From the summit, the view south is dominated by the rugged Moffat Hills, specifically the high plateau of White Coomb and the deep trench containing the Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall.
• •The hill serves as a prominent landmark for travellers on the A708, the historic route linking Selkirk and Moffat that runs through the heart of the Yarrow Valley.
• •It is often climbed alongside Ward Law to the south, forming a high-level ridge walk that stays above the 500-metre contour for much of its duration.
• •The ascent from the vicinity of the Tibbie Shiels Inn is famously direct, ensuring that while the walk is short, your calf muscles will have plenty of time to contemplate the gradient.