Scotland
Whitehope Law
623M
2044FT
About Whitehope Law
Tucked away from the main Moorfoot ridge, this rounded Donald offers a quieter alternative to the popular nearby summits. The ascent from the B709 involves steady, heather-clad slopes that are often damp underfoot. From the summit trig point, the views are surprisingly extensive, stretching across the Leithen Water toward the Tweedsmuir Hills.
Key Statistics
Rank
82nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
66m
Nearest Town
Innerleithen
Geology
Whitehope Law rests on Gala Unit rocks known as wacke. These are gritty, muddy sandstones formed by ancient sediment flows on the ocean floor.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT330445
Latitude
55.6900°N
Longitude
3.0668°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from Whitehope Farm at the hill's southern foot. The term 'hope' is common across the Southern Uplands, originating from the Old English 'hop', describing a small, enclosed side-valley.
- •The summit is marked by an Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar, providing a necessary navigational handrail on a broad, featureless plateau that can be disorienting in thick hill fog.
- •It is frequently climbed as part of a longer circuit including Blackhope Scar, though the crossing between the two is well-known for deep peat hags and heavy, energy-sapping terrain.
- •Looking south-east from the summit, the three distinct volcanic peaks of the Eildon Hills near Melrose are clearly visible, standing out against the gentler curves of the Borders landscape.
- •If you manage to return to the B709 with dry socks, you have performed a minor miracle; the peat hags on the northern approach are famously unforgiving to those with anything less than watertight footwear.