Scotland
Wisp Hill
595M
1952FT
About Wisp Hill
Rising steeply above the A7 at Mosspaul, this bulky Southern Upland hill offers a straightforward but strenuous ascent over characteristic grassy terrain. Its broad, rounded summit provides an excellent vantage point for surveying the borderlands, marking the transition from the rolling Teviotdale hills to the more rugged landscape of Eskdale.
Key Statistics
Rank
103rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Uplands
Prominence
?
261m
Nearest Town
Dumfries and Galloway
Geology
You are walking on the Hawick Group, which consists of a muddy sandstone called wacke. These rocks form the sturdy foundation of Wisp Hill.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY386993
Latitude
55.2844°N
Longitude
2.9675°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Scots word 'wisp', which can refer to a small stream or a 'wisp' of land; the hill sits prominently at the head of the Wisp Burn which drains its eastern slopes toward the Ewes Water.
- •The most direct route begins near the site of the historic Mosspaul Inn, a former coaching stop on the main road between Edinburgh and Carlisle that has hosted travellers for centuries.
- •The summit offers a surprisingly expansive vista that includes the Eildon Hills to the north and the distant, jagged skyline of the Lake District fells visible across the Solway Firth to the south.
- •Despite being just five metres short of the 600m mark required for 'Simm' status, its 150 metres of prominence ensures it remains a significant objective for those collecting the Marilyns.
- •The climb follows a relentless gradient alongside a boundary fence, a feature that provides a reliable navigational handrail but tends to discourage casual conversation among walkers.