Dumfries & Galloway has a huge variety of wonderful hillwalks and I have amassed quite a bit of experience of bagging them over the past few years. Unlike the Corbetts (which are hills from 2,500ft – 2,999ft) these hills are smaller and require less effort to climb. That doesn’t mean they aren’t worth doing: some of the hills on the following list have been some of the best walks I’ve done in the South of Scotland.
Additionally, the following hills vary in height between 1,100ft and 2,300ft so there is a huge variety in altitude which makes them perfect for varying levels of fitness. They also vary in route length, from a mere 1 mile to a more taxing 12 miles!
There should be something for almost everyone on this list and each one offers something unique: from spectacular glens to sweeping sea views and a wide variety of wildlife.
I am going to list the hills below in alphabetical order, each with altitudes, route lengths, locations and a link to the full blog post in case one catches your eye!
Then, I am going to list them from my most favourite to least favourite (though I stress, they are ALL great).
I have also written a guide to the 7 Corbetts in Dumfries & Galloway if you fancy something a little more difficult!
1) Benbrack & Colt Hill
Altitude: Benbrack (1,906ft), Colt Hill (1,962ft)
Where: Dalwhat Glen (Moniaive)
Postcode: DG3 4JE
Parking: FREE
Route Length: 11 Miles
Full Story:
2) Bengray
Altitude: 1,201ft
Where: Loch Whinyeon, Above Gatehouse of Fleet
Postcode: DG7 2BG
Parking: FREE
Route Length: 1-8 Miles Depending on Route
Full Story:
3) Benniguinea
Altitude: 1,270ft
Where: Clatteringshaws Loch in the Dumfries & Galloway Forest Park
Postcode: DG7 3SH
Parking: Charged at Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre (FREE in nearby layby’s)
Route Length: 4 Miles
Full Story:
4) Cairnsmore of Fleet
Altitude: 2,333ft
Where: Palnure (A75)
Postcode: DG8 7AX
Parking: FREE
Route Length: 8 Miles
Full Story:
5) Criffel
Altitude: 1,870ft
Where: New Abbey
Postcode: DG2 8BU
Parking: FREE
Route Length: 8 Miles
Full Story:
6) Lamachan Hill
Altitude: 2,352ft
Where: Bruce’s Stane, Glen Trool
Postcode: DG8 6SU
Parking: FREE
Route Length: 10.5 Miles
Full Story:
7) Meaul
Altitude: 2,280ft
Where: A713 (North of Carsphairn at the Water of Deugh)
Postcode: DG7 3TH
Parking: FREE
Route Length: 11 Miles
Full Story:
8) Millfore
Altitude: 2,155ft
Where: Galloway Forest Park (A72) Carparks around Murray’s Monument
Postcode: DG7 3SH
Parking: FREE
Route Length: 7 Miles
Full Story:
9) Mullwharchar
Altitude: 2,270ft
Where: Bruce’s Stane, Glen Trool
Postcode: DG8 6SU
Parking: FREE
Route Length: 12 Miles
Full Story:
10) Screel Hill & Bengairn
Altitude: 1,126ft (1,283ft for Bengairn)
Where: A711 between Palnackie and Auchencairn
Postcode: DG7 1SP
Parking: FREE
Route Length: 6 Miles
Full Story:
My Ranking
Here is my ranking of the hills, with my favourite first!
I agonised over this list far too much and I really enjoyed reading my own blog posts and reminiscing over the walks and the fun I’d had doing them all.
1. Mullwharchar
Not only my favourite walk on this list but one of my favourite walks in the South of Scotland. Mullwharchar is overshadowed by it’s famous neighbour, the Corbett Merrick, and it’s all the better for it. At 2,270ft, this is one of the biggest hills in the region that isn’t a Corbett and at 12 miles it’s one of the longest walks. Known as the most remote hill in the South of Scotland, it towers above the gorgeous Loch Enoch and offers a wonderful day out.
If you have the fitness for this walk, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a better walk than many Corbetts.
“This was easily one of the best walks I’ve done in Dumfries & Galloway and was my favourite walk of 2022. Mullwharchar is remote, isolated and a perfect hike that will take you away from the more popular hills.”
– Me
2. Meaul
Meaul is the most historic hill on this list, because it comes with a wonderful tour around the remains of an abandoned mining village.
A triple-hill day (including Cairnsgarroch and Coran of Portmark), it’s a fantastic 11-mile walk in one of the most remote areas of Dumfries & Galloway. You will be hard-pressed to see another human on this walk (as most will be doing the nearby Cairnsmore of Carsphairn).
At 2,280ft, it’s even bigger than Mullwharchar and is one of the biggest hills on this list.
I have a huge soft spot for Meaul and it nearly made it to my #1 spot on this list.
“Meaul is a real highlight: it offers wonderful views of the surrounding peaks and the beautiful countryside.
The ruined village and quiet, people-free element of this walk are just the icing on the cake.”
– Me
3. Criffel
Towering above the very pretty little town of New Abbey, Criffel is a wonderful 8-mile walk that benefits from it’s coastal position, to the south of Dumfries, and offers gorgeous views across the Solway Firth.
Despite being an 8-mile walk, it’s relatively easy as it follows country tracks and a newly-built path all the way to the summit.
If that isn’t enough, there is the beautifully-named ‘Sweetheart Abbey’ to explore!
“The hill sits overlooking the Solway Firth and is by far the largest point in the surrounding area: offering spectacular views of the Lake District and the Isle of Mann. At a mere 1,870ft Criffel is a ‘small’ hill, situated at the exquisite village of New Abbey just a 17-minute drive to the south of Dumfries.”
– Me
4. Lamachan Hill
Lamachan Hill sits in Glentrool, opposite the car park and makes for a wonderful day in the hills. Passing by Loch Dee, and requiring an ascent of the nightmarish Curleywee (curse this hill!), Lamachan Hill offers beautiful views over Dumfries & Galloway. At, 2,352ft it’s one of the biggest hills on this list and one of the hardest walks. It’s an oft-overlooked hill, with most people heading for Merrick from Glentrool.
One of my favourite parts of the day is coming over the small ridge above Loch Dee and entering an amphitheatre below Curleywee and Lamachan Hill, as the cragged ridge sprawls before you.
“I must say though that this walk is fantastic for how little I see it mentioned. If you are heading to Glen Trool for a walk and you’ve already bagged Merrick I’d strongly recommend Lamachan Hill. It makes for a fantastic winter or summer walk and is well worth your effort.”
– Me
5. Benniguinea
Benniguinea is a fantastic little hill and is very underrated! At just 1,270ft it is a diminuitive hill but the views it offers are fantastic for the effort required to climb it! All-in, the walk is around 4 miles and it’s a wonderful use of your time if you are in the area.
Looking across Clatteringshaws Loch to Meikle Millyea, the views are spectacular.
If you are just visiting the area and perhaps not wanting too big a walk, then the stroll from the visitor centre to the summit of Benniguinea is really quite easy. Including the detour to Bruce’s Stone, climbing Benniguinea from the visitor centre and back takes just 5 miles.
– Me
6. Cairnsmore of Fleet
I have a big soft spot for Cairnsmore of Fleet, mostly due to watching a sunset on this hill, which is one of my favourite hiking memories.
At 2,333ft it shouldn’t be underestimated, however with tracks all the way to the summit it is quite an easy walk despite the size. From the start, in dense woodland (which will be full of flowers and rhododendron bushes) to the end where you will approach the summit on a small track through the moors there is a wonderful atmosphere to Cairsnmore of Fleet.
The monument on the summit to all the air disasters that have happened on the hill just makes it more poignant.
Of these crashes, 3 occurred during the Second World War with one being a German aircraft (a Heinkel 111, based in Holland) with the most recent crash occurring in 1979. Most of the names were of young men in their 20’s however the one that stood out to me most was of Flight Sergeant M.C Simpson, based at R.A.F Dumfries, he died on the hill on the 22nd of February 1944 at the age of just 19.
“I was struck with a deep sense of perspective. Here I was, excitedly looking forward to filming a sunset for my blog, when a 19 year old teenager had never returned from this hill.”
– Me
7. Benbrack and Colt Hill
The Striding Arches at Moniaive are one of the quirkiest things to see in Dumfries & Galloway. A collection of large, sandstone arches, two of them sit on the summits of two hills: Benbrack and Colt Hill.
Together, these hills make for a lovely 11-mile day out in one of the more remote parts of the area. I had a great time bagging them both on a cold winters day but any time of the year would be perfect for this walk. It starts in dense woodland, a little to the north of Moniaive, then climbs up on to the moorland. It is not a circuit, more of a ‘T’-shaped walk.
It’s one of the most unique walks on this list!
“The Striding Arches at Moniaive is a unique walk, that is perfect for either a summer stroll or a cold winter hike. The village is pretty and the arches are a unique piece of outdoor culture that are well worth the effort to see.”
– Me
8. Millfore
I said it when I first wrote the blog post and I will say it again here: Millfore is one of the most underrated hills in Dumfries & Galloway. At 2,155ft it is no small peak, yet it sits in the Galloway Forest Park, high above Murray’s Monument just a few miles north of Newton Stewart.
It’s easy to get to, relatively easy to climb and offers gorgeous views over Loch Dee to Merrick and Corserine. Yet, despite walking it multiple times, I haven’t seen another human on it!
Millfore has become a hill that I love to walk at Christmas as it is usually covered in knee-deep snow and is absolutely deserted. If you are looking for a walk that’s a bit different in Dumfries & Galloway, I cannot recommend it enough.
“As you can see from the pictures, the summit was gorgeous. The Corbett’s Merrick & Corserine were clearly visible, as was Loch Dee. This little Graham is perfectly placed to look to it’s larger neighbours, giving a wonderful view of the terrain. The sprawling sea views behind were just the icing on the cake.”
– Me
9. Bengray
What an odd surprise Bengray was! At 1,201ft it is one of the smallest hills on this list and can be walked either from the middle of Gatehouse of Fleet (making it an 8 mile walk) or from the nearby car park, making it a much shorter 2-4 mile stroll.
Standing at the side of the very pretty Loch Whinyeon, Bengray is a hill that offers sweeping views over the rolling fields that surround it, along with views out to sea and to the Corbetts in the Forest Park. It’s a wonderful ‘countryside’-feeling walk and a spot I think is a must-visit in Dumfries & Galloway.
“Bengray is a hill many locals won’t have heard of and even fewer will have ever climbed. More people will be aware of Loch Whinyeon and what a picturesque area it is.
If you are looking for a wonderful walk in Dumfries & Galloway, where you will be guaranteed wonderful views, cosy countryside scenes, wildlife and a good walk then I’d suggest checking out this walk. Bengray may be a small hill, but it offers a big day out.”
– Me
10. Screel Hill & Bengairn
Last, but by no means least, are the duo of Screel Hill and Bengairn. Two hills that sit between Auchencairn and Palnackie (to the south of Castle Douglas) and, like Criffel, offer wonderful views over the Solway Firth to England and the Isle of Mann.
Whether you want to do one of them, or both, the walk can be 3 or 6 miles depending on what you are in the mood for! Similar to Benniguinea, if you want to just bag Screel Hill, the views rewarded for the effort are wonderful and make this walk a hidden-gem in Dumfries & Galloway.
This may be the best walk on the entire list if you are looking for a short, gentle hill walk in Dumfries & Galloway.
“I have to say, this walk really impressed me. Whether you want to do the shorter version and just bag Screel Hill, or if you want to push on and also bag Bengairn, it’s a beautiful walk. The paths are great throughout, the signposts are clear and nothing is ever too strenuous.”
– Me
Conclusion
I absolutely love walking in Dumfries & Galloway but everything can’t be Corbetts! I hope this list has brought some of the lesser-known hills of the area to your attention. There really is a huge variety of hills on this list. Mullwharchar is a lengthy, tiring walk that is genuinley more challenging than some of the Corbetts in the region. While Bengray is a gorgeous little hill that can be done in a few miles but that most people (even locals) won’t have heard of!
Please remember, this list isn’t exhaustive and I will continue adding hills to the blog so keep an eye out for more and feel free to let me know in the comments below what your favourite is!