tinto hill

This is a great family walk for a good dry day, we have been coming here for almost 50 years (with parents, children and now grand children). Good walking shoes and warm clothing are a must, but worth all the effort. What a reward when you get to the top on a good day you can see for miles in every direction.

Once you get to the top the views are stunning. It took around 1 hour to the top walking, which once there we stopped in one of the stone areas and had a picnic - Very windy so it was good to have the shelter. Remember to take some water and wear sensible shoes as the paths are rocky!well worth the time and effort!

Suitable clothes, footwear, hat and gloves and it was a comfortable climb. Took the kids age 5 and 8 who managed well. Very windy so took a lot of effort. Up and down in 3hrs with a snack stop and picnic. Kids loved putting their stone at the top. Great incentive!!

While visiting Tinto Hill, you might as well look in on Wiston Lodge. Just at the base of the hill is a wonderful guest house and retreat center. Most of the times, they ask you to call ahead or make a reservation. Wonderful programs, fresh meals, and exceptional staff. Loved my time there.

The hill is the second highest in the region ( after Culter Fell) at 707 metres/ 2319 feet high and classed as a “Graham“ in hiking terms. It’s more popular probably due to it’s prominence and accessibility since the starting point is just off the A73 opposite a junction to Thankerton village. Look for the Tinto Hill Tearooms and you will find a reasonably large car park is a few hundred yards along this narrow road. The route from the north side is well defined and when I visited at the end of April the trail had some muddy sections but overall the surface was stoney and dry. In snow it’s a different story and unless you know the route you may need to depend on following in someone else’s footsteps. On some of the upper parts of the hill I was up to my knees on a previous visit which made it a bit of a slog.The path climbs steadily with a few slightly steeper sections which might have you breathing a bit heavier. At about 480m or 1600 feet the route passes close to Tortherin Hill cairn, one of a few false summits. The ground levels out for a short distance before climbing again, by which time you should have caught your second wind. At the split in the path the main route veers to the left, whilst an alternative one skirts along the edge of Maurice’s Cleuch, an area where the scree covered slope falls steeply to the base. The latter is probably best given a miss in poor visibility as it is a serious drop if you stray from the path. In good conditions it is fine. Both paths converge in any case as you near the final steeper section to the summit. At the top there is a huge cairn apparently dating back to the Bronze Age and on top of this a plinth has been erected with a directional plate to identify surrounding places of interest. Some of the rocks have also been put together to form wind breaks as it can be breezy up here. I was fortunate on the latest walk to have mainly sunshine and blue skies so there were clear 360 degree views for miles and I had the opportunity to sit in relative calm and have some sandwiches. It had taken about 1 hour to get to the top at a steady pace with some stops for photos and a breather or two! I only saw six others on the ascent and high above a paraglider was enjoying the uplift and getting a bird’s eye view of the area.It’s usual to return the same path however on this occasion I headed south east between two fences to explore a steeper and less frequented route. The track is not that clear and I just used the fence as a guide. When it reached a stage where the incline was less attractive and scree-like, by chance I spotted a track heading across the face of the hill and followed it for a while as it zigzagged downwards. This eventually faded and I combined sheep tracks and breaks in the heather to pick a way back towards the fence and the base. The fence line is very steep in some sections and it’s not practical to follow it all the way down. When off the steepest part of the hill the lower section became a bit of a cross country trek, up and down little gullies, over walls, across heather moor and fields until finally I reached Eastfield Farm steading. The ground is a bit boggy at places and certainly coming this route you need to have suitable footwear like hiking boots. Following the long farm road to the left leads to the A73 and going left again at the main road eventually leads full circle back to the A72 and the car park. From the farm steading to the car park is roughly four miles and the main road is quite busy meaning that you have to often step into or walk along the grass verges where they exist. It’s amazing how much rubbish you see en route - along with some road kill. The total route over Tinto Hill and back this way was approximately 7.5 miles. It took me 1 hour 30 minutes roughly to descend to the A73 and the same again to follow the road around. I probably would not retrace my steps down the south side again - even if I could find them - unless transport could be arranged at the A73 as the road walk was not worth the effort and a bit dangerous. There is an “official” route on the south side of the Hill from Wiston Lodge however perhaps it is easier to follow from the base than locate when descending! The tearooms at the car park on the north side are open irregular hours so you may have to seek refreshments in Biggar or Lanark (the nearby Tinto Hotel at Symington only caters for private/wedding functions now).

Good exercise (but not too much!) great views and not a busy walk if you choose your times

Come and enjoy the magnificent Tinto Hill with its Panoramic views of the Clyde Valley and beyond. Tinto Hill is a magnificent viewpoint from which to see the Clyde Valley and up to 40 miles away. On a clear day the sensation of being 2,300 feet high makes you feel like being in the heaven's and nearer to God. Start at the carpark at Fallburn and follow a path which passes an ancient fort on the left and then on to the summit which is 707 metres high. The summit provides fantastic panoramic views of the East and West coasts TRAVEL TIPSTinto Hill is on the A73 between Lanark and Biggar. At Fallburn, there is a car park and your walk begins there. It takes about 2 to 4 hours to go up and down to the summit depending on your fitness. Please take suitable clothing as it can be windy on the summit and the weather can change quickly. Also take a packed lunch/picnic so that you can enjoy a rest at the summit and by then you will be hungry and thirsty.Nearby is the Tinto Hotel and a few miles further takes you to Biggar where you can enjoy a delicious ice-cream or a cup of tea in one of the cafe's there.