Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

Cairnsmore of Carsphairn is a hill in the Carsphairn and Scaur Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. An alternative name, rarely used nowadays, is Cairnsmore of Deugh. It is the highest hill in the range, and its summit is just under six kilometres (3+1⁄2 mi) northeast of Carsphairn village as the crow flies, in the far north of Kirkcudbrightshire.

Cairnsmore of Carsphairn
Highest point
Elevation	797 m (2,615 ft)[1]
Prominence	582 m (1,909 ft)[1]
Listing	Ma,Hu,Tu,Sim, C, D,DN,Y,P500[2]
Coordinates	55°15′22″N 4°12′44″W
Naming
English translation	Scottish Gaelic: Big Hill of Carsphairn[3]
Geography
Location	Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Parent range	Carsphairn and Scaur Hills, Southern Uplands
OS grid	NX 59441 97999
Topo map	OS Landranger 77

Walking

The usual route of ascent is from the A713 road to the west at the "Green Well of Scotland" one mile (1.5 kilometres) north of Carsphairn.^[4] Despite its height, it is a relatively easy hill to climb – over some rough grass, with no steep slopes and with a very flat summit area – though there are areas of more rugged ground on the outlying peaks of Beninner and Moorbrock. For most of the route, there are excellent views westward over the Glenkens^[5] to the Rhinns of Kells in the Galloway Hills. According to a tourist information board placed at The Green Well at the start of the track, in good conditions, the mountains of England, Wales, Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland can be seen from the summit, as well as Glasgow and Edinburgh, some 80 miles (130 kilometres) distant.

Climbing

Because of the local geology, no good rock climbing has been recorded on the massif. However, in winter there are a number of short ice climbs of up to 150 metres (490 ft) on the slopes of Beninner and Moorbrock Hill.^[6]

Subsidiary SMC Summits

Summit	Height (m)	Listing[2]
Beninner	710	Tu,Sim,DT,GT,DN[7]