Broad Law, Cramalt Craig and Dollar Law

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Summary

Broad Law is the second highest hill in Southern Scotland, and the highest in the Borders. Its rounded slopes culminate in a broad, domed summit that is unfortunately marred by an air traffic beacon and a nearby radio tower. After a sharp descent and climb to Cramalt Craig, a fine grassy ridge continues to Dollar Law. The return heads down to the reservoir and along the road.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Boggy, heathery hillside lower down, mostly grassy higher up. The ridge is accompanied by a fence line. Descent uses track and return is on minor road.

Public Transport

None.

Start

Limited parking at the Megget Stone; further parking available along the road section by Megget Reservoir. Open in Google Maps.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 21.5km / 13.25 miles
Time (summer conditions): 5.5 - 6.5 hours
Ascent: 778m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NT150202

Summits Climbed

Corbett / Donald: Broad Law
Donald: Cramalt Craig
Donald: Dollar Law

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (19)

Stage 1

The walk starts from the Megget Stone, set at the highest point of the minor road from Tweedsmuir over to St Mary's Loch. There is space for a couple of cars to park carefully near the cattle grid beside the stone (which is small and might not be spotted whilst driving) but space is limited. The walk finishes along the road from the Megget Reservoir and there is further parking along that section, which means you would tackle the road section up to the stone first. The stone stood on the boundary of Ettrickshire and Peeblesshire but may originally have marked the boundary of the Ettrick Forest in the 13th century.

Stage 2

Begin the walk by heading uphill on the east (right) side of the fence. There is only a faint path, soon following the fence as it turns up towards Fans Law. After a slight dip the fence continues up towards Cairns Law - the fence and path passing between the prominent cairns atop this hill. There are great views looking back towards the White Coomb range.

Stage 3

From Cairn Law the going underfoot starts to become a little drier and the slopes are more gentle for the final stretch of just under 2km to reach the summit - marked by a trig point and cairn. Just a few metres away is a bizarre-looking contraption - an air traffic beacon which supports flights in and out of Edinburgh airport.

Stage 4

From here the shortest walk for Corbett baggers is simply to retrace your steps. For those looking for a more satisfying hillwalk, continue beside the fence, passing a mast, and joining a track after passing through a gate where a drystone wall meets the fence. Follow the track to a large radio mast. From here the varied paraphernalia is left behind as the fence is followed down initially gentle grassy slopes and then more tussocky ground to reach the bealach below Cramalt Craig.

Stage 5

The ascent to Cramalt Craig is almost 150m as the hill used to be classed as a Corbett in its own right; now it is 'merely' a Donald. Pass through a gate part way up, continuing up now easier grassy slopes to reach the summit cairn at an angle in the fence. The views are good, both back to Broad Law and across the Culter Fells towards Tinto.

Stage 6

Follow the fence northwards as it leads along the broad and gentle grassy ridge, soon swinging NE to the minor summit of Dun Law, then N over Fifescar Knowe (the fence by this point is accompanied by an old drystone wall).

Stage 7

The summit of Dollar Law is marked by another trig point and a cairn on the line of the old wall. From here retrace your steps back to the bealach between it and Fifescar Knowe, then follow the faint line of an old grassy track that leads across the east flank of Fifescar Knowe. This gives good going at first but then becomes wetter and more tussocky; follow it until it reaches a gate in a fence on the slope down towards Notman Law.

Stage 8

Go through the gate and leave the faint track, heading briefly across ground SW to pick up an initially more modern, bulldozed track. Turn left down this to begin the descent down into the glen of the Cramalt Burn. Eventually this emerges on the minor road above the Megget Reservoir. Turn right along the road for the final walk of almost 5km along the road to the Megget Stone.

Route Profile

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