Mugloch Hill

Hill, Mountain in Wigtownshire

Scotland

Mugloch Hill

Southbound on the Rhins of Galloway Rockhopping on the way into the mouth of Clanyard bay — Southbound on the Rhins of Galloway Credit: Tony Page

Mugloch Hill is a prominent landmark located in Wigtownshire, a region in southwestern Scotland. This hill, often referred to as a mountain, is situated near the village of Sorbie, approximately 7 miles northeast of Wigtown. Rising to a height of approximately 482 meters (1,584 feet), Mugloch Hill offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The hill is formed mainly of granite and is characterized by its distinctive shape, with a relatively flat summit and steep slopes on all sides. Its unique topography makes it a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts, offering a challenging yet rewarding climb. The well-maintained footpaths and trails that lead to the summit provide an excellent opportunity to explore the diverse flora and fauna that call Mugloch Hill their home.

From the top of Mugloch Hill, visitors can enjoy stunning vistas of the rolling hills, farmland, and coastline that make up the picturesque landscape of Wigtownshire. On clear days, the views extend as far as the Isle of Man and the distant mountains of Northern Ireland.

In addition to its natural beauty, Mugloch Hill also holds historical significance. The hill is believed to have served as a hillfort during ancient times, offering strategic advantages for defensive purposes. Archaeological excavations have uncovered remnants of ancient settlements, including stone tools and pottery shards, further adding to the historical appeal of Mugloch Hill.

Overall, Mugloch Hill is a magnificent natural feature that combines scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and historical interest, making it a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the enchanting region of Wigtownshire.

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Mugloch Hill Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.7067/-4.9400475 or Grid Reference NX1038. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Southbound on the Rhins of Galloway

Rockhopping on the way into the mouth of Clanyard bay

Tony Page

End of Clifftop Walk from Port Logan

It is rare to see a yellow waymarker pointing straight down. This one means 'turn back'. There is no easy way beyond this point.

Rose and Trev Clough

Path from Cairnywellan Head

An unofficial footpath that comes to an abrupt halt a little further south NX0939 : End of Clifftop Walk from Port Logan .

Rose and Trev Clough

Cliffs overlooking Slate Heugh Bay

The rock is greywacke of Early Silurian age.

Rose and Trev Clough

Slate Heugh Bay

The cliffs here are composed of greywacke, a sedimentary rock, laid down in the Early Silurian period. In the bay a jagged line of upstanding rock crosses the shore from the sea, and appears to continue as a white line all the way up the cliff. This is a later intrusion of hard igneous rock, and is mentioned in the British Geological Survey's excursion guide to the area Link

as "a cross-cutting, Tertiary dolerite dyke".

Rose and Trev Clough

Carlin House Bay

A small bay eroded along the strike of the rather deformed rocks of the turbiditic greywackes of the Clanyard Bay Formation (Gala Group, Silurian). Much interest attaches to the deformation style and stratigraphy of this area, but I did not climb down from the grassy col between the larger and smaller bays.

Jonathan Wilkins

Farm quarry

A convenient source of easily-worked stone. This band of slatey rock, part of the Silurian Gala Group of greywackes, runs across the Rhins and is worked in several places. See NX1139 : Quarry lakes for another. In this image the bedding of the rocks is very clear, steep and northerly, and that is a regional trend reflecting the collision of continents in the Caledonian orogeny.

Jonathan Wilkins

Please shut the gate

An excellent reminder in colloqial Scots that closing the gate behind you is important under all circumstances. The animals that occasion the reminder are clustered on the hill overlooking Port Logan.

Jonathan Wilkins

Junction of the tracks

The way-marked track from Port Logan comes in from the left here, and is signposted towards Cowans. Behind the camera stretches the route to Clanyard and Inshanks, which is the old road.

Jonathan Wilkins

Track to Clanyard

Beyond the limit of fields belonging to Cowans, the track sees little use, but it is a fine walking route. Barncorkrie Moor and Cairn Fell make the far horizon.

Jonathan Wilkins

Track to Port Logan

Looking towards Port Logan on the waymarked track that is the old road from Inshanks and Clanyard. Here it just clips the corner of another square as it makes its lonely way through the fields.

Jonathan Wilkins

Deformed rocks

An outcrop of highly deformed greywacke which is intruded by felsite dykes. These rugged rocks drop steeply to the sea from a pronounced feature known as Carlin House.

Jonathan Wilkins

Raised beach

The west coast of the Rhins only has isolated lengths of raised beach, and this is a quite spectacular section. Another fine length is at Ardwell bay, NX0745 : Raised beach. The great antiquity of the formation is indicated by the prolific growth of lichen on the cobbles, which shows that it is never moved by wave action. It is distressing to see that this very special formation is being dug for hardcore and destroyed.

Jonathan Wilkins

Moffat shales

Between the major blocks of tilted strata it is common to find outcrops of the Moffat Shales, of Silurian age as are the adjoining Gala and Cairnharrow Group greywackes. It appears that these weak rocks formed detachment surfaces along which there was severe deformation and transport of kilometre-scale blocks of strata. Clanyard Bay was formed by erosion of shattered rock adjacent to one of these major faults, and the striped appearance of this shale outcrop is due to intense deformation and injection of quartz veins into fractures which run parallel to the main fault.

Jonathan Wilkins

Calliedown Bay

Looking southwards into this unapproachable bay, with Clanyard Bay behind. Streams are eroding gullies into the soft, glacial deposits above the bedrock.

Jonathan Wilkins

Heathery slope

A wonderful patchwork of colours, with heather blooming among dead bracken fronds and dried grasses.

Jonathan Wilkins

Strones Bay

Patches of rockfall, scree and huge boulders of probable glacial origin make a superb rocky ensemble, with Clanyard Bay to the south.

Jonathan Wilkins

Folded strata

Within the Silurian Gala Group greywackes there are some sections of thinly-bedded strata which show very clearly the pervasive and severe deformation experienced during the Caledonian orogeny. The cliffs here show how tight folding has resulted in detachment and faulting of these incompetent strata. Deep gullies have been eroded by streams descending from the undulating terrain above the cliffs.

Jonathan Wilkins

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Mugloch Hill is located at Grid Ref: NX1038 (Lat: 54.7067, Lng: -4.9400475)

Unitary Authority: Dumfries and Galloway

Police Authority: Dumfries and Galloway