Craignaw

Craignaw is a hill in the Dungeon Hills, part of the Galloway Hills range in Dumfries and Galloway. Its summit is rocky and complex, with long crags and rough ground on the east side. The hill is mainly made of granite. Near the north end lies the Deil’s Bowlin’ Green, an area of scattered granite boulders on flat slabs, likely left by glaciers. On the west side, close to the summit, a memorial marks the crash site of an F-111E Aardvark. Two U.S. Air Force pilots died in the 1979 accident, and traces of debris remain. The hill is remote, so the climb is long and rough from road ends at Craigencallie or Bruces Stane. Walkers can follow the Loch Valley Trail for a full photo tour of the route. Rock climbers visit Snibe Hill, Memorial Crag and Scotland Slab for short but good routes. In winter, after freezing conditions, the east side offers some of the best ice climbs in Southern Scotland. Routes can reach up to 150 metres, with the frozen Dow Spout waterfall being the most famous. Visitors find a wild, rugged landscape shaped by ancient ice and rock. The Deil’s Bowlin’ Green’s scattered boulders lie on smooth granite slabs. The crash memorial stands as a quiet reminder near the summit. Walkers pass through open moorland and rough ground on the long approach. Rock climbers test their skills on short but challenging crags. In winter, ice climbers tackle long frozen routes on the hill’s steep faces.