The best walks and hikes around Biggar

Yes, the area around Biggar is generally very welcoming for dogs. The rolling hills and open countryside offer plenty of space. For a peaceful walk, many visitors enjoy the trails in Broughtonknowe Wood, which is known for being a beautiful and quiet spot for dogs to explore off-leash in designated areas.

For an easier walk that's suitable for most family members, the Shaw Hill loop from Coulter is a great choice. It's a relatively short, 3.1-mile (5 km) walk through gentle farmland and rolling terrain, offering a taste of the local scenery without a major climb.

Tinto Hill is considered a more straightforward and accessible challenge. The main path is well-defined, making it a popular choice for a rewarding day hike with panoramic views. The Culter Fells, in contrast, offer a more demanding and remote hillwalking experience. Routes like the Culter Fell loop are longer, involve more ascent, and can have boggy sections, requiring better navigation skills and fitness.

The Biggar Country Path Network provides a variety of gentler, accessible routes through local farmland and points of interest. These paths are based on the South Lanarkshire Core Paths plan. For detailed maps and information on this specific network, you can visit the Biggar Heritage Centre's website.

Many trails start or finish in or near Biggar, which has several pubs and cafes for refreshments after your walk. The Coulter Motte Hiil loop from Biggar is a moderate circular walk that brings you back towards the town, giving you easy access to local hospitality.

For Tinto Hill, there is a dedicated and spacious car park at the main trailhead, which is free to use. For hikes in the Culter Fells, parking is typically more informal, often consisting of roadside verges near the start of the trail, so be sure to park considerately. Always arrive early on weekends to secure a spot.

The area is highly rated by the komoot community, with an average score of over 4.4 stars. Hikers often praise the stunning panoramic views from the summits of hills like Tinto and the feeling of wide-open space in the Culter Fells. The accessibility of challenging hillwalks combined with gentler country paths is also a frequently mentioned highlight.

While Tinto Hill is very popular, the wider area offers many quieter options. The extensive Culter Fells provide a true sense of remoteness. For a shorter, peaceful walk, the path up Quothquan Law is a local favourite that offers good views without the crowds often found on the larger hills.

You can find over 25 distinct hiking routes around Biggar on komoot. These range from easy, short loops of just a few miles to difficult, full-day hillwalks with significant elevation gain, ensuring there's a trail for every fitness level.

Besides the main routes, hikers often explore several key areas:

• Start of Tinto Hill walk: The main car park and official starting point for the most popular ascent of the area's iconic hill.
• Broughtonknowe Wood: A highly-regarded wooded area known for its beautiful and peaceful walking trails.
• Quothquan Law: A smaller hill offering a rewarding short walk with excellent views of the surrounding landscape.

Hiking is possible year-round, but the best conditions are typically from late spring to early autumn (May to September) when the weather is milder and the days are longer. The hills can be beautiful in winter, but you must be prepared for snow, ice, and strong winds, requiring appropriate gear and experience.

The landscape around Biggar is primarily characterized by rolling hills, open moorland, and pastoral scenery. While you will encounter many small burns and streams on your walks, the area is not particularly known for significant or dramatic waterfalls.