Broad Law, Cramalt Craig and Hunt Law Loop

This 22 km (13.7 mile) upland loop in the Scottish Borders is a big, open hill day over some of the highest ground in the region, with around 800 m (about 2,625 ft) of ascent. Expect a long, exposed outing across broad grassy domes, peatier lower slopes, and a high ridge with huge views when the weather cooperates. Broad Law is the highest hill in the Borders and one of the highest summits in the Southern Uplands, while nearby Cramalt Craig and Hunt Law add a more remote, rolling feel to the circuit. The terrain is generally not technical, but it is serious country: navigation can become difficult in mist, the ground can be wet and boggy, and there is very little shelter once you leave the road. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

The usual start is near the Megget Stone on the minor road above Megget Reservoir, west of St Mary’s Loch, with the nearest significant landmark being the Megget Stone / Megget Reservoir roadside parking area near Tweedsmuir, Scottish Borders. Walkhighlands notes limited parking right by the stone, with additional roadside parking available farther along by the reservoir. The start grid reference published for the common approach is NT150202. Public transport is effectively unavailable for the trailhead itself, so most hikers will need a car or a taxi arrangement from a larger settlement. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

By car, the approach is typically via the quiet hill road linking the Tweedsmuir side with the St Mary’s Loch / Megget area, and because parking at the stone is very limited, it is wise to arrive early and be prepared to park a little farther away along the reservoir road. By public transport, planning is much less straightforward: there is no regular service to the actual start noted in the main route description, so the practical option is usually to reach a nearby Borders settlement first and then continue by taxi. Because of the remoteness, it is worth checking road conditions and carrying enough food, water, and spare layers before setting off. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

What the route feels like

From the roadside, the route climbs quickly onto open hillside, usually following a fence line on faint or intermittent trods before gaining the broad upper slopes. The first part can feel deceptively simple, but underfoot it is often the messiest section, with heathery and boggy ground lower down before the going improves higher up. Broad Law itself rises as a wide, rounded dome rather than a sharply defined peak, so in poor visibility the summit area can feel featureless. One thing many walkers notice is that the summit’s wild setting is interrupted by modern structures, including an air traffic beacon and nearby communications infrastructure. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

After Broad Law, the route becomes more of a high-level traverse. The descent and re-ascent toward Cramalt Craig is where the day starts to feel more committing, because you lose height and then have to earn it back. The ridge is broad rather than narrow, but the scale of the landscape makes it feel very open and remote. Hunt Law continues that character: rounded, grassy, and expansive, with long views over the surrounding Southern Uplands and down toward the reservoir basins and glens. Distances between tops can look shorter than they feel on the ground, especially in wind or soft conditions.

For planning purposes, a typical breakdown is: - start to Broad Law: roughly 5 to 6 km (3.1 to 3.7 miles), with most of the day’s major climbing front-loaded - Broad Law across to Cramalt Craig: roughly 3 to 4 km (1.9 to 2.5 miles) - onward toward Hunt Law and the return arc: the remaining 10 to 12 km (6.2 to 7.5 miles), depending on the exact line taken and where you park

That overall profile explains why the route is often rated around medium to difficult despite the lack of scrambling: it is the combination of distance, exposure, wet ground, and navigation demands that makes it a substantial hillwalk. HiiKER lists a closely related Broad Law and Cramalt Craig loop at 20.1 km (12.5 miles) with 926 m (3,038 ft) of ascent, while Walkhighlands gives the classic Broad Law/Cramalt Craig circuit as 21.5 km (13.25 miles) with 778 m (2,552 ft) of ascent, so your estimate of around 22 km and 800 m is very much in the expected range. (hiiker.app)

Landmarks, landscape, and what to look out for

Broad Law is the standout landmark of