Also the Carsphairn Hills, the hills of the Solway coast, Tinto and Cauldcleuch Head.

The Lowther Hills offer high rounded ridges: windswept, sheep-nibbled and solitary. However the tops are only part of the story. Careful exploration discovers the small hidden valleys, the "cleuchs" and "linns" that give this range its particular character. Here you may meet a wild goat, or find yourself involved with a small waterfall and a couple of feet of rockclimbing.

Along the Solway coast are granite hills, with all the ruggedness of the Cairngorms but hardly any of the height. Rocky-topped Criffel, Screel and Cairnsmore of Fleet contrast nicely with the steep-sided grassy hills inland, and with the gorse and beaches of the Solway coast.

These 50 walks cover all the hills west of the M74 except the Merrick and Rhinns of Kells. In case of bad weather there are also a few woodland and coastal walks.