Craignaw

Craignaw is a mountain summit in the Galloway Hills rising to 645 meters (2117 feet) with steep eastern slopes that drop down toward Silver Flowe. The peak features rocky terrain and stands as part of a range with other prominent nearby mountains.

A military aircraft crashed on the mountain in 1979, killing two American pilots whose names are honored by a memorial on the western side. This event became a significant moment in the location's recorded past and remains marked for visitors today.

The name Craignaw comes from Scottish Gaelic, showing how this language shaped place names across the southern highlands. Local names like this one connect visitors to centuries of Gaelic-speaking communities in the region.

Wear sturdy boots and plan for variable weather conditions, as the steep rocky slopes can be slippery and exposed. Start from the Glen Trool road end where parking is available, and allow time for the challenging ascent.

A section called Devils Bowling Green displays scattered granite boulders resting on flat granite slabs, shaped by glacier movements from ancient ice ages. This geological feature creates an unusual landscape that catches visitors by surprise.