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Name: | White Shank |
Hill number: | 1905 |
Height: | 621.6m / 2039ft |
Parent (Ma): | 1875 Capel Fell |
Parent (SMC): | 1875 Capel Fell |
RHB Section: | 28B: The River Tweed to the English Border |
Donald area: | Ettrick Hills |
County/UA: | Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway |
Catchment: | Catchment Boundaries, Annan, Tweed |
Watershed: | Tweedmouth, Ardnamurchan Point to Lowestoft, Cardiff to Cape Wrath, Dover to Cape Wrath, Lowestoft to Duncansby Head, Land's End to John o' Groats, Solway Firth, The Lizard to Dunnet Head |
Class: | Subsimm (DT,sSim) |
Grid ref: | NT 16901 08304 |
Summit feature: | no feature |
Drop: | 26.7m |
Col: | 594.9m NT 1691 0802 |
OS map sheet(s): | (1:50k) 79 (1:25k) 330 |
Survey: | Leica RX1250 |
Change log: | show changes for this hill entry |
GPS data: | show GPS entries for this hill |
N.B. Some hill summits are on private property or on land where there is no public right of way. Permission should be sought from the landowner where access to a hill summit is through private land(*).
*For information about access rights in Scotland see the ScotWays website.
Please report via the contact page any logs you see below which describe or encourage acts of trespass. Please quote the hill number and hill name.
Logged Descriptions (logged by 279 users, only the latest 50 shown - Show all) | By | Date of Ascent |
Croft Head, Loch Fell, Wind Fell, Hopetoun Craig, Ettrick Pen, Bodesbeck Law, White Shank, Smidhope Hill and Capel Fell from Selcoth | hummusg | 19/02/2024 |
White Shank and Smidhope Hill from Capplegill. 
2 of 4 | thekirkie pirate | 24/01/2024 |
From White Shank on route to Bodesbeck Law. 9th in clockwise circuit of the Ettrick Hills. Does this one even count, it doesn't even reach Tump status? | Jossker | 16/10/2023 |
From Sailfoot. Forestry tracks to 15776.07169,atv track to summit of Capel Fell. Along ridge to Bodesbeck Law, down atv track and track to road at Capplegill | Moorponder | 09/10/2023 |
Parked at the end of the long lane from Ettrick. Quick inspection of the bothy and then the climb up Ettrick Pen, the 2 easy hits of Hopetoun Craig and Wind Fell. Up to Loch Fell and West Knowe. A steep descent down to the sheep pen and then along the SUW to cross the stream and then Capel Fell, Smidhope Hill, White Shank and back down to the car. | tsharp | 20/07/2023 |
Sailfoot - Capel Fell - White Shank - Potburn - Ettrick Pen - Loch Fell - Croft Head - Sailfoot | davidpettit84 | 07/04/2023 |
Followed ridge from Smidhope Hill | trimarc2 | 21/03/2023 |
From road end for a round of White Shank, Smidhope Hill, Capel Fell, Wind Fell, Hopetoun Craig and Ettrick Pen. | rhalstead | 08/10/2022 |
Parked at end of public road near Potburn 
for the Ettrick Horseshoe. Counter clockwise taking in White Shank, Smidhope Hill and Capel Fell. I wasn't looking forward to the outlier of Croft Head, but the ascent up West Knowe, was worse, as there is decent zig zag path up Cat Shoulder. From it was easy over Loch Fell, Wind Fell then Hopetoun Craig and one final pull up Ettrick Pen. Which had the first proper summit feature of the whole day, a large cairn. 
Dropped down to the NW to pick up the forestry track, then past Over Phawhope bothy and back to the car 8hrs after setting off. | chillyman8 | 31/07/2022 |
Started from the turning circle at the end of the minor road leading to the head of the Ettrick valley and followed the SMC route taking in the summits of Ettrick Pen, Hopetoun Craig, Wind fell, Loch fell, West Knowe, Croft head, Capel fell, Smidhope hill and White shank. A tough and long walk taking seven and half hours for the Twelve and half mile with 4000ft of ascent. Route finding was generally easy following fencing but a brutal descent of West Knowe is needed to reach the valley floor. | WAYNE ROWLETT | 01/05/2022 |
Ettrick Head Horseshoe is a great walk for wide open views in lots of directions across to hills by Grey Mares Tail, Cheviots, Pennines, Lake District, Criffle, Dumfries and Galloway and Lead Hills. 10 miles. Start at the end of the road past Ettrick. White Shank, Smidhope Hill, Capel Fell, Wind Fell, Hopetoun Crag, Ettrick Pen. With Sally. | Victor | 09/04/2022 |
A bit of an overcast day after a fine start. Starting from the Potburn side is a bit of hike to get to from most places. | Walker Dan | 20/09/2021 |
Parked at empty Selcoth fish farm car park. (Saw nobody else on the hills all day.) Filling in second last Donald in the Moffat area: Capel Fell. Up the forestry track, then… Broken Back, Sailfoot Law, Capel Fell, Smidhope Hill, White Shank, before returning to the col NE of Capel Fell. No point ascending again, so followed the wall line down NW to end of forest track at 1629 0753. Great views to sea and hills. Cows loose on northern tops, so stuck to wall lines. | Toby-and-Dion | 11/09/2021 |
Round of Ettrick Donalds x5 (Bodesbeck Law already climbed). Feet starting to get wet here. | johninthehills | 04/09/2021 |
From turning circle at road before Potburn, walking on track past Potburn to Over Phawhope, then along tracks to E, becoming intermittent path, to summit of Ettrick Pen, continuing over summits Hopetoun Craig, Wind Fell, Loch Fell, West Knowe, then steep pathless descent to sheepfold on col to NW, climb up good zig-zag path to Croft Head, return to sheepfold, NE along Southern Upland Way to the col at Ettrick Head, then NW along fence line to Capel Fell, continuing by fence and wall to Smidhope Hill and White Shank, descending through rough grassland around edge of forestry to Potburn and back to turning circle | kdbennett | 15/07/2021 |
From end of public road at Potburn (NT 1893 0928). Took the track running N of Potburn toward Fauldside Hill, bypassing it. On to Smidhope Hill -> Capel Fell -> Sailfoot Law -> Broken Back -> Croft Head -> West Knowe -> Loch Fell. | jonglew | 09/04/2021 |
From fish farm up track then atv to Capel Fell. Out to White Shank then back to Ettrick Head and up Wind Fell and on to Hopetoun Craig. Retraced steps then down SUW to sheep fold and decent path back to car. Weather was perfect. | SS | 02/03/2021 |
From Smidhope Hill, turned back here then halfway back up Smidhope cut across to Graham's Law. | agentmancuso | 02/10/2020 |
yorkielad | 19/09/2020 | |
Solo. From end of public road at NT189093. After ascending Croft Head returned on SUW to a little east of Rae Grain before ascending to the summit of Capel Fell. Followed fence and wall to Smidhope Hill and White Shank. Went down Little Smid Hope (rather rough) to reach forest road and back to road end. Nice weather and good views. | pwbellarby | 31/08/2020 |
8th and last of the day in a clockwise circuit. To descend I followed edge of forest (or what is left of it) to pick up the path to Potburn and back to the car park at the end of the public road. Just over 5.5 hours and 10.5 miles. | bolton | 20/08/2020 |
1st hill post Covid-19 lockdown so obviously the weather was poor. From Bodesbeck and onto Smidhope Hill. | benalder284 | 04/07/2020 |
Parked at road end and set off at 06:15 by moonlight with a temperature of-4C. Ettrick Pen (beautiful sunrise), Hopetoun Craig, Wind Fell, West Knowe, Loch Fell, Scaw'd Fell, Gateshaw Rig, Croft Head (met a badger), Capel Fell, Smidhope Hill, White Shank. Returned at 14:45. | PGCE | 19/11/2019 |
Circuit from Potburn via Over Phawhope: Ettrick Pen, Dob's Craig (with a rising traverse back to the main ridge), Hopetoun Craig, Wind Fell with its idiosyncratic summit marker, Capel Fell, Smidhope Law, White Shanks, descending between the burn and the forestry to the track just West of Over Phawhope. A fox led the way on the ascent from Over Phawhope, and hail and snow showers alternated with bright Autumn sunshine. | Nick Down1 | 26/10/2019 |
Part of ettrick horseshoe | alanm9 | 17/08/2019 |
White Shank, Smidhope Hill, Capel Fell, Loch Fell (camped overnight by summit), West Knowe, Broken Back, circuit from Bodesbeck. | RobertP | 29/06/2019 |
From Smidhope Hill - on to Bodesbeck Law. | Wycombe Wanderer | 20/04/2019 |
Up forest track from Sailfoot parking area. Track was driveable and no prohibitive signs but I was bagging other tops and returned via Selcoth Burn. | AndrewFinnimore | 17/10/2018 |
Solo from P at end of road nr. Porburn, up N track to bridge over Longhope Burn and along new and old forest tracks to col with Bodesbeck Law, turning L, S, to follow wall/fence and then W over Fauldside and S to WS summit plateau. Weather was fine if a little brezy. First visit was also solo on 29/07/2015 coming from BL. Continued to Smidhope Hill. | jacobus | 25/09/2018 |
6 of 8: From Bodesbeck Law. | ChrisR | 08/08/2018 |
Last one of circle. Overcast but warm and breezy. Followed wall down to gap in trees (old map). Trees on right felled and replanted, including the gap. Probably better to stay north of the trees now. | iangalbraith | 05/08/2018 |
Parked at end of public road at 18909 & up Ettrick Pen, Hopetoun Craig, Wind Fell, Loch Fell, West Knowe, Capel Fell & Smidhope Hill. From Smidhope Hill, opted for path on right side of wall as unmarked summit lies about 45yd NE of wall. Descended on path alongside boundary fence/wall to col below Bodesbeck & then forest track down to Potburn & back to car. (S) | gerrybowes | 21/07/2018 |
Moffat taxi to Birkhill. Herman Law, Trowgrain Middle, Mid Rig, Andrewwhinney Hill, Bell Craig, Mid Rig, Nowtrig Head, Whiteyaud Head, Bodesbeck Law, Pot Law, Fauldside Hill, White Shank, Smidhope Hill and Capel Fell. Them Southern Upland Way to Moffat | Mountain Goat | 07/07/2018 |
Last hill on Ettrick Horseshoe. Followed the wall further north then descended from Fauldside Hill to Potburn. With Eire, Evan, Sail, Danu, Coel & Alfie. | Dangerous Dave | 29/07/2017 |
The weather forecast had showers & then rain later. Instead it was just rain... and a huge amount of it. Had left this one in Dec-12 when doing Ettrick Pen et al with Martin66 & Davy due to lack of time & back with J to rectify that during a week's stay at Ettrickbridge. A wet walk from the road end in the Ettrick Valley, past a smartened up Over Phawhope bothy on Southern Upland Way to Ettrick Head. A lot of tree felling going on. NW following fence to summit trying to stay on feet in wind. Visibility about 6 inches at the top. Then followed the boundary wall/fence over Smidhope Hill, Graham's Law, White Shank & Fauldside Hill & down track under Pot Law directly to road end. J got very cold & wet: not the day to discover that your waterproof jacket is now just a jacket... | NotReallyABagger | 21/05/2017 |
Last top on round of four Marilyns on the way back to Ettrick Water. From Smidhope Hill. Rough vehicle track. | Owen B | 14/04/2017 |
Weather fair. | MountainMac | 02/04/2017 |
End to end walk of entire Andrewhinney Ridge with Rick & Jen. Herman Law to Capel Fell including small detour to include Pot Law. Split up after Capel Fell - Rick & Jen to finish over Broken Back while I picked off Sailfoot Law. Two vehicles start at Birkhill, parking for one without blocking farm entrance (nobody in to ask permission) to finish at Selcoth Fish Farm at foot of Sailfoot permission gained from Fish Farm. Brilliant day even with low visibility all day hard frost and frozen ground above about 550m. | mntainman | 23/01/2017 |
Up from Birkhill and Herman Law through to Capel Fell with Jenx and Steve Smith. Crisp, misty day on fells with frozen ground, reasonable going on existing lines. Down to Sailfoot Fish Farm and second vehicle. | nordicstar | 23/01/2017 |
Who can resist bagging 3 Grahams in a day? From the Ettrick valley road end, over Ettrick Pen, Croft Head and Capel Fell, with numerous intervening tops. Very easy and fast walking on good paths, except for the steep descent from West Knowe. Great views of the Moffat hills throughout. | Gill | 02/12/2016 |
Parked at Capplegill. Bodesbeck Law, Nowtrig Head, Mid Rig then retraced steps and finished with White Shank. Beautiful autumn day, great views | Crib Goch | 02/10/2016 |
Alone, round of Ettrick. | Grinner | 11/09/2016 |
my final donald top.C/W round of bodesbeck law, nowtrig head, pot law, white shank, smidhope hill, capel fell, broken back, sailfoot law from capplegill via path from bodesbeck farm. | robertphillips | 31/08/2016 |
13 mile circular from end of Ettrick Valley road, past Bothy followed signs to Ettrick Pen, up long ascent to top of Ettrick Pen (One of the best views in the area), along ridge West to Hopetoun Craig and boggy topped Wind Fell, changed direction heading for Loch Fell then West Knowe, then very steep descent down to foot of Croft Head, up and down great zigzag path to Croft Head top, then up Southern Uplands way to col, up to Capel Fell, then followed ridge over Smidhope Hill and White Shank, decided to leave Bodesbeck Law for another time, followed tracks back to end of road in Valley, Perfect Weather, terrain very good makes for comfy walking, saw one person all day. | DanTrig | 15/05/2016 |
Final hill of Ettrick Horseshoe for me. Whole walk took 5 hours 15 mins, some great views, very peaceful. Going to do more in S.Scotland as folk seem to go for Highlands or Lakes and forget this excellent walking area. Company: Solo | iandesbottes | 25/03/2016 |
Over Phawhope-Bodesbeck Law-White Shank-Smidhope Hill-Capel Fell-Croft Head-Moffat | campagvelocet | 12/08/2015 |
Continuation from Bodesbeck Law (D); wet in cols and showers nearby; continued to Smidhope Hill. | seumas | 29/07/2015 |
on way up Capel Fell (qv for log) | pwheeler | 21/09/2014 |
And 24/11/2023 | chrispine | 02/05/2014 |
self | davidsbatty | 19/04/2014 |