Criffel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Criffel |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 570 m (1,870 ft) |
| Prominence | 488 m (1,601 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland |
| Parent range | Southern Uplands |
| OS grid | NX957618 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 84 |
Criffel is a well-known hill located in the area of Kirkcudbrightshire, in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. It is about 570 meters (1,870 feet) tall. Even though it's not super high, it looks really big because it stands alone and rises sharply from the land around it. This is called 'prominence'. You can see it clearly from far away, even from the northern part of the Lake District in England on a sunny day.
Criffel has some smaller hills nearby, like Long Fell, Maidenpap, and Bainloch Hill. The hillsides are covered with plants like heather, bog cotton, and blaeberry. You might also hear skylarks singing there! A lake called Loch Kindar is right at the bottom of the hill. A new path to the top of Criffel is being built, making it easier for people to hike up.
What's in a Name? The Story of Criffel
The name Criffel has a long history. It was first written down in 1273 as Crufel. The second part of the name, -fel, likely comes from an old word for 'mountain' or 'hill'. This word could be from Older Scots, Middle English, or even Old Norse (a language spoken by Vikings).
People have had many ideas about where the first part of the name, Cri-, came from. Some thought it might mean 'boundary' or 'to split'. Others suggested it could mean 'raven's hill' or 'crow's hill'. One idea is that it comes from an old word meaning 'sheepfold', which is a pen for sheep. It's a bit of a mystery, but it shows how old the name Criffel really is!
Images for kids
-
Criffel seen from Tinwald
