Hills of Glasgow: The origins of 12 Glaswegian historic hills and how they earned their names

By Liam Smillie

Digital Reporter

Published 18th Jul 2024, 16:42 GMT

Updated 21st Oct 2024, 12:19 GMT

This is how Glasgow’s most famous hills got their names

Glasgow has a very hilly landscape - these hills predate the city by hundreds of thousands of years, carved into the landscape by geological processes over countless years - but today we wanted to explore how these hills got their names.

Take a look below as we explore the ancient origins of the names behind Glasgow’s hills.

The area was named Garnet Hill by William Harley, in honour of Professor Thomas Garnett, one of the first professors of Anderson's Institution, known today as Strathclyde University.

1. Garnethill

The area was named Garnet Hill by William Harley, in honour of Professor Thomas Garnett, one of the first professors of Anderson's Institution, known today as Strathclyde University. | Glasgow Life

Blackhill famously displayed the Glasgow's Miles Better campaign poster in the 90s on the Provan Gas Works site. The area had been called Blackhill long before the institution of a council estate in the 1930s. It's unclear where the name comes from, it could be in reference to the coal transported along the Forth & Clyde canal, it could be the colour of the shrubbery, it's lost to time.

2. Blackhill

Blackhill famously displayed the Glasgow's Miles Better campaign poster in the 90s on the Provan Gas Works site. The area had been called Blackhill long before the institution of a council estate in the 1930s. It's unclear where the name comes from, it could be in reference to the coal transported along the Forth & Clyde canal, it could be the colour of the shrubbery, it's lost to time. | TSPL

Budhill takes its name from a farm that stood between Annick Street and Shettleston Station.

3. Budhill

Budhill takes its name from a farm that stood between Annick Street and Shettleston Station. | Geograph

Maryhill is named after a woman, rather than an actual hill. Named after Mary Hill, owner of Gairbraid Estate and, together with her husband, built a village on the land.

4. Maryhill

Maryhill is named after a woman, rather than an actual hill. Named after Mary Hill, owner of Gairbraid Estate and, together with her husband, built a village on the land. | Supplied

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