Birkhill, a mountain-pass on the mutual border of Selkirk and Dumfries shires, 4¼ miles SW of the head of St Mary's Loch, and 10 NE of Moffat. A cottage inn here, at 1100 feet above sea-level, serves as a place of call and refreshment to persons visiting the wild scenery around Loch Skeen and the Grey Mare's Tail. The surrounding country is mountainous moorland, and was a frequent retreat of the Covenanters. A hill opposite the inn was a station for their watchmen on the look-out for the approach of dragoons, and still bears the name of Watch Hill. Four of the Covenanters, on one occasion, were shot near the inn's door by order of Claverhouse.
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