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Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool

By Ian Tupman   

on June 19, 2018    5/5 (1)

Posted as a walk in – Europe, Scotland, Southern Uplands

Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool

Route Essentials

Route Summary

A walk up The Merrick from Glen Trool and a visit to Bruce’s Stone

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

14.3 km

Ascent

989 m

Time

4-5 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Car park at the end of the public road in Glen Trool

Difficulty

Hard Walk

Hazards

Some of the walk is through forested areas and between June and September midges can really spoil your day if you are not well-protected. There are various products available but Smidge seems to be effective for most people.

Weather Forecast:

MWIS Southern Uplands forecast

MetOffice Merrick Forecast

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool

At 843m, The Merrick is the highest mountain in the Southern Uplands of Scotland and as such it is popular, particularly during public holidays. It sits amongst the rolling hills of Galloway and enjoys excellent views to the northern Lake District fells, the Isle of Man and the coast of Northern Ireland.

Walk up The Merrick Route Description

From the car park head north-east and take the path signed ‘Merrick Trail’. The path rises on the left of the Buchan Burn and eventually reaches a gate.

Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool
The Buchan Burn
Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool
Benyellary and The Merrick

Pass through the gate and continue through a forested area. The path leads onto a flat, open area and passes to the left of the Culsharg bothy.

Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool
Approaching Culsharg bothy (centre left)

From the bothy the path climbs through trees and reaches a forest track. Turn right, cross a bridge and almost immediately, take the path on the left which continues uphill through the forest.

The path emerges from the forest onto open ground and continues north-west before reaching a gate. Pass through the gate and turn north-east. Keep to the right of the stone wall and reach the summit of Benyellary at 719m.

Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool
The Merrick from Benyellary

From here the path takes us along the broad ridge of Neive of the Spit, just one of the strange names in the immediate area. There are excellent views down into the bowl on the right.

Continue over the open ground to reach the summit cairn and trig point on The Merrick. There are expansive views in every direction.

Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool
The Merrick summit
Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool
The view west from The Merrick
Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool
Sun on the Solway Firth

Having rested and taken photos, return via the outbound route but when you reach the start of the public road, take the path on the left which climbs briefly to reach Bruce’s Stone.

Walk up The Merrick from Loch Trool
Bruce’s Stone

There are good views down over Loch Trool and more information surrounding the stone can be found here.

Head back down to the road and return to the car park.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

A walk up The Merrick from Glen Trool and a visit to Bruce’s Stone

This walk includes the Corbett of Merrick

Route Start Location: Car park at the end of the public road in Glen Trool

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
14.3 km 989 m 4-5 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Hard Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

The Glentrool Visitor Centre has toilets and a cafe and there are toilets, shops and plenty of places to eat and drink in Newton Stewart.

Hazards

Some of the walk is through forested areas and between June and September midges can really spoil your day if you are not well-protected. There are various products available but Smidge seems to be effective for most people.

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking : DG8 6SU is the nearest postcode

From the A714 take the minor road at Bargrennan and keep right at Glentrool village. Ignore two roads on the right and continue to the end of the public road. Park in the free car park.

Public Transport:

There is no public transport to the start/finish of the walk but there is a service to Glentrool village.

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

MWIS Southern Uplands forecast

MetOffice Merrick Forecast

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Ian Tupman

Ian lives In Ardrossan and being only a fifty five minutes ferry crossing to Brodick, the Isle of Arran is his ‘back yard’. He knows the mountains of the north of the island well and has walked every permutation of routes over the various summits. He is now spending more time further north exploring the Cairngorms, the far north-west and the mountains of the west of Scotland.

More Posts by Ian Tupman

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