Rhinns of Kells

The Rhinns of Kells are a range of hills in the Galloway Hills, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. They form the most easterly of three parallel ridges, bordered to the west by the Range of the Awful Hand and the Dungeon Hills, and to the southwest by the eastern portion of the Minnigaff Hills. The entire ridge lies within Dumfries and Galloway, with its western flanks marking the county’s northwestern boundary. The A713 road runs parallel to the east, providing access to walking routes, while unclassified roads near Clatteringshaws Loch offer alternative approaches. A bus service connects Dalmellington to Castle Douglas via Carsphairn and St. John’s Town of Dalry multiple times daily. The hills are the second-highest in the Galloway Hills, with Corserine reaching 814 metres. The terrain is mostly flat grassland with occasional boggy patches, but the eastern and western slopes drop steeply and are often craggy. The southern section of the ridge, named the Rhinns of Kells on Ordnance Survey maps, is notably rougher than the northern portion. Ten pairs of ospreys nest in Dumfries and Galloway, and the lochs here—Loch Dungeon, Loch Minnoch and Loch Harrow—serve as their feeding grounds. The Lochans of Auchniebut, at about 650 metres, may be the highest permanent water bodies in the Southern Uplands. The name ‘Rhinns’ comes from the Old Irish word for ‘promontory’, while ‘Kells’ refers to a parish southeast of the range near New Galloway. Most hill names in the area are of Scottish Gaelic or Scots origin, such as Meikle Millyea, meaning ‘large, grey, round hill’. The range forms part of the Silver Flowe-Merrick Kells Biosphere Reserve and a Natura 2000 site, supporting diverse invertebrates like Odonata, Syrphidae and Lepidoptera in summer. The ridge is popular with walkers, with shorter circular routes from Forrest Lodge being a common choice.