Benyellary

The Merrick stands near the heart of the Galloway Hills in southern Scotland. It is the highest point in the Southern Uplands, rising to 843 metres. The mountain belongs to the Range of the Awful Hand, a rugged sub-range of the Galloway Hills. A notable feature is the 144-mile line of sight between Merrick and Snowdon, the longest in the British Isles. Large granite boulders lie near the summit, left by ancient glaciers far from any granite outcrops today. The easiest route up starts at Glen Trool car park, where Bruce’s Stone marks Robert the Bruce’s victory in 1307. The walk from Glen Trool to the summit covers about 14 kilometres round trip. It passes the Culsharg bothy before reaching Benyellary, the Merrick’s only subsidiary summit at 719 metres. The final climb to the trig point is straightforward, though poor visibility can mislead walkers down the west ridge into remote ground. In winter, ice climbs of up to 200 metres appear on Black Gairy, west of the summit. The Merrick’s granite erratics remain a puzzle, carried more than 200 metres above any local granite source. From the summit, wide views stretch across the Southern Uplands. The broad west ridge offers a gentler descent for those who choose not to retrace their steps. Benyellary, to the south, provides a quieter alternative to the main summit. The route through Glen Trool passes through landscapes shaped by ice and history. Bothy and trig point stand as simple markers of human presence on this high, open ground.