Walk 24 - Merrick walking and hiking route

Walk Instructions

Start:At the Bruce’s Stone car park at the end of the surfaced road in Glen Trool. (GR 416803)
Refreshments: Café at Glentrool Visitor Centre or the House o’ Hill pub at Bargrennan.

One of the best hill walks in South West Scotland, leading to its highest summit with magnificent panoramic views. There are options for a longer loop walk over rough terrain.

1. From the car park, the Merrick path is signposted and leads up at first above the Buchan Burn but then alongside it at some attractive rocky pools and small waterfalls. On the opposite side of the burn there are some very impressive dry-stone walls that incorporate some huge granite boulders. The path heads leftwards away from the burn through forest before emerging at a clear area near Culsharg Bothy.

2. From Culsharg, the path climbs steeply to a forest track which leads a short distance rightwards across a small stream before the path turns off left into forest again, climbing steeply before emerging onto the open hillside. A further two hundred vertical metres of climbing leads up to a stone wall which is followed to the top of Benyellary at a height of 719m (2359ft).

3. The route ahead to Merrick is now visible. The ridge connecting Benyellary to Merrick is called the Neive of the Spit and leads easily across to the final pull up to the summit of Merrick which is marked by an Ordnance Survey trig point and a large shapeless cairn.

4. This is the highest point in South-West Scotland at 843m (2766ft) and has magnificent views in all directions. On a clear day you can see Ailsa Craig, Arran and the Trossachs to the north, the Mull of Galloway and the Mountains of Mourne to the west, the Isle of Man and the Lake District fells to the south and the ridge of the Rhinns of Kells to the east. The normal descent from Merrick is to retrace your steps along the ascent route but there are more adventurous alternatives for experienced walkers who do not mind rough terrain and boggy sections. These alternative routes should not be attempted in misty conditions when navigation becomes very difficult.

5. The descent via the ridge called the Rig of Loch Enoch is highly recommended and much less boggy than the Loch Valley route described below. From Merrick’s summit, head east down the broad ridge called Redstone Rig towards Loch Enoch. Trend southwards towards the bottom to reach a shallow valley with stone walls. The far side of this valley is the top of the Rig of Loch Enoch. When you reach the ridge, look back towards the bottom of the Redstone Rig and you should be able to make out the face of the Grey Man of Merrick on the edge of a rock outcrop. Work your way south-westwards along the ridge with an occasional faint track to follow. There are good views down to Loch Neldricken with the “Murder Hole” at its west side and Loch Valley lower down. The ridge ends at the summit of Buchan Hill with views back down Loch Trool. Descend steeply to the south-west and you will arrive at a track that leads back rightwards to your starting point.

6. In dry weather, the descent via Loch Valley makes a good alternative route. From Merrick, drop down Redstone Rig to reach the south shore of Loch Enoch. A small, steep-sided valley leads rightwards past Craig Neldricken and past Loch Arron. Follow the small stream down from Loch Arron to reach faint paths that skirt the “Murder Hole” on the side of Loch Neldricken then onwards past Loch Valley to follow the Gairland Burn before cutting across a broad ridge back into Glen Trool. A short section of good track leads back to the starting point.

It would be a great help to future walkers if you could record any inaccuracies you come across during this walk and report them to reception so that appropriate amendments can be made. Thank you for your help. Happy walking.

Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the ‎level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.