The Merrick is the highest point in the Southern Uplands and is a Corbett. This mountain is 843 metres above sea level and appropriate precautions should be taken as the weather can change rapidly and it can often be extremely cold and exposed at and near the summit.

 From Portpatrick follow the A77 to Lochans, turn right in the village and rt. again at the junction. Take 2nd on the left signposted A75 then turn rt. when the road meets the A75. Just before Newton Stewart take a turning to the left and follow the signs for Glentrool.

 Access to the Merrick is from the carpark at the end of the public road in Glen Trool. A well used, signposted path leads up beside the Buchan Burn to Culsharg bothy. From the bothy, the path takes you upwards through a forest then through open hillside to the summit of Benyellary. (719m) The path then follows a wall and continues to a col. When the slope broadens out, leave the wall and ascend the grassy hillside by the path which takes you to the summit.

As this is the highest land between the Lake District and Ben Lomond, north of Glasgow, views on a clear day are spectacular and include Ailsa Craig and the west coast as well as the mountains of  Cumbria and the Mull of Galloway. It is also nearly always very cold on this section of the walk as this will be the highest ridge in the South of Scotland.

It is possible to vary this walk by ascending via a series of lochs and it is suggested that OS sheet 77 is studied in detail beforehand

Unless you are used to regular hillwalking, approximately 5 -6 hours  return should be allowed for the walk by the main path. The car journey is just under an hour each way

Rickwood House Hotel

Hotel style guest house in Portpatrick, South West Scotland

B&B or dinner B&B.

 Ideal base for touring Mull of Galloway and South West Scotland