by Milo12 » Thu Jun 02, 2022 7:45 pm
Corbetts included on this walk: Merrick
Donalds included on this walk: Merrick
Date walked: 02/06/2022
Time taken: 3 hours
Distance: 15.2 km
Ascent: 800m
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You can't really go to Galloway without doing "The Merrick". Literally everyone I had met so far in Galloway had asked whether I had done it yet. So, off I went to do what everybody seems to be doing ...
It is the Jubilee weekend and the parking lot was busy. There are two parking lots really, a lower one and an upper one and both were reasonably packed. Luckily not everyone ventures uphill and some only got to Bruce's Monument and for a wander around the Loch.
I set off uphill, just to quickly bump into a photographer and we decided to tackle the Merrick together. A good conversation certainly made the long uphill go quickly. The section through the woodlands is interesting enough but then you are out on what is essentially a big grassy lump - the views are reasonable, but I don't think that this is the hill you will remember for the views.
Benyellary is quickly reached and you are greated by an oversized cairn. A big stone wall indicates where the journey is going to go - slightly downhill before it goes uphill again. It is not too bad though and did not take long before I reached the top. There are some nice views to the various islands around and over to the Corserine ridge. But since there is not much else, we quickly decide to move on downhill towards the lochs in the valley.
While the way up came with very good ground, including on the grassy sections, the way down reveals what will set the tone for the way back - bogs! The valley is pretty though and we quickly pick up a trail that in fact is taking us all the way back to the parking. It passes a few small lochs and stays low in the valley. Only the last section of the trail is a bit more solid and makes for quicker walking. We did hear the birds but with the exception of some 3 sheep and some stunning looking moths, we did not see any wildlife. We did come across a lot of carnivorous plants though, so if you are into this - do keep an eye out for these.
There is a monument for King Bruce close to the parking which is worth a quick stop before the end of the walk.
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2022-06-02_791687999_Benyellary and the Merrick, from Loch Trool, Galloway.gpx
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- The initial par of the walk follows a little stream before heading into the woodlands
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- The plate indicating the change from the woodland to the montane zone
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- The way up to the Merrick from Benyellary
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- The cairn on top of the Merrick
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- Orange Bonnets along the trail