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I have never been a Munro bagger, I have never wanted to be, nor do I ever think I will feel the need. For me, its nothing but a numbers game. Nothing magical happens once you cross the three thousand foot mark. I have experienced more exhilaration scaling a hundred foot cliff than plodding up many of the munros. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy them. It means that I’m selective in my choice and have climbed some hills dozens of times and by a different route each time.
I could never see the point in clag climbing either. Rushing up a munro in the mist and seeing nothing on the way, just to claim another number, sounds as appealing to me as working out on a treadmill. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking munro baggers, it must be a great achievement to say you have done them all, its just not my cup of tea.
For me, reaching the summit is not as important as the journey. I like to pick my walking routes and the weather for maximum interest and enjoyment. Some walks are far more interesting and varied than others and that is what appeals to me.
For this report, I have chosen one of the classic walks in the south of Scotland and I confess it is one of my favourites. Hey … It doesn’t even qualify for munro status
The Merrick at 2766ft is not that impressive a hill on its own, but include a descent to Loch Enoch, visiting the Grey Man, traversing the rig of Loch Enoch, pass the Murder hole and a whole host of other lochs and return to your car will covers nine miles of splendid wilderness and isolation that can equal any part of the highlands. Don’t believe me ? Then read on and hopefully … enjoy…
The route starts at Bruce’s Stone on the northern end of Loch Trool where there is ample parking space because the loch walk is very popular. On Saturday 20-2-10 I was the first car to arrive at 8am. This photo shows the early morning sun warming the frozen monument erected in memory of Robert the Bruce’s defeat of the English at Glen Trool. His band of warriors rolled huge rocks down the hillside on his foe who far outnumbered his army. It was a great victory for Bruce.

Following the signposts for the Merrick walk you will find a well made path. It winds its way along the side of the babbling Buchan burn which cascades down the hillside into Loch Trool. Ahead you will capture glimpses of Benyellary and beyond to the Merrick. In this photo, the Merrick summit is still covered in snow while Benyellary (to left of the Merrick) is clear.

A photographer may find much entertainment snapping photos of the many waterfalls beside the path and the weary walker will find them cool and refreshing on a hot summer’s day. The water was still half frozen on Saturday but I was enjoying the sun on my back in the early mornings freezing temperatures

The walking was easy along the burn and in a clearing stands the old Calsharg cottage. It’s now a bothy for anyone who wants to do that kind of thing. Me ? I would prefer a tent in the wilderness than a party with stranger in an old ruin ..but that’s just me. It had dry floors and a separate compartment for open fires. The roof had recently been repaired and looked watertight.

Leaving the bothy, follow the signs at the forest road junction. Its clearly signed for the Merrick. A short steep walk in the shade of the trees then brings you onto the open slopes of Benyellary. As I walked up the open slopes, I turned to close the sheep gate behind me and was disappointed to see the mist creeping over the hillside.

It had been such a nice morning, it was a shame the views could disappear under a blanket of mist. Although the air was still, the mist kept coming and thickening. I started to run towards the top of Benyellery hoping I would see the views before the clag overtook me.

I was sweating buckets as I puffed my way to the summit cairn. The rolling mist seemed to exert no energy as it steadily devoured the views behind me. Was I going to get to the top before the mist ? I took a chance and stopped to take this photo showing the summit cairn and the Merrick beyond. I couldn’t help but wondered if it would be the last photo of the day ? The Merrick’s summit was also under attack by a smaller clag cloud.

The mist seemed to hesitate before coming in for the kill and I just had time to take this photo showing the Neive of the Spit ridge that connects Benyellary to the Merrick. I took a compass bearing on the Merrick summit just as the mist engulfed everything.

Half way across the Neive of the Spit , I stopped and spat, then turned and shot this photo of the darkness that was descending around me. Incidentally I love the names given to things in the Galloway hills. I can relate to them, unlike the Gaelic names in the north, but then.. I guess I’m a lowlander by heart.

The silence engulfed me as the mist turned out the lights. There was not a breath of wind as I felt the mist slowly twist and turn. I imagined the sun above trying to beat its back into submission. I felt the mist was winning because it was turning very cold and getting darker by the moment

I followed the footsteps of the army that had walked this way during the winter months, knowing that they would lead me to the Merrick summit. I didn’t bother referring to the map as I doubted if they would all have become lost souls in this grey wilderness

Then suddenly, without warning, I guess the sun got the better of the clag. It’s heat began to melt the gray and it started to disappear as quickly as it had appeared. That’s when I heard Bruce’s warriors roll the stones down the hillside again. The battle was over before it had begun.

I reached the summit trig point of the Merrick in perfect sun shine. I filled my lungs with the clear cool air and shouted “Freedom”

Looking to the north I could see the white dome of the subsidiary ridge called the Spear. Beyond was Loch Macaterick and Loch Doon then the whole of Ayrshire and Glasgow beyond, the land of the free

To my left was the great gash of the Black Gairy and the Kirrireoch hill, all these sights and names were like music to my ears. I first climbed the Merrick on a school trip. That’s when kids and teachers were allowed to do such activities together. I guess it was in the late sixties ?

Because the report is more of a “journey” than a hill walk, I have taken a lot of photos to illustrate the walk. The best are yet to come and I will post them in this report later. It will take some time to sort them and resize them. So if you have enjoyed the journey so far.. look back in a day or so and I will introduce you to an old friend of mine .. the Grey Man of the Merrick .. a murder hole and a lot of other watery places
Thanks for reading this far …..