Perfect summer weather for this walk, ground conditions as dry as they will ever be following almost 2 months without proper rain. Clean boots at the end! a first for the Galloway Forest Park?

We parked at the Stinchar Bridge Car Park and chose to take in Tarfessock but stopped short of Kirriereoch as it would have entailed a straight line walk back the way we came. Better planning would have enabled a through walk of the Awful Hand had we the transport options available.

High and light broken cloud overhead meant far ranging views from the Mull of Galloway to the South, Antrim Coast and the Kintrye Penninsula to the West and Ben Lomond to the North. To the East, and closest, lies the Rhinns of Kells. Quite a panorama.

The only downside was the indistinct path which petered out on several occasions, not a problem in such dry conditions but likely to frustrate in poorer weather.

In summary, a most enjoyable fell walk. Shalloch on Minnoch is unremarkable in itself but it lies in the heart of beautiful Southern Uplands terrain and is well worth doing when the light conditions permit you to take it all in.