This alternative approach to the Merrick has the advantage of enabling a circular route. However the route up Loch Valley - though attractive - is very boggy.
Exceptionally boggy path leading up Loch Valley. Final ascent up from Loch Enoch is pathless, open slope.
None to start.
Car park near Bruce's Stone.
Park at the car park near the end of the public road up Glen Trool, and continue along the last 100m of road on foot. A short detour to the right is worthwhile to visit Bruce's Stone. This is a cairn erected in 1929 to commemorate a battle in which Robert the Bruce - with just 300 men - defeated an English army of 1500 heavy cavalry by luring them to the steep banks of Loch Trool. This act of guerilla warfare was a first shot in the long campaign the Bruce fought before securing the crown of an independent Scotland. The cairn has a great outlook across the loch.
Ignore the path signed for the Merrick Trail and instead head along the main track - part of National Cycle Route 7. This descends and soon crosses the Buchan Burn. Ignore the branch to Buchan on the right and continue until a gate on the left, signed for Gairland Burn and Loch Valley. Follow this path as it climbs, heads through another couple of gates and then continues alongside a drystone wall. The going underfoot is often extremely boggy, but there are great views back over Loch Trool. Eventually the path veers left slightly and heads up the bare glen of the Gairland Burn.
The route eventually comes alongside the attractive burn; the path becoming slightly fainter as it continues and passes the left side of Loch Valley itself. The path - which remains very wet throughout - then climbs up the moorland, soon with views over Loch Neldricken, before a slight descent leads to the western part of the loch, known as the Murder Hole. According to legend the bodies of murdered men were dumped here, and this part of the loch is said to never freeze.
The path, now very faint, crosses a feeder and then continues up the moor, passing to the west of little Loch Arron. It passes through a pass before Loch Enoch is revealed ahead - a beautiful and wild sheet of water. Here bear left and follow the thin trod that leads down to the southwestern corner of the loch, stepping over an old wire fence. From here there is no path to help, but the route does thankfully become a little drier underfoot. Head up onto the broad Redstone Rigg and ascend this wide ridge of coarse grass, rock and marshy patches.
Eventually the small plateau at the summit of the Merrick is reached. The views, as might be expected, are superb, offering a great overview of the whole area, especially the wild and empty country that stretches away to the east and north. From here by far the quickest return is to head down the main hillpath.
This heads across the slope before gaining the more shapely ridge of the Neive of the Spit, linking to Benyellary. From the top of Benyellary the route keeps just left of a drystone wall as it descends southwest at first. Soon the path becomes made up and turns south. Follow it downhill and into the forestry. At a track, turn right across the bridge and then immediately left again to resume the descent.
The old cottage at Culsharg is eventually reached. This provides basic shelter from the elements. From here the good path heads south, passing through another forested section before descending above the Buchan Burn and returning to the start.
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