Walking the Galloway Hills

The Galloway Hills are southern Scotland's best-kept secret, a vast, roadless granite wilderness of heather ridges, peat bogs, dark lochs and ancient oakwood that sees a fraction of the footfall of the Highlands yet rivals them for rugged natural beauty. At their heart stands the Merrick, the highest point in the Southern Uplands at 843m, alongside 27 other tops over 2000ft, four Corbetts and the UK's first designated dark sky park.

This trusted Cicerone guidebook by Ronald Turnbull covers 34 day walks and one long-distance route across the Galloway Hills, with walks ranging from 4 to 33km (2 to 20 miles) and graded 1 to 5 to suit a range of experience levels. Route descriptions are paired with 1:50,000 OS mapping and downloadable GPX files, with detailed planning information, bothy locations and the fascinating history of this little-known corner of Scotland throughout.

34 day walks and one 82km (53-mile) long-distance route across the Galloway Hills are included, covering Glen Trool, the Awful Hand, Loch Doon, the Glenkens and Talnotry, with walks taking between 2 and 11 hours
Walks are graded from 1 to 5 to reflect the full range of terrain of Dumfries and Galloway, from well-laid paths to rugged, pathless granite ground, making this guidebook useful for walkers of varying experience
1:50,000 OS mapping and downloadable GPX files are included for every walk, essential for navigating terrain where paths are faint or absent, and remote ground demands good map and compass skills
Bothy information and longer expedition options allow routes to be combined into multi-day backpacking trips, with a dedicated appendix covering bothy locations across the area
Rich historical and natural context throughout, covering the geology, wildlife, ancient oakwood, Galloway Forest Park and the area's remarkable medieval history as a centre of guerrilla warfare


For experienced hillwalkers seeking a lesser-known alternative to the Highland crowds, the Galloway Hills deliver in every way. From the summit of the Merrick to remote corners, this guidebook is the ultimate companion for exploring one of Scotland's most rewarding and underrated hiking areas.

Seasons

January to December. Ideal months March to June, and September. Winter can be serious with untrodden snowfields, but good for those suitably equipped and skilled.

Centres

Newton Stewart; Glen Trool (Glentrool village and Loch Trool); Dalmellington (Ayrshire); Carsphairn and St John's Town of Dalry (Glenkens).

Difficulty

The hill ground has small paths or none at all. The higher ridges give good grassy walking. Mid-level granite ground is rugged with bare rock and peaty grass, and is remote. Lower ground has some well laid paths. Walks are graded from 1 (good paths) to 5 (rugged pathless ground).

Must See

Galloway Forest Park;
Merrick, high point of Southern Uplands;
28 tops over 2000ft (600m) with 4 Corbetts (2500ft / 750m);
Granite heartland with 31 lochs and lochans;
Rivers ancient oakwood;
UK's first dark sky park;
Guerilla warfare centre of the 14th century

Map key Overview map Introduction Harshness and heather Geology of the Galloway Hills Wildlife and wet Free Forest of Buchan Forest park and biosphere Climbing and scrambling When to walk Getting here, getting around, staying the night Maps and GPS Safety in the hills Using this book Section 1: Glen Trool Route 1 Water of Minnoch and Glen Trool Route 2 Water of Trool Route 3 Around Loch Trool Route 4 Fell of Eschoncan to Bennan Route 5 Merrick and Rig of the Buchan Route 6 The Three Lochs Route 7 Craignaw Route 8 Craiglee and Rig of the Jarkness Route 9 Mulldonoch to Curleywee Route 10 Caldron of the Merrick Section 2: The Awful Hand Route 11 Kirriereoch Hill and Merrick Route 12 The Awful Hand: Shalloch to Benyellary Route 13 Shalloch on Minnoch Route 14 Craigmasheenie and Shiel Hill Section 3: Loch Doon Route 15 Craiglee of Doon Route 16 Hoodens Hill and Mullwharchar Route 17 Northern Rhinns of Kells from Loch Doon Section 4: The Glenkens Route 18 Garryhorn and the northern Rhinns of Kells Route 19 Cairnsmore of Carsphairn Route 20 Craig of Knockgray Route 21 Corserine from Forrest Lodge Route 22 Southern Rhinns of Kells Route 23 Mulloch Hill Route 24 Waterside Hill Route 25 Dunveoch Section 5: Talnotry and the south Route 26 Larg Hill to Curleywee Route 27 Curleywee by Stronbae Hill Route 28 Millfore Route 29 Cairnsmore of Fleet from the north Route 30 Cairnsmore of Fleet from the south Route 31 Clints of Dromore Route 32 Knockman Wood Route 33 The Thieves Stones Route 34 Wood of Cree Section 6: Expeditions Route 35 Not the Southern Upland Way Other routes Appendix A Route summary table Appendix B The bothies Appendix C Information points