A guidebook to 34 day walks and one long-distance route in the wild and remote hills of Galloway. Although there are some shorter and easier routes, many of these hill walks are long and on rugged terrain, so are more suitable for experienced walkers.

The day walks range from 4-33km (2-20 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2-11 hours, with options to combine routes to form longer days. A 3-day trek covering 82km (53 miles) is also detailed.

• 1:50,000 OS maps included for each walk
• GPX files available to download
• Easy access from Newton Stewart, Glentrool village, Loch Trool, Dalmellington, Carsphairn and St John's Town of Dalry
• Detailed information on planning, bothies and the history of the area
• Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket 

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

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

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