Merrick (Galloway)
Merrick | |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 843 m (2,766 ft)[1] |
Prominence | 705 m[1] |
Listing | Ma,Hu,Tu,Sim, C, D,CoH,CoU, CoA,DN,Y,T100,P600,P500[2] |
Coordinates | 55°08′21″N 4°28′06″W / 55.1393°N 4.4684°WCoordinates: 55°08′21″N 4°28′06″W / 55.1393°N 4.4684°W |
Naming | |
English translation | Scottish Gaelic: Finger [3] |
Geography | |
![]() ![]() Merrick | |
Parent range | Range of the Awful Hand, Southern Uplands |
OS grid | NX 42760 85547 |
Topo map | OS Landranger 77 |
The Merrick, or simply Merrick, is a mountain in the Range of the Awful Hand, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The summit elevation is 843 m (2,766 ft), making it the highest mountain in the Southern Uplands and southern Scotland.
Line of sight[]
The 144-mile (232 km) view between Merrick and Snowdon is the longest line of sight in the British Isles [1].
Granite boulders[]
An interesting feature on the mountain is the presence of several large partly buried granite boulders at about 800 m on the broad west ridge.[4] They are glacial erratics, but the exact mechanism is unclear that has brought them to rest close to the highest point of the Southern Uplands and over 200 m higher than any currently-occurring granite in the Galloway Hills.
Walking[]
The shortest route of ascent is from the car park in Glen Trool. The car park is located near Bruce's Stone, a monument commemorating the victory of Robert the Bruce over the English forces of Edward II at the Battle of Glen Trool in 1307. The Merrick is a relatively straightforward and easy hike from the car park near Bruces Stone. The route climbs past the Culsharg bothy (currently closed) then up on to Benyellary. After dropping slightly the final climb to the summit trig-point is made. Be aware that if descending in poor visibility a very common mistake is to walk down the west ridge into remote terrain. The total round-trip distance from Glen Trool to the summit and back is approximately 9 miles (14 km).
Climbing[]
Because of the nature of the rock, no good rock climbing has been recorded on the Merrick. However, in winter after a good freeze there are a number of good ice climbs of up to 200 m on the Black Gairy, which lies west of the summit.[5]
Subsidiary SMC Summits[]
Summit | Height (m) | Listing[2] |
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Benyellary | 719 | Tu,Sim,DT,GT,DN[6] |
Knee of Cairnsmore | 657 | Tu,Sim,DT,GT,DN[7] |
Meikle Multaggart | 612 | Tu,Sim,DT,GT,DN[8] |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Black-gutter-merrick-galloway.jpg/300px-Black-gutter-merrick-galloway.jpg)
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Merrick". www.hill-bagging.co.uk.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Database of British and Irish Hills: user guide". www.hills-database.co.uk.
- ^ "The Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway". D. Douglas. 1893.
- ^ Hostile Habitats - Scotland's Mountain Environment, p.68, pub. July 2006, ISBN 0-907521-93-2
- ^ John Biggar (2006). "Merrick Icefalls". Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
- ^ "Benyellary". www.hill-bagging.co.uk.
- ^ "Knee of Cairnsmore". www.hill-bagging.co.uk.
- ^ "Meikle Mulltaggart". www.hill-bagging.co.uk.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merrick (mountain). |
- The Merrick routes map, tourist trail and large images
- Link to computer-generated virtual panoramas from Merrick North South.
- Marilyns of Scotland
- Donald mountains
- Corbetts
- Mountains and hills of the Southern Uplands
- Mountains and hills of Dumfries and Galloway
- Climbing areas of Scotland
- Highest points of historic Scottish counties