Donald · Galloway
Merrick
The highest point in the Southern Uplands and the centrepiece of the Galloway hills. Often called 'the highest hill in the South of Scotland', which is technically true and entirely justified by the views.
Quick facts
- Height
- 843m/ 2766ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 730 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NX427855
- Parking
- NX415803
- Nearest
- Newton Stewart· Dumfries 56km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 45% · granite boulders 30% · grass moorland 25%
Standard route from Bruce's Stone car park at Glen Trool. Path climbs through forest and onto the open hillside, then up Benyellary and along the ridge to Merrick.
Terrain
Excellent path throughout. Easy navigation in clear weather.
In winter
Galloway gets less snow than the Highlands but the cloud sits low and visibility evaporates fast. The summit ridge is featureless in cloud.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 10m
- Edinburgh3h 55m
OS maps: OS Explorer 318
Mobile signal: Good signal on summit; EE and Vodafone reliable. Highest point in southern Scotland with clear sight lines.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:47
- Sunset
- 21:44
- Civil dawn
- 03:53
- Civil dusk
- 22:38
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Merrick.
Around Merrick on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Merrick — common questions
- How hard is Merrick?
- Merrick is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 730m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-5 hours. Terrain: Excellent path throughout.
- Where do I park for Merrick?
- Standard parking is at NX415803 near Newton Stewart. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Merrick?
- The standard good-weather months for Merrick are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Merrick?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Merrick?
- Good signal on summit; EE and Vodafone reliable. Highest point in southern Scotland with clear sight lines.
- Is Merrick safe in winter?
- Galloway gets less snow than the Highlands but the cloud sits low and visibility evaporates fast. The summit ridge is featureless in cloud.