Hiking The Merrick | A Southern Uplands Classic!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- Hiking the Merrick (843m) - the highest mountain in the South of Scotland. The summit is a wonderful viewpoint with extensive views stretching over Dumfries and Galloway and on a good, clear day, all the way to Snowdonia, the Isle of Man and Ireland!
The Merrick may not have the epic serrated ridgelines of the mountains found in the Western Highlands, but, the views from the summit are pretty much uninterrupted with nothing but beautiful Scottish wilderness. It is claimed that the mountain has one of the longest views in the UK and as a Corbett, it also offers a glorious sense of solitude which can be harder to find on the Munros.
In this video, Coops the dog and I hike up the 'tourist' path from Glentrool, explore the Culsharg bothy and take in Benyellary before we head over Nieve of the Spit (a bealach with views over the open hillside to the East and towards the coast in the West) towards the summit. It’s a steep pull most of the way, but the views from the top really are outstanding - not to mention the sense of freedom one experiences when exploring the Galloway hills!
Hill Names;
The name Merrick originates from the Gaelic ‘beinn meurach’ meaning ‘Sprawling/Branched Mountain’.
The name Benyellary originates from the Gaelic ‘beinn na h-iolaire’ meaning ‘Mountain of the Eagle’
Note; Beinn = Mountain. I use hill/mountain, both meaning the same thing in my dialect
=========================
If you'd like to support my channel, please consider subscribing, sharing or making a small donation - it would mean the world to me, thank you :)
☕️ www.buymeacoff...
💸 paypal.me/Outl...
⛓ Visit my website to discover more of my work;
www.theayrshirephotographer.com
⚙️ What’s in my rucksack?lighterpack.co...
------------------------------
Track: Back to 1981 - Iaio [Audio Library Release]
Music provided by Audio Library Plus
Watch: • Back to 1981 - Iaio | ...
Free Download / Stream: alplus.io/back...
------------------------------
#Merrick #DumfriesandGalloway #scottishwilderness
Many years ago I climbed Merrick and had a cool down in the burn on the way back - bliss
Fantastic :) I tell myself every time that I should carry a towel so I can have a swim, and yet I never remember :o
Thanks Scott. Love your work. Nice dog.
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
Lovely piece of filming Scott. Haven't been there for a few years. Weather's been so humid lately. Saps your energy. Really enjoyed watching. Gorgeous dog. 🐾🏴🌄🌌
Thanks Rose, glad you enjoyed it :)
I went partway up the Merrick a couple of weeks ago on my way to Mulwharchar and Craignaw. Once I'd left the Merrick path the going was so rough with holes everywhere concealed by long reeds - exhausting. It's a wild area.
I know exactly where you were, used that way myself to avoid the Rig of Loch Enoch & deeply regretted it, haha! If you head further down the trail to the East from the carpark there's a trail that runs up to Loch Valley - that's the route up into the Dungeon Hills :) But aye, super wild!
Great video! Thanks for sharing, what a stunning hike!
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
did merrick n the area in april. been a lot of tree felling. hardly any on path as you go through that iron gate.
must admit i love to walk down the valley n watch the hand take shape. there’s a scramble up merrick vid some water falls
Nice wee vid mate, enjoyed that. 👌🏼
Thanks for watching Robin, a wee bit shorter than usual!
@@outlawedlandscapes that bothy is a bit grim. You might have spent the night in there with forgetting your torch. 😜
@@WalkWithWallace haha, aye, on the knackered blow up mattress 😅 I’ve heard Backhill o’ Bush is a lot worse though 🤭
@@outlawedlandscapes surprised at that, its actually an MBA effort that one.
@@WalkWithWallace I believe they let it go, was being well abused from what I’ve read. Years ago there was a chap who would steal folks kit whilst they were away though I doubt he’s still around 👍🏻
Nice one Scott! The sun is what always gets me. Too much heat and the legs turn to jelly 😄 I'd happily take it for those views at the summit though! Brilliant!
Agreed, I much prefer the cold! Hopefully the temps will drop a wee bit now that the season is changing :D It's a fantastic summit, if you ever fancy a bit of Galloway wilderness give me a shout :)
Nice video, did Merrick in sept 20 as last of my family were moving to Dumfries area. Ben Yellary Is definetly a tough slog from the bothy, not helped by 40 mph side winds when I did it. Thanks for sharing, great views and memories.
Thanks Neil! Fantastic, Benyellary is certainly a 'sleeper' haha! Definitely not made easier by the winds, that just adds to the experience though, you're less likely to forget an ascent if you've had to work for it ;) ATB
My new favourite camping channel!
:D
Decent conditions there Scott. We did it in a damp clammy mist which thankfully cleared for a splendid two hour window, before closing right in again as night fell. Our plan was to head back via Loch Enoch in the morning but conditions were grim so we just retraced our steps. Best wishes, Chris
Hi Chris, thanks for watching, it's a great hill when you get the views - I've got a very fond memory of climbing it via Kirriereoch Hill and the Spear, in zero % visibility, high winds and lashing rain/blizzard conditions. Couldn't see a thing but once I was back at the car I couldn't believe how satisfying it was - even without the views! The route back via Loch Enoch is great, especially if you make a visit to the grey man :)
@@outlawedlandscapes We took a stroll over to The Spear....a great spot. I was really keen to see the Grey Man too. Maybe next time. 🙂
Aye, it's an absolute belter! :D Just watch the eastern slopes, especially near the bottom as it can be VERY boggy - IE up to the thighs in places ;) Definitely worth visiting though, it looks like it's been carved!
I climbed the Merrick in April mate oafft that is a brutal slog up Benyellary 😅. I was the same boots felt like they were in cement but incredible views the views from the Merrick onto Benyellary are just beautiful. Great video man!! 😀
Hi David, thanks for watching! Aye, it's a fair old drag up there, specifically the Bothy to the summit of Benyellary - the same every time I've been up, haha! :D Glad you enjoyed it!
Heading here next week and this was just what I needed. Great video and much enjoyed. Newly subscribed.
Hi Dan, glad you enjoyed it! Have a look at my other one for an alternative route (if you’re interested) and it appears that there’s some snow at the top right now 👍🏻
Enjoyed that Scott 👍. Hope whatever was troubling you only lasted the day and isn’t anything more. Atb gordon
Thanks Gordon, aye, I think it was just the culmination of little things, but they tend to spiral when applying physical exertion. I usually find that by the end of a long walk having gone round in circles in my head I have burnt out the issues. :)
@@outlawedlandscapes agree with that. Nothing like a long walk to refresh you. Come back exhausted but strangely refreshed. Gordon
And hungry for more :D
Lovely hike, nice video. Thank you for sharing and wishing you a wonderful week. Take care and atb.
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it and the same to you :) Hoping to get out again soon, but the weathers been very driech so far this autumn!
Hey there just came across your channel. Just subbed to get you closer to that 1K and to support a fellow TH-cam vlogger and hiker out there. I am watching from the east coast of the US and love watching hikes from all over the UK. Just a stunning landscape you have in your backyard. Looking forward to watching more of your videos and following along with your channel. ~RVA Hiker Girl~
Hi! Thanks very much for that, the progress has been painful, haha! Aye, I'm very lucky to be so close to some semblance of wilderness, the Galloway Hills especially. I'm hoping to get further north soon though, as I really need to start shooting some grand corries and spired peaks :D Thanks again!
@@outlawedlandscapes Sure thing the hiking community around the world is so amazing. People supporting each others channels means so much! Subs, comments all help people's channels and the love and support even more. Best of luck to you.
Aye, I've certainly found that to be the case, I've really enjoyed the interaction so far - even with those pesky Hilleberg owners, haha! :)
beautiful video, as always, thanks. You think you might have been suffering a bit of altitude sickness? Love your crazy dog. Stay well.
Hi Gigi, thanks for watching! Certainly not altitude sickness, just an off day between sore legs & low drive :)
Nice one Scotty Boyo. Your Galloway daft eh 😉 We all get days when we are paggered and just no feeling it...Some nice funky tunage at the end. Many times you been up it now?
It's relatively close to home, dinna have the budget of you & Robin :D That was my 4th, will need to return for a wee summit camp though, still a couple of hills to tick off out that way as well!
Hiya pal, I really enjoyed watching this one 👍 Sorry about the breathlessness, I'm hoping you are all good now? You've inspired me to head north again 👍🏴❤️🏔
Hi Mate! Thanks for watching it, I'm glad you liked it! Aye, everything is fine - reckon it was just a mental block 😅
Great views ...hope your breathlessness was temporary.
Iv still not been the same since my second vaccine ...knocked the stuffing out of me.
Hopefully I'll be back out walking soon.
Thanks mate! Aye, it was just one of they days where I needed a bit of a kick up the arse 😂 I was a bit funny for a while after getting the old ‘rona but thankfully I’ve improved since!
@@outlawedlandscapes glad to hear it.
Gony check out more of your videos to cheer me up 👍
@@ErnstZundel45 haha! I hope I manage 😎 New videos are in the pipeline!
Done it today fair slog. Tough yin.
Well done.
Thanks! :)
@@outlawedlandscapes I know your friend from Poland we live in the same building he told me about your channel 👍.
@@jones1068 Ah, the intrepid Hubert! Excellent, he's in a lot of my videos :)
@@outlawedlandscapes I went up the Merrick with Hirbert recently we did a video to 👍 that bothy is in a bit of a state now.
@@jones1068 Excellent, aye he mentioned he'd been up again :) I don't actually know if anyone maintains the bothy, or whether it's up to the folk using it. Sometimes you go in and it's nice and tidy, other times it's an absolute shambles :o
You need to grow a moustache mate , that just looks so wrong.
Thanks for the advice, I’ll get right on that for you 👌🏻🤣
Nice one Scott, at least you had your camera and batteries
I'm getting older and I'm having to start making a ruddy list!!! lol
Looks a stiff climb but what beautiful views from the top
Cheers for posting mate
Haha! Camera isn't great for getting off a hill path in the pouring rain though as was the case this time..! I'm still very much a 'beginner' on the hills, so whilst I try to prepare myself, there are wee mistakes here and there that then cement the importance of certain aspects (such as carrying your torch & spare torch just in case!) :D
@@outlawedlandscapes lol. It looked a good climb anyway 👍👍👍
It was, thoroughly enjoyed it once I got to the summit :D