Introduction
The southern uplands of Scotland are a range of hills between the Central Belt of Scotland and the border with England. Dumfries and Galloway are the western most hills in this range and also the nicest. The hills have similar characteristics to both the Lake District and the Highlands of Scotland. They have grass and heather glens and slopes as rough and tough as any in Scotland whilst having some friendly characteristic lakeland contours.

In the heart of the Galloway hills - Silver Flowe

Loch Trool and Glen Trool on a summer's evening

The best area to explore these hills from is Glen Trool. Forestry plantations are widespread across the bottom of the glens - some even nearly get to the crest of some ridges but in between there are some very nice wild valleys. The stretch of hills to the north of Loch Trool is the best area with Merrick being the highest hill in the Southern Uplands and quite possibly the best.

Merrick and Galloway hills above morning clouds

Loch Netdricken and the Rig of Loch Enoch

Spider's webs in abundance here

Loch Enoch - one of the highest in Galloway

Merrick has smooth slopes on its south and western sides but has an impressive northern corrie. From the east it also has a nice profile. A ridge extends northwards across other hills including Kirriereoch Hill and another Corbett called Shalloch on Milloch. East of Merrick there's a loch called Loch Enoch. It's a really nice place on a good day with a nice remote feeling.

Morning mist in Glen Trool

The northern slopes of Merrick

The eastern profile of Merrick

Further east there's another group of hills called the Rhinns of Kells where the highest hill is a Corbett called Corserine. The hills seen from the west look fairly dull and are guarded by Forrestry - only a few fire breaks permit access from the west. The eastern side is more dramatic with steep broken craggy slopes.

Rhinns of Kells seen from the west

On Corserine looking south along the Rhinns of Kells ridge

Finally to the south we have another mountain called Lamachan Hill with a rough knobbly ridge that extends eastwards to another summit called Millfore. Lots of Tough walking but look out for the plantations - there aren't many breaches in the forests either from the north or the south.