An old Scots song suggests "the Gallowa' hills are covered wi' broom". They may have been once, but I'm afraid that in my experience they're covered in nothing so attractive these days. Today the hills are skirted by dense forestry. Only a few flanks and the broad summit ridges rise above the oceans of sitka spruce and many access routes have to negotiate these broad forests.
Situated in the north of the Galloway Forest Park, Shalloch on Minnoch is the most westerly Corbett (a Scottish mountain between 2500ft and 2999ft) in southern Scotland. While its western flanks are swathed in the ubiquitous forestry plantations, the upper slopes of the hill are clear and, because of its westerly position, it offers some of the finest views in the area. On a clear day the view from the summit of Shalloch on Minnoch takes in the Mournes of Ulster, the Lakeland Fells, the Isle of Man, the Mull of Kintyre and the islands of Arran, Jura and the Ailsa Craig.
The name Shalloch on Minnoch could mean "the heel of the Minnoch ridge", assuming that Shalloch comes from the Gaelic word sail or saileag. The word could also come from the Gaelic word sealg, meaning a hunt, which ties it rather nicely with one of its neighbours, Mullwharcar (which translates as "the hill of the huntsman's horn").
Minnoch probably comes from the Gaelic word for a rounded ridge-like hill, monadh. The highest hill in Ayrshire and lying southwest of lochs Macaterick and Riecawr, Shalloch on Minnoch is regarded as the little finger of the dramatic sounding Range Of The Awful Hand, which also includes the Merrick - probably the best known of the Galloway Hills. Rising proudly from its skirts of conifer plantations, Shalloch on Minnoch makes for a good hill ascent.
The car park at the beginning of the route commemorates David Bell, a local writer and cyclist, and is situated close to Rowantree Junction, where once an inn and a toll-house stood. It was in this location that a body was once found, giving the place the name of the Murder Hole. In his novel about droving in the Galloway area, The Raiders, author SR Crockett "stole" the location and moved it close to Loch Neldricken, north of Glen Trool.
A sign beside the road indicates Shalloch on Minnoch, but that's the last signpost you'll see for the hill. Follow the forest road past the house at Laglanny and continue to where the track crosses a bridge over the Water of Minnoch. Turn right here and follow the trail to a disused farm called Shalloch on Minnoch. The easy walking stops here and it's muddy footpaths for the rest of the route through the forest. Follow the river for about a quarter of a mile to where a girder bridge of sorts takes you over to the east bank.
Follow the stream now for about half a mile to where a tributary flows down through a firebreak. Follow the firebreak, at times crawling below the spreading branches of the pines, until you break free from the trees with an easy, if long, climb up the hill's west ridge to the trig-point summit.
Retrace your steps to descend or, alternatively, if you have the time, head south from Shalloch on Minnoch over Nick of Carlach, and then over Tarfessock. From here a long tarn-splattered ridge works its way south over Carmeddie Brae then up scree slopes to the summit of Kirrieroch Hill, which is about 150 metres south of an old wall.
To descend, follow the wall down the west ridge and head for a noticeable firebreak in the forest which follows the line of the Pillow Burn. Soon you'll come across a forestry track which passes Kirriereoch farm to join up with the public road about four kilometres south of the Bell car park.
Map: OS Sheet 77 Distance: About 9 miles Approx time: 4-6 hours Start/finish: Bell Memorial car park at GR 353907 Route: From the car park which is situated at on the Straiton to Bargrennan road, take the forest road (marked Shalloch on Minnoch) that runs past the house Laglanny. After half a mile or so the road turns left over a bridge, and once you've crossed over it turn right and follow the track to the ruined farm of Shalloch on Minnoch. Go through the derelict farm, past a sheepfold, and follow the Shalloch Burn, which is crossed on a girder bridge about a quarter of a mile beyond the farm. Follow the stream for about half a mile to where a firebreak follows a tributary burn. Follow the muddy, and at times awkward, footpath up the firebreak until clear of the trees. Now climb the tussocky grass slopes of Shalloch on Minnoch's west ridge to the summit. Return the same way.
www.cameronmcneish.co.uk
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