The Minnigaff Hills lie to the south of Loch Trool and from their tops stunning panoramic views of the surrounding ranges are available to those choosing this walk. We start at Bruce’s Stone commemorating his success of 1307 against the English army of Edward 1. Loch Trool is one of the most photographed views in Scotland especially from the elevated position of Bruce’s Stone.

The first part of this walk follows the road to Glenhead Farm through some of the old oak forests and it is possible to see a number of birds of prey in this wooded area. Glenhead and nearby bothies were visited by literary figures who gained inspiration from the surrounding grandeur. S. R. Crockett’s The Raiders is based on the immediate area.

Beyond Glenhead we pick up The Southern Upland Way, a 212 mile cross country walk just recently celebrating its 21st anniversary, and follow it for a couple of miles when a superb view of Loch Dee and the hills beyond open up giving the ideal spot for a cuppa. The major ascent now starts following the steep ridge from the forest road to White Hill and a further 400 metres to the top of Curleywee (Corr leth uidhe, Pinnacle beyond the ridge).

A well-deserved rest will be taken here with an opportunity to soak in the wonderful vista. An interesting descent takes us to the Nick of Curleywee, along a mildly exposed path to Bennanbrack (Beinn an breaghad, Mountain of majesty) where nature’s work is very obvious. From Bennanbrack we follow the plateau to Lamachan (Laomachd aon mheall, Chief point of the multiple-pointed mountain) with a huge corrie to the southeast where it is said occurred the first air crash in Scotland. Sadly many more accidents have taken place in the intervening years throughout the Galloway Hills.

If time permits Larg (Ladharg mhill, mountain of the flank) can be achieved by walking an additional 3 kilometres with a return towards Lamachan and the final peak of the day, Mulldonoch where another stop will afford excellent views towards the Merrick, the highest point in the Southern Uplands 843 metres.

The final part of the walk follows the Caldons Burn through a mixture of deciduous and conifer trees and spectacular waterfalls to the former camp site at Caldons where 6 Covenanters were murdered in 1685. The last two kilometres is on a trail leading back to our starting point at Bruce’s Stone.

This is a demanding mountain walk on a mixture of forest road, paths and wild Galloway rough terrain. All participants should be experienced walkers with a good level of fitness. With the additional leg to Larg the total distance is 17 kilometres (11 miles) and should be achieved in 6/7 hours.

Advice to Walkers
This is a strenous hill walk but we will take it at a comfortable pace with regular breaks to enjoy the scenery. Walkers must be prepared for a long day on the hill with suitable sturdy footwear, clothing for all weather conditions and food for the duration. See Guidance for Walkers for more information.

This route will be limited to 30 walkers so booking is essential.