Location: Dumfries
& Galloway
Grade: Moderate hillwalk on rough terrain
Distance: 9 miles / 15km
Time: 4-6 hours
In the north of the Galloway Forest Park, Shalloch on Minnoch is the
most westerly Corbett in southern
Scotland. While its western flanks
are swathed in 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 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
means the hill of the huntsman’s horn.
Minnoch probably comes from the Gaelic word for a rounded ridgelike
hill, monadh.
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
there was once an inn and a tollhouse. It was in this location that a
tinker's 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 S.R.Crockett nicked 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. Follow the forest road
past the house at Laglanny and continue to where the track crosses the
Water of Minnoch. Turn right here and follow the trail to a disused
farm, also called Shalloch on Minnoch. The easy walking stops here and
its muddy paths for the rest of the route through the forest.
Follow the river for about 400m to where a girder bridge of sorts takes
you over to the east bank. Follow the stream now for about 800m 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 Kirriereoch
Hill, which is about 150m 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 Kirrriereoch farm to join up with
the
public road about 4km south of the Bell car park.
ROUTE PLANNER
Map: OS 1:50,000 Landranger sheet 77 ( Dalmellington & New Galloway
)
Distance: About 9 miles / 15km
Time: 4-6 hours
Start / finish: Bell Memorial car park on the Straiton to Bargrennan
road ( GR: NX353907 ).
Public transport: None to the start.
lnformation: www.gallowayforestpark.com
Route: From the car park, take the forest road ( marked Shalloch on
Milloch ) that runs past the house Laglanny.
After 800m or so the road turns L over a bridge and once you've crossed
turn Fl and follow the track to the ruined farm of Shalloch on Minnoch.
Go through the farm, past a sheepfold, and follow the Shalloch Burn
which is crossed on a girder bridge about 400m beyond the farm.
Follow the stream for about 800m to where a firebreak follows a
tributary bum.
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 768m summit.
Return the same way.
