We are the Kilmarnock & Loudoun Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Grade A+ strenuous
Patrick Kelly 07572834180
The walk starts at Bruce's stone car park at Glen Trool. We start walking following the road crossing the Buchan burn which can be impressive, go through a gate and climb steeply uphill on rough ground to the Coll on the start of the Buchan Ridge. This is a good point to look back and see where you have come from over Loch Trool and the surrounding hills. We still keep climbing until we get to the ridge proper and to the summit of Buchan Hill at 495 metres. This is a long ridge with a number of ascents and descents. Towards the end of the ridge we ascend the Rig of Loch Enoch which leads us to Loch Enoch itself. There are great views all around while on the ridge itself, numerous lochs on one side and on the other side the lump of Benyellary and the Merrick. From Loch Enoch we immediately begin climbing the Merrick, there is no definite path until you reach the very flat summit area of the Merrick 843 metres. We come down the tourist route over Benyellary passing the bothy at Culsharg. From there the path is very uneven and broken, with boulders. Care has to be taken. We are now following the Buchan burn which leads us back to the car park.
The walk is approximately 9 miles long and should take about 8 hours with breaks, because the conditions underfoot are so difficult, tussocks, boulders and broken paths. Height climbed is approximately equivalent to a Munro. Gaiters and walking poles are necessary.
Directions for travel.
A77 to Minishant, after Minishant take the Straiton road B7045 and continue through on the moor road to the turn off for Glen Trool. 1 hour 30 minutes. 100 mile round trip.
If travelling direct please contact Patrick Kelly 07572834180
As this is a long walk we will have 3 breaks please bring plenty of water. There are toilets at Straiton.
East Ayrshire Headquarters London Road Kilmarnock
Bruces stone car park Glen Trool
