Dumfries & Galloway: Best walking route

Distance: About 5 miles/9km

Time: 3-4 hours

Grade: Good footpaths and tracks which can be very muddy after rain

GLEN Trool has been described as the finest glen in the south of Scotland and I wouldn’t disagree. This fine sheet of water lies within the Galloway Forest Park. At the head of Glen Trool the loch resembles a jewel, surrounded by woods, craggy hillsides and history. Comparisons with the Trossachs are not exaggerated.

Loch Trool also offers an introduction to the wonderfully named Range of the Awful Hand, a wonderful little grouping of southern hills, the highest of which, The Merrick, at 2764ft/814m dominates the hills around Loch Trool. Merrick, the “branched finger” of the Awful Hand, is the highest summit in Galloway.

A walk around the loch offers a superb introduction to the whole area of Galloway, an area rich in the history of both political and religious stuggles.

Near the start of the walk is a subsidiary path which leads to the Martyr’s Tomb. This commemorates half a dozen Covenanters who were praying here when they were surprised and overcome by Colonel Douglas, Lieutenant Livingston and Cornet James Douglas. The Covenanters were murdered for “their adherence to Scotland’s Reformation Covenants National and Solemn League 1685”.

In 1307 tradition has it that a band of Scots under the command of Robert the Bruce trundled boulders and rocks down the lower slopes of Mulldonach, on the south side of Loch Trool, to rout an English force led by the Earl of Pembroke.

Things hadn’t been going too well for the Bruce up until then - he’d been defeated at Methven, his brother had been executed, his wife imprisoned and he had been excommunicated from the Catholic church. After watching the spider in the cave he decided to give it another go and this rout apparently turned the tide for him. The Bruce’s Stone, on the north side of Loch Trool commemorates the event.

Start at the Caldons camp site at the west end of Loch Trool. Beyond the campsite shop take the road on the left which runs towards Loch Trool. Look out for a Southern Upland Way signpost (a thistle logo) which points left over a small bridge.

Cross the bridge and follow the track down to the lochside or alternatively continue on the waymarked SUW route on the right. The lochside route is less obvious and gradually becomes rougher but it is more scenic! Eventually both routes merge together opposite Glen Trool Lodge on the north side of the loch and the path continues above an area of flat flood plain at the head of Loch Trool. Follow it down to a wooden footbridge over the Glenhead Burn, cross the bridge, turn left and follow the muddy footpath through the trees to where it joins the Glenhead Farm track.

Follow this track west, past the house at Buchan and up a steep bend to the Bruce’s Stone car park. Continue along the road below the Fell of Eschoncan until you pass the entrance drive to Glen Trool Lodge. Shortly after this turn-off look out for a signposted path which leaves the road on the left opposite the Pulnabrick Burn and follow it down to a small bridge. Cross the bridge and walk through the forest back to the camp site.

Map: Ordnance Survey Landranger Sheet 77 (Dalmellington & New Galloway), Harvey’s Galloway Hills
Start/Finish: Caldons Campsite, Glen Trool. Turn east off the A714 at Bargrennan and follow signs to the car park at the campsite
Distance: About 5 miles/9km
Time: 3-4 hours
Terrain: Good footpaths and tracks which can be very muddy after rain

Route: Start at the Caldons camp site at the W end of Loch Trool. Take the road on the left which runs towards Loch Trool. Follow signpost (a thistle logo) left over a small bridge and follow the track down to the lochside or alternatively continue on the waymarked route on the right. The lochside route is more scenic! Both routes merge together opposite Glen Trool Lodge on the N side of the loch and the path continues above an area of flat flood plain at the head of Loch Trool. Follow it to a wooden footbridge over the Glenhead Burn, cross the bridge, turn left and follow footpath to where it joins the Glenhead Farm track. Follow this track W, past the house at Buchan and up a steep bend to the Bruce’s Stone car park. Continue along the road below the Fell of Eschoncan until you pass the entrance drive to Glen Trool Lodge. Shortly after follow a signposted path which leaves the road on the left opposite the Pulnabrick Burn and follow it down to a small bridge. Cross the bridge and return to the camp site through the forest

Link to digital map: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/5824614/Rte-1-W1-Loch-Trool © Crown copyright 2020 Ordnance Survey. Media 059/20.