Merrick (Galloway) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Merrick
Highest point
Elevation	843 m (2,766 ft)
Prominence	705 m
Listing	Ma,Hu,Tu,Sim, C, D,CoH,CoU, CoA,DN,Y,T100,P600,P500
Naming
English translation	Scottish Gaelic: Finger
Geography
Merrick Location in Scotland
Parent range	Range of the Awful Hand, Southern Uplands
OS grid	NX 42760 85547
Topo map	OS Landranger 77

Merrick is a tall mountain in Scotland. It is part of the Galloway Hills range, which is found in the Southern Uplands. At 843 meters (2,766 feet) high, Merrick is the tallest mountain in all of southern Scotland. Its name comes from the Scottish Gaelic language, meaning "Finger."

Amazing Views from Merrick

Did you know that from the top of Merrick, you can see all the way to Snowdon in Wales? This amazing view stretches for 144 miles (232 kilometers)! It is the longest line of sight in the entire British Isles.

Mysterious Rocks on the Mountain

Merrick has some interesting rocks near its top. You can find several very large granite boulders. They are partly buried in the ground on the wide west ridge, about 800 meters up. These rocks are called glacial erratics. This means they were carried there by a glacier long ago. It's a bit of a mystery how they ended up so high on the mountain, much higher than any other granite found in the Galloway Hills today.

How to Hike Merrick

Hiking Merrick is a popular activity. The easiest way to reach the top is by starting from a car park in Glen Trool. This car park is close to a special monument called Bruce's Stane. This monument remembers a famous battle. In 1307, Robert the Bruce won a big victory there against the English forces of Edward II.

The hike from Glen Trool is quite straightforward. You will walk past a recently fixed-up shelter called Culsharg bothy. Then, you climb up to another peak called Benyellary. After a small dip, you make the final climb to the summit, where you'll find a trig-point (a marker used for surveying). The whole trip, going up and back, is about 8 miles (13 kilometers).

Important Tip: If the weather is foggy or visibility is poor, be careful when coming down. It's easy to accidentally walk down the wrong ridge (the west ridge), which leads to very remote areas.

Climbing Challenges on Merrick

Merrick is not known for rock climbing. This is because of the type of rock it has. However, in winter, when it's very cold and icy, Merrick offers some great ice climbs. These climbs can be up to 200 meters long. They are found on a part of the mountain called the Black Gairy, which is west of the summit.

Other Peaks Nearby

Merrick is surrounded by other interesting peaks. Here are some of them:

Ice climbing in the Black Gutter, Merrick

See also

In Spanish: Merrick (Galloway) para niños