Not counting those who live there, the Southern Uplands are generally neglected by walkers. This vast area has a real backwater feel, yet the best of the hills here easily hold their own with more celebrated summits. The one thing they tend to lack is crowds. In contrast to the generally rolling lay of the land the wild heart of the Galloway Forest Park is strikingly rugged, a knobbly landscape scattered with micro crags and deserted lochans, its lower slopes defended by a winning combination of man eating bog, ankle-twisting tussock and impenetrable conifers. Well I'm sold. A skyline walk around the parallel ranges the Rhinns of Kells and the Awful Hand shows this area at its uncompromising best and includes Merrick, highest summit in southern Scotland. For most teams this will be an overnighter, and it just so happens there's great camping at about the mid-way point (anywhere in stage 4, below).
23.55 miles, 37.90 km, 2,018m ascent, 13 hours. Dalmellington
Read more at http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=859