The Galloway Hills of south-east Scotland offer almost unlimited access for walkers, a rare freedom that has contributed to their description as "A Walker's Paradise". A tract of rocky, heathery wilderness interspersed by forest park, these hills offer a varied walking programme, from gentle waymarked forest trails to strenuous, bothy-based treks. You can marvel at the wild qualities of the hills and follow the colourful and turbulent history of the Scottish clans and Robert the Bruce. The mixed woodland and moors support a varied wildlife, including many species of bird and wildfowl, red deer, wild goats, cattle, and even red squirrels and lizards. Paddy Dillon describes in detail 33 circular day walks of 5-12 miles, all starting from a car park, and 7 longer, more adventurous walks. All the walks can be linked with one or two others. Whichever you choose, the Rhinns of Kells, Rig of the Jarkness, Nieve of the Spit, Shallock on Minnoch, Point of the Snibe, Mullwharcher and Craigeazle are names to stir your imagination and inspire you to poetry.
INTRODUCTION "Be warned, its going to be tough underfoot this year" The bare bones A glimpse of history The Galloway Forest Park Flora and fauna Access and accommodation Familiarisation with the area Those crazy names The walks The maps Tourist information WALKS: Stroan Bridge Forest Trails Loch Trool Forest Trail Fell of Eschoncan and Pulnagashel Bennan and the Fell of Eschoncan Merrick and the Loch Enoch Merrick and Kirriereoch Hill Tarfessock and Kirriereoch Hill Cornish Hill and Shalloch on Minnoch Carrick Forest Drive and Cornish Hill Loch Riecawr and Tunskeen Bothy Kirriereoch Hill from Tunskeen Bothy Mullwharchar from Tunskeen Bothy Macaterick from the Carrick Forest Drive Around Craigmawhannal from Loch Doon Mullwharchar from Loch Head Carlin's Cairn from Loch Head Carlin's Cairn and Corserine from Polmaddie Corserine from Backhill of Bush Milldown from Backhill of Bush Tops of Craigeazle from Backhill of Bush Darrou, Little Millyea and Meikle Millyea Darnow and Court Knowe from Black Loch Cairnarroch and Millfore from Craigencallie Millfore from Auchinleck Lamachan Hill from Auchinleck Larg Hill from Caldons Campsite Lamachan Hill and Mulldonoch Curleywee and Lamachan Hill from White Laggan Craiglee and Loch Dee from White Laggan Craiglee from Craigencallie Loch Valley and Craiglee from Glen Trool The Dungeon Hills from Backhill of Bush The Dungeon Hills from Glen Trool Longer Walks: The Forest Walk The Awful Hand Walk The Rhinns of Kells Walk The Minnigaff Hills Walk The Dungeon Hills Walk The Grand Tour The Southern Upland Way
Paddy Dillon is a prolific outdoor writer with over thirty guidebooks to his name, as well as more than a dozen booklets and brochures. He writes for outdoor magazines and other publications, as well as for tourism organisations. Paddy lives near the Lake District and has walked in every county in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales; writing about walks in every one of them. Paddy enjoys simple day walks, challenging long-distance walks, and is a dedicated island-hopper. He has led guided walks and walked extensively in Europe, as well as in Nepal, Tibet, Africa and the Rocky Mountains of Canada and the USA. While researching routes, Paddy works directly onto a palmtop computer, so that his descriptions are precise, having been written at the very point at which the reader uses them. Paddy takes his own photographs, has appeared on radio and TV, and is a member of the Outdoor Writers' Guild.