Glen Trool: Bruce's Stone – Buchan Hill – Craignine Rig - (Loch Enoch) - Loch Neldricken - Gairland Burn - Bruce's Stone

This wonderful walk presents a stunning panorama of mountains, hills, ridges, lochs, burns and waterfalls in the heart of the Galloway Forest Park. You climb Buchan Hill, small by comparison with many of its loftier neighbours though itself a mountain at 1,617ft; but due to its favoured central position amongst them, you will be rewarded with superb views from its summit: Benyellary and the Merrick, Mullwharchar, Loch Neldricken, the Rig o' the Jarkness, Loch Valley, Craiglee, Mulldonach, all these and more besides are revealed in glorious succession to delight and divert the eye. Do be sure to choose a clear day for this most scenic of walks!

On this occasion I was for once accompanied. Robin Hamilton Esquire, the well-known Alpine and Himalayan trekker and ardent collector of Munros, but paying his very first visit to Galloway, kindly acted as my pack-animal and photographic model. We elected to include the extension to Loch Enoch.

Refreshments may be had at the Glentrool Visitor Centre at Stroan Bridge. There are toilet facilities there and at the larger car park near Bruce's Stone.

This area is managed in partnership with Cree Valley Community Woodlands Trust (CVCWT) to create a Forest Habitat Network. www.creevalley.com for further information.

For local weather forecasts and other relevant information and services go to www.gallowaymrt.org.uk for Galloway Mountain Rescue's excellent website.

Scotland - Dumfries & Galloway - Galloway Forest Park

View a road map to the starting point of this walk.