Range of the Awful Hand

The Range of the Awful Hand, west across Loch Enoch to Merrick

The Range of the Awful Hand is a range of remote hills lying across the border of Kirkcudbrightshire with Ayrshire. It is the highest part of the Galloway Hills (and indeed of the Southern Uplands), containing Merrick, the highest of the Galloway Hills and Kirkcudbrightshire’s county top.

The range is named due to its resemblance to the fingers of a hand, its five peaks each with a long, rocky ridge running from it, all together in the form of a vast, craggy hand. The hills forming this awful hand, starting at the 'thumb' are:

Benyellary	2,359 feet
Merrick	2,766 feet
Kirriereoch Hill	2,579 feet
Tarfessock	2,287 feet
Shalloch on Minnoch	2,520 feet

Merrick is the highest hill in Kirkcudbrightshire and indeed the highest in the Southern Uplands, though no challenge to the vast peaks of the Highlands.

The hand is best seen from near Waterhead on Minnoch as you head south from Stinchar Bridge towards Glentrool village. The Awful Hand ridge is 5½ miles long as the crow flies from the top of Shalloch on Minnoch to the top of Benyellary, with some stiff climbs along the route especially around Kirriereoch and the Merrick, to any who take up the challenge of crossing it all.

References

• "The Galloway Hills". Galloway Mountain Rescue Team. http://www.gallowaymrt.org.uk/Hills.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-23. 
• Sandy White. "The Galloway Hills". walkingworld.com. http://www.walkingworld.com/home/index.asp?id=26&nid=357. Retrieved 2008-06-23.