Читать книгу The Book of the Bothy онлайн

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By far the most famous landmark close to Tunskeen is The Merrick, a high but fairly rounded bump of a hill that most approach from the car park at Glen Trool. But start at this bothy and you can tackle it from the direction that few others bother to.

The area abounds with tantalising names – from the Dungeon Hills, the Murder Hole and even the Grey Man of Merrick – but the one name that will always entice outdoor lovers is Tunskeen. Because without this stone-built legend, the legacy of all the other bothies we know and love may never have existed.

Did you know?

The range of hills above the bothy that stretch out into a ridge make up what is known as ’The Awful Hand’; it includes The Merrick, Benyellary, Kirriereoch Hill, Tarfessock and Shalloch on Minnoch. It’s not particularly tough in terms of technicality, but the descent and re-ascent makes it something of a challenge, as does the amount of boggy ground underfoot.

Look out for...

Wildlife: Both roe and fallow deer can be seen among these hills. Watch the sky as night falls for lingering bats. During the day you may see one of the local red kites.