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And the Murder Hole? It’s a pool of unwholesome reeds and black water at the corner of Loch Neldricken. It’s bottomless and never freezes over, and it’s where the bog brigands of 200 years ago used to fling the unwanted carcasses of their victims. At least, if you believe The Raiders, by SR Crockett – a friend of Robert Louis Stevenson and almost his equal when it comes to a hill-walking adventure story to tingle your boot soles.

The alternative descent from Loch Enoch, by the Rig of the Buchan, is probably even nicer than the three lochs, while also being easier and drier underfoot. So if Merrick is to be your only route in Galloway, you may prefer to switch at Loch Enoch to this alternative descent.

Merrick from the east – Redstone Rig runs down the left-hand skyline

Diversion to Fell of Eschoncan

Near the top end of the car park a small bracken path heads up the steep side of Fell of Eschoncan – it was created with a strimmer for the first running of the Merrick hill race, but persists as a rugged alternative route over Fell of Eschoncan. The faint path then passes across the rough plateau of Bennan, staying below, and east of, the radio masts to continue north across a sometimes soggy wide col to join the main path up Benyellary.