The Minnigaff Hills are a range of hills in the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. A southerly range, they are perpendicular to the Range of the Awful Hand, Dungeon Hills and Rhinns of Kells to the north. In total, these four ranges are part of the Galloway Forest Park.
The hills of the range are the second lowest of the Galloway Hills with the highest hill, Lamachan Hill, reaching 717m, but cover a much more circular area. They are located entirely within Dumfries and Galloway and, despite the name, are most commonly ascended from nearby Glen Trool to the north, albeit more steeply, rather than Minnigaff itself to the south. A common round takes in Lamachan Hill and Curleywee with the option of Larg Hill, however the most easterly and isolated Donald, Millfore, is normally ascended on its own. [1] The higher summits broadly form an 'N' shape and contain far more divergent satellite ridges and individual hills than the other three ranges.
From west to east (excluding all satellite ridges) the hills are:
| Summit | Height (m) | Listing [2] |
|---|---|---|
| Larg Hill | 676 | Tu,Sim, D,GT,DN [3] |
| Lamachan Hill | 717 | Ma,Hu,Tu,Sim, G, D,DN,Y [4] |
| Scars of Milldown | 602.9 | Tu,Sim,DDew [5] |
| Curleywee | 674 | Hu,Tu,Sim, D,GT,DN,Y [6] |
| Bennan Hill | 547 | Tu,5,DDew [7] |
| Gairy of Pulnee | 581 | Tu,5,DDew [8] |
| Millfore | 657 | Ma,Hu,Tu,Sim, G, D,DN,Y [9] |
| Cairngarroch | 557 | Tu,5,DDew [10] |
| Craignell | 477 | Ma,Hu,Tu,4,Y [11] |
The SSSI Cairnbaber, lies on the northeast slopes of Millfore and is an example of a SNH priority habitat, Inland Rock Outcrops. [12] [13]
A Scottish Gaelic influence is clear on a number of hills in the range; 'Curleywee' is said to come from cor le gaeith (hill in the wind) [14] and 'Millfore' from meall fuar (cold round hill). [15] 'Larg Hill' may derive from Irish: learg (slopes of a hill). [16] [17] An area of land was historically given to the Mackie of Larg by Robert the Bruce; known still as Cumloden, just north of Minnigaff and 5 miles from Larg Hill itself. [18] 'Lamachan Hill', historically 'Lommachan', [17] may derive from Irish: loma (bare). [19]
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The Merrick, or simply Merrick, is a mountain in the Range of the Awful Hand, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The summit elevation is 843 metres, making it the highest mountain in the Southern Uplands and southern Scotland.
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Càrn a' Gheòidh or Càrn Gheòidh is a mountain in the Mounth region of the Scottish Highlands. It lies 15 km south of the town of Braemar. Its summit stands on the border between the council areas of Perth and Kinross and Aberdeenshire.
The Range of the Awful Hand is a range of hills in the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The most westerly of three parallel ridges, the range is neighboured to the east by the Dungeon Hills and the Rhinns of Kells. The Minnigaff Hills also lie southeast. In total, these four ranges are part of the Galloway Forest Park. The ridge is split between South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.
Lamachan Hill is a hill in the Minnigaff Hills, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It is the highest hill of the range, lying 11 kilometres (7 mi) north of Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway.
Under Saddle Yoke is a hill in the Moffat Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. Despite its name, it is 10m higher than its neighbouring top, Saddle Yoke. Located in a dramatic position on a small, grassy ridge in between two deep glens, Blackhope and Carrifran, it awards excellent views into the rest of the Moffat Hills and the Ettrick Hills opposite. Although incomparable to the Scottish Highlands and not particularly precipitous, the ridge between and atop the Yokes is the narrowest summit ridge in the Southern Uplands. The electric fence that comes out of Blackshope and crosses the ridge to the north of Saddle Yoke and then continues down into Carrifran hasn't worked in 40 years. A popular round known as the Hart Fell Horseshoe begins near Blackshope and normally ascends Nether Coomb Craig first, then passing over Swatte Fell, Hart Fell and looping round Hartfell Rig to the Saddle Yokes before the descent.
Millfore is a hill in the Minnigaff Hills, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It lies northeast of Newton Stewart in Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries and Galloway. One of the less-visited of the Galloway Hills, it nonetheless provides excellent views from its summit over its neighbours and Loch Dee. Isolated from its westerly neighbours by the White Laggan glen, it is frequently climbed on its own from Clatteringshaws Loch to the east.
Meikle Millyea is a hill in the Rhinns of Kells, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The true summit of the hill has been disputed over the years; a 2015 survey concluded that the southwest top, around 400m southwest from the trig point and cairn is approximately 2m higher.
Larg Hill is a hill in the Minnigaff Hills, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The second highest and most westerly of the range, it is normally ascended with Lamachan Hill as part of a round normally starting from the north or south. Historically it was covered by woodland consisting of ash, oak, fir and beech.
Curleywee is a hill in the Minnigaff Hills, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It is normally ascended with Lamachan Hill as part of a round normally starting from the north or south.
The Dungeon Hills are a range of hills in the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The central of three parallel ridges, they are neighboured by the Range of the Awful Hand to the west and the Rhinns of Kells to the east. The range is also perpendicular to the Minnigaff Hills range, immediately south. In total, these four ranges are part of the Galloway Forest Park.
The Rhinns of Kells are a range of hills in the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The most easterly of three parallel ridges, they are neighboured to the west by the Range of the Awful Hand and the Dungeon Hills. The eastern portion of the Minnigaff Hills range lies immediately southwest of the range. In total, these four ranges are part of the Galloway Forest Park. The ridge is located entirely within Dumfries and Galloway, with the base of the western flanks being a northwestern boundary of the county.
The Culter Hills, Coulter Fells or variations thereof, are a range of hills, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. They are neighboured to the east by the Manor Hills and are split roughly in half by the border between South Lanarkshire and the Scottish Borders.