The prominent ridge of the Merrick dominates the hills around Loch Trool and offers a fine walk to the highest summit in the Galloway Hills. At 16 km, it’s one of the longest, and at 843 m, it is the highest mountain in southern Scotland. Much of the ground underfoot is quite rough, especially in the winter months when there is less light, and the weather can be really unpredictable.

My approach was from Bruce's Stone via the Buchan Burn and Whiteland Burn to the summit of Benyellary, involving a long uphill section on icy, rocky, and muddy paths. Due to limited daylight hours, this was my preferred route to the summit.

This mountain walk includes some steep slopes and icy, snow-covered paths. I carried full gear, including a winter emergency survival bag, spare clothes, gaiters, waterproofs, compass, and map. I needed to use them! I also had hot water, spare water, head torches, bergen, mobile phone, and backup. Ration packs were included, along with my Leica M6 and some color film.

My intention was to practice, learn about the mountain, and stay fit. Unexpectedly, I witnessed a very rare fogbow right on the summit during one of my visits, and I was the only one there to see it. After witnessing this phenomenon, visibility decreased to 10 m, and I had to use a compass to descend from the summit. Getting off there became a mission due to the limited light and the time of day, but my priority was to descend safely.

I visited the Merrick three times over ten days, carrying minimal equipment—a Leica M6 with one 35 mm f2 lens, two rolls of Kodak Ektar color film, and an iPhone. Safety was my priority over photography, but I managed to capture some incredible footage of the Merrick in the depths of winter.