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In South Ayrshire in a few weeks time with my kids (16 &13). Had suggested to them we walk up the merrick. I last did this over 30 years ago as a teenager. They suggested to me that we could ride it. I know it's been done. My question is could I get two teenagers up there. They are very fit but their bike skills are at best described as red route without getting their tyres off the ground.
Would it just be a long and painful day out and a good walk ruined??
Thanks in advance
Not done it since 2012ish due to spms now leaving me completely ****ed but from memory It can be ridden once you get above the treeline and is a relatively easy climb up to Benyellery summit then across the neive of the spit to begin the climb up to the Merrick summit.
As far as I know the walk/hike from the car park up to bothy is still littered with boulders and from bothy to above the treeline is still very washed out so that's hike a bike stuff, may be too much for your kids but well worth the effort to attempt it - it was all completely rideable for myself once past treeline but back then I was stupidly single speed fit.
My fav local galloway hill to me and one ive been up dozens of times, I only have a few pics uploaded to Flickr from my trips.
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Veiw looking back down to Loch Trool from 300yrds up the Merrick path from carpark
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Looking from Benyellary along neive of the spit to Merrick climb
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pic taken from halfway up Merrick climb looking down to neive of the spit and benyellary summit
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Looking down from Merrick summit to loch neidrickan/murder hole area
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Looks really nice, weather in those pics helps!!!
I may have a chat with them about the hike a bike and let then decide. If they accept the challenge we'll give it a shot!!
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https://singletrackmag.com/2017/10/singletrack-magazine-issue-115-the-merrick/ This is a good read.
Nice write up and I can confirm the views on a clear day are stunning and you can see snowdon in wales, all the hills in lake district, the mourne mountains in N Ireland, up to Kintyre and the Lomond hills, on a clear summer night the stars are out of this world 😀 Â and it was my fav bivvy summit with a full hip flask of Balvenie & a few joints.Â
Somehow missed that article. Looks good. Sunshine really would help!!
@tourismo Glad you liked my article. I really enjoyed the day out. The hardest but was at the start towards the bothy but then got easier. On a blue sky day, it would be a lovely adventure. Not too far north too technical. Would definitely do it again.Â
Cheers
Sanny
Davie Bell (The Highwayman) rode the Merrick way back when (1950s?).
I scanned the account from his book -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZXEg23wXLkiPXDeVA
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Davie wrote weekly articles for the Ayrshire Post about his cycling adventures, which were collected in a couple of books after his death.
There's also memorial to Davie just off the road at the bottom of the Nic O' The Balloch.Â
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This just popped into my YouTube feed so may give you an idea of the trail conditions up to the tree line/gate where the route becomes rideable up to benyellary/merrick.
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It's been some time since I've done it but my preferred ascent route is to ride from the visitors centre up the fire road towards the small summit of Bennan. Leave the fire road at the switchback around the 540m contour line and then quest across the tussocky ground following the stone wall for about 500m towards the path to Benyellary. The fire road is steep but very ridable and it avoids a fair bit of hike-a-bike. Descend the normal path to Bruce's Stone. Then the little bits of singletrack along the side of the road back to the car park.Â
It's been some time since I've done it but my preferred ascent route is to ride from the visitors centre up the fire road towards the small summit of Bennan. Leave the fire road at the switchback around the 540m contour line and then quest across the tussocky ground following the stone wall for about 500m towards the path to Benyellary. The fire road is steep but very ridable and it avoids a fair bit of hike-a-bike. Descend the normal path to Bruce's Stone. Then the little bits of singletrack along the side of the road back to the car park.Â
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Thats an option but then you have to factor in the extra riding time on the fire road from the Glen Trool visitor centre to Bennan radio mast and the fire road climb is very very steep as you mention, at this time of year the route from the Bennan road switchback to the Benyellary path crosses a rather sodden area of bog/thick grass and you’ll be up to your knees in places.
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Another option would be to go up Cairnsmore instead. The cycling is a bit rough in places but it's all path .