Rhinns of Kells

Last updated

Corserine and Carlin's Cairn from the trig point on Meaul. RhinnsofKells.jpg
Corserine and Carlin's Cairn from the trig point on Meaul.

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.

Contents

Although distant, the ridge is paralleled to the east by the A713 road. This road provides access to the majority of the starting points for walking the ridge. Most commonly, these are Garryhorn Farm (the turnoff a few hundred metres north of Carsphairn) and Forrest Estate (accessed much further south a few kilometres north of St. John's Town of Dalry). Unclassified roads, one of which follows the Southern Upland Way, and two others near Clatteringshaws Loch can be utilised, but are much less common due to the difficult terrain when ascending or descending from the south. [1] Due to the linear nature of the ridge, a full traverse will normally require two modes of transport positioned at either end if to be walked in a day. Shorter, circular rounds from Forrest Lodge are, as a result, more popular. [2] A bus service by Houston's Minicoaches runs from Dalmellington to Castle Douglas via Carsphairn and St. John's Town of Dalry multiple times a day. [3]

The Hills

The hills of the range are the second-highest of the Galloway Hills, with the highest hill, Corserine, reaching 814 m. The terrain is similar to that of the Range of the Awful Hand in that the walking is predominantly along flat grass with occasional boggy sections, however the drops to the west and east are high, steep and often craggy. The ridge south of Corserine, which is named the Rhinns of Kells on OS maps – ignoring the northern portion, is notably rougher.

From north to south (ignoring all satellite ridges other than Cairnsgarroch) the hills are:

The Southern Rhinns of Kells from W of St. John's Town of Dalry SouthernRhinnsofKells.jpg
The Southern Rhinns of Kells from W of St. John's Town of Dalry
SummitHeight (m)Listing [4]
Cullendoch Hill343Tu,3 [5]
Craigencolon346Tu,3 [6]
Black Craig528Tu,5,DDew [7]
Knockower511Tu,5,DDew [8]
Coran of Portmark 623Tu,Sim, D,GT,DN [9]
Bow613Tu,Sim,DT,GT,DN [10]
Cairnsgarroch 659Hu,Tu,Sim,D,GT,DN,Y [11]
Meaul 695Tu,Sim, D,GT,DN [12]
Carlin's Cairn 807Tu,Sim,D,sHu,CT,DN [13]
Corserine 814 Ma,Hu,Tu,Sim, C, D,DN,Y [14]
Millfire716DT,sSim [15]
Milldown 738Tu,Sim, D,sHu,GT,DN [16]
Meikle Millyea 748.64Hu,Tu,Sim, D,GT,DN,Y [17]
Little Millyea578Tu,5,DDew [18]
Darrouc. 470-

Ecology

The range forms part of the Silver Flowe-Merrick Kells Biosphere Reserve, which incorporates a considerable portion of both ranges to the west and east, and is a Natura 2000 site. [19] The area is very popular with invertebrates and swarms of Odonata, Syrphidae and Lepidoptera during summer are common. [20] The main lochs attributed to the range are Loch Dungeon, Loch Minnoch and Loch Harrow, all on the east side and in close proximity. Loch Dungeon was known to historically contain Arctic Charr which died out due to acidification; Brown trout populations, however, survived and the water quality has improved. [21] There are currently ten Osprey pairs known to nest in Dumfries and Galloway; these lochs are a known feeding ground. [22] [23] The Lochans of Auchniebut, north of Meikle Millyea and at approximately 650m, may be the highest permanent water bodies in the Southern Uplands.

Etymology

'Rhinns' derives from the Old Irish rind, later Ulster Irish and Scottish Gaelic rinn, meaning 'promontory' or 'point'. [24] 'Kells' is a parish in the historic county of Stewartry of Kirkcudbright to the southeast of the range near New Galloway. Its name possibly derives from the Old Irish cell, later Irish and Scottish Gaelic cill, meaning 'church', [25] but may instead be in reference to its heightened elevation or, historically, wooded land. [26] Most of the hill names are of Scottish Gaelic or Scots origin, such as Meikle Millyea; (Scots: meikle - 'large') (Scottish Gaelic: meall liath - 'grey, round hill'), which translates fully to 'large, grey, round hill'. [27]

Related Research Articles

Dumfries and Galloway Council area of Scotland

Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland and is located in the western Southern Uplands. It comprises the historic counties of Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, and Wigtownshire, the latter two of which are collectively known as Galloway. The administrative centre and largest settlement is the town of Dumfries. The second largest town is Stranraer, 75 miles to the west on the Irish Sea coast.

Kirkcudbrightshire Historic county in Scotland

Kirkcudbrightshire, or the County of Kirkcudbright or the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in the informal Galloway area of south-western Scotland. This place is known to be a very english area. For local government purposes, it forms part of the wider Dumfries and Galloway council area of which it forms a committee area under the name of the Stewartry.

Merrick (Galloway) Mountain in the Range of the Awful

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.

Southern Uplands Southernmost and least populous region of Scotland

The Southern Uplands are the southernmost and least populous of mainland Scotland's three major geographic areas. The term is used both to describe the geographical region and to collectively denote the various ranges of hills and mountains within this region. An overwhelmingly rural and agricultural region, the Southern Uplands are partly forested and contain many areas of open moorland - the hill names in the area are congruent with these characteristics.

Galloway Hills Region of the Southern Uplands of Scotland

The Galloway Hills are part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland, and form the northern boundary of western Galloway. They lie within the bounds of the Galloway Forest Park, an area of some 300 square miles (800 km2) of largely uninhabited wild land, managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. The unusual place names reflect a mixture of the Old Norse and Scottish Gaelic languages and hint at the range of influences which have acted on society within the area over the centuries.

Carsphairn Human settlement in Scotland

Carsphairn is a village in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located about halfway between Dalmellington and St John's Town of Dalry, on the A713 road. Carsphairn annual sheep show is held in the village. Cairnsmore of Carsphairn is to the north east of the village in the Carsphairn and Scaur Hills. To the west is the ridge of the Rhinns of Kells in the Galloway Hills.

Cairnsmore of Fleet

Cairnsmore of Fleet is an isolated mountain in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The mountain forms an unafforested granite massif, whose highest point is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of Newton Stewart. It is the highest of the "Solway Hills" sub-range, and the southernmost of Scotland's 219 Grahams, thus making it, or rather its subsidiary top, Knee of Cairnsmore, the most southerly mountain in Scotland. The view to the south takes in the Cree Estuary and Wigtown Bay, and extends as far as the Lake District, the Isle of Man and Snowdonia. The highest summits of the Galloway Hills can be seen to the north, and Ireland is in the view to the west.

Corserine

Corserine is a hill in the Rhinns of Kells, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The highest point of the range and the second highest point in Galloway, the usual route of ascent is from the car park at Forrest Lodge to the east of the hill via Loch Harrow and North Gairy Top. Forest Lodge is a short drive from the village of St. John's Town of Dalry.

Range of the Awful Hand

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.

Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

Cairnsmore of Carsphairn is a hill in the Carsphairn and Scaur Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. An alternative name, rarely used nowadays, is Cairnsmore of Deugh. It is the highest hill in the range, and its summit is just under six kilometres northeast of Carsphairn village as the crow flies, in the far north of Kirkcudbrightshire.

Carsphairn and Scaur Hills

The Carsphairn and Scaur Hills are the western and eastern hills respectively of a hill range in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. Ordnance Survey maps don't have a general name for the hill area as a whole. Also, Ordnance Survey use "Scar" rather than the local spelling of "Scaur" - the word is pronounced as "Scar" however. In their Landranger Series of maps, it requires four separate sheets to cover the area.

Mullwharchar

Mullwharchar is a hill in the Dungeon Hills, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. Mullwarchar is situated to the north of Loch Enoch, west of Corserine, northeast of Merrick and east of Kirriereoch Hill. There are 3 cliffs on the mountain named The Slock, The Tauchers and The Organ Pipes and some routes on these are occasionally climbed. Mullwharchar's summit is fairly flat and dotted with erratics.

Round Loch of Glenhead

The Round Loch of Glenhead is a small upland single basin loch in Dumfries and Galloway. It is situated within Galloway Forest Park to the west of the hill Craiglee. It forms a pair with the nearby Long Loch of Glenhead. Both lochs are of similar sizes and each have a small island. The two lochs are separated from Loch Valley and Loch Naroch to the north by the Rig of the Jarkness. The loch is drained to the southwest by Round Loch Burn, which after joining into Glenhead Burn flows into Loch Trool.

Meikle Millyea Hill in the Rhinns of Kells, Scotland

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.

Milldown

Milldown is a hill in the Rhinns of Kells, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It is located immediately north of Meikle Millyea - between these two hills lie the Lochans of Auchniebut, a series of small water bodies at an approximate elevation of 650m - possibly the highest permanent water bodies in the Southern Uplands. As well as this, the hill is also flanked on its SW side by forest plantation - possibly the highest planted commercial forestry in the Southern Uplands. Like most of its neighbours, it is most easily climbed from the east at Forrest Lodge.

Meaul

Meaul is a hill in the Rhinns of Kells, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It is climbed from a number of directions; most commonly from Garryhorn near Carsphairn, often as part of a complete traverse of the ridge.

Cairnsgarroch

Cairnsgarroch is a hill in the Rhinns of Kells, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. Really one of approximately six satellites of the main ridge, it is usually climbed as a detour. Ascents starting from Garryhorn or Forrest Estate near Carsphairn are the most common, often as part of a complete traverse of the ridge.

Coran of Portmark

Coran of Portmark is a hill in the Rhinns of Kells, a sub-range of the Galloway Hills range, part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The most northerly Donald of the range, it is climbed from a number of directions; most commonly from Garryhorn near Carsphairn, often the first hill of a full traverse of the ridge. An old settlement to the west lends its name to the hill.

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.

Minnigaff Hills

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.

References

  1. ↑ Turnbull R. (2019) Walking the Galloway Hills: 35 Wild Mountain Walks Including the Merrick. Cicerone: Kendal.
  2. ↑ "Corserine and the Rhinns of Kells, Forrest Lodge". Walkhighlands. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  3. ↑ bustimes.org. "520 - Dalmellington - Castle Douglas â€" Houstons Minicoaches â€"". Bustimes.org. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  4. ↑ Chris Crocker. "Database of British and Irish Hills: user guide". Hills-database.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  5. ↑ "Cullendoch Hill". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Craigencolon". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "Black Craig". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Knockower". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "Coran of Portmark [Corran of Portmark]". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  10. ↑ "Bow". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "Cairnsgarroch". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "Meaul". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  13. ↑ "Carlin's Cairn". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  14. ↑ "Corserine". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  15. ↑ "Millfire". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  16. ↑ "Milldown". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  17. ↑ "Meikle Millyea". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  18. ↑ "Little Millyea". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  19. ↑ "EUNIS -Site factsheet for Merrick Kells". Eunis.eea.europa.eu. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  20. ↑ [[[Silver Flowe-Merrick Kells]] "Silver Flowe-Merrick Kells - Wikipedia"]. En.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 23 April 2020.{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  21. ↑ Galloway Fisheries Trust. "Return Charr To Loch Grannoch". Gallowayfisheriestrust.org. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  22. ↑ "Ospreys". WWT. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  23. ↑ [ dead link ]
  24. ↑ "rinn - Wiktionary". En.wiktionary.org. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  25. ↑ Blackie C (1887). A dictionary of place-names giving their derivations. Murray: London.
  26. ↑ [[[Kells, Dumfries and Galloway]] "Kells, Dumfries and Galloway - Wikipedia"]. En.wikipedia.org. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  27. ↑ [ dead link ]

Coordinates: 55°09′20″N4°21′30″W / 55.15556°N 4.35833°W / 55.15556; -4.35833

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.