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Dumfries and Galloway

Loch Trool

A dark loch under the Merrick, where Bruce rolled rocks onto an English column.

Welcome

Loch Trool lies in a steep wooded glen in the middle of the Galloway Forest Park, with the Merrick - the highest hill in southern Scotland - standing over its head.

In March 1307 an English column was strung out along the path on the far shore when Bruce's men rolled boulders down on them from the slope above and then charged through what was left. It was a skirmish rather than a battle, and it was the first thing that went right in the campaign that ended at Bannockburn. Bruce's Stone stands on the knowe above the north shore to mark it. The walking is the other reason to come: five and a half easy miles round the loch on the Southern Upland Way, or eight hard ones and 2,766 feet up the Merrick from the same car park. At night there is almost no light here at all.

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The Daily for 9 November, from Scotland with love. an autumn-wooded loch reflected in still water, rocks breaking the surface in the foreground
A little further outGalloway DistilleryGin made from scratch at Newton Stewart, with fir from the hills and weed from the shore.30 min by roadSee itWhisky barrels line a gravel path beside a distillery's glass-fronted timber building

Before you go

How long
Two hours to a day
Cost
Free
Getting there
From Glentrool village follow the signs for Bruce's Stone; the car park is four miles up a narrow road.

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Where it is

In Glen Trool, four miles up the unclassified road from Glentrool village.

Close byThe rest of Dumfries and Galloway, near at hand.
  1. Bruce’s StoneBruce’s StoneA granite boulder above Loch Trool, where Bruce watched an English force break.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Galloway Forest ParkGalloway Forest ParkBritain's largest forest park, over 300 square miles of forest, lochs and hills in Galloway, and the UK's first Dark Sky Park.1 mile 8 min by road
  3. Otter's PoolOtter's PoolA wide shallow pool on the Black Water of Dee, halfway down the Raiders' Road.1 mile 8 min by road
Directions
Whisky barrels line a gravel path beside a distillery's glass-fronted timber buildingAttractionsGalloway Distillery14 miles

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For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .