Corserine and the Rhinns of Kells as seen from Craignaw in winter, Galloway Hills. Corserine is the highest point of the Rhinns of Kells range in the Southern Uplands of southern Scotland.

A frozen waterfall in the Galloway Hills.

The Galloway Hills are part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland, and form the northern boundary of Galloway. The Southern Uplands is the southernmost of Scotland 's three major geographic areas (the others being the Central Belt and the Highlands) Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Galloway ( Gaelic: Gall-Ghaidhealaibh, əŋ ɡauɫ̪ɣəɫ̪əv or Gallobha, Lowland Scots Gallowa) is an area in southwestern They lie chiefly in the old county of Kirkcudbrightshire (now in Dumfries and Galloway). The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright (kɚˈkuːbriː Siorrachd Chille Chuithbheirt in Gaelic) or Kirkcudbrightshire (kɚˈkuːbriːʃɚ was formerly a Dumfries and Galloway ( Gaelic: Dùn Phris agus an Gall-Ghaidhealaibh, d̪̊unˈfɾʲiʃ aɡ̊əs̪ əŋ ɡ̊auɫ̪ɣəɫ̪əv is one of 32 council areas At 843m, the Merrick is the highest point of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The Southern Uplands is the southernmost of Scotland 's three major geographic areas (the others being the Central Belt and the Highlands)

The Galloway Hills comprise an area of several hundred square miles of largely uninhabited wild land. Much of the Galloway Hills lie within the bounds of Galloway Forest Park, managed by the Forestry Commission. Galloway Forest Park is a woodland park operated by the Scottish Forestry Commission, principally covering woodland in Dumfries and Galloway. The Forestry Commission (established in 1919 is a Non-ministerial government department responsible for Forestry in Great Britain.

One of the fascinating features of these hills are the unusual placenames, often a mixture of Old Norse, Gaelic and Celtic languages. Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic" a branch of the greater Indo-European Language family. A few examples include the Rig of the Jarkness, the Rig of the Gloon and the Dungeon of Buchan.

Notable peaks amongst the hills include:

• Merrick (843m)
• Corserine (814m)
• Cairnsmore of Carsphairn (797m)
• Lamachan Hill (716m)
• Cairnsmore of Fleet (710m)
• Craignaw (645m)

External links

• Information on Hill Walking in the Galloway Hills
• Rock and Ice climbing in the Galloway Hills

See also

• Southern Upland Way