Hiking Highlight
Recommended by 13 hikers
This Highlight is in a protected area
Please check local regulations for: Cairngorms National Park
On the very Eastern fringes of the Cairngorms, Morven rises to a fine high perch, totally dominating the farmsteads and woodland of Cromar to the east. Hikes to Morven’s summit open up a magnificent vista to the south and west, where most of Britain’s highest ground rises in shallow waves to the horizon.
This Morven is not to be confused with the distinctive conical mountain in Caithness of the same name.
Most routes follow grassy paths with very few technical difficulties, meaning Morven is an ideal objective for the adventurous family. Once you make it to the summit, you’ll be glad of the wind shelter if it’s blowing a hoolie.
On a clear day, the views are spectacular. The prominent tor of Clachnaben and rounded Mount Battock are seen to the south east. Mount Keen’s domed summit, the most easterly of all the Munros, rises above moorland to the south, whilst Lochnagar’s frowning corrie is a beguiling sight to the south west. The Cairngorm plateau gains height to the west, the gradual rise accentuating its vastness but betraying its great height.
If you’re armed with a decent pair of four-season boots, walking routes to Morven may be possible when winter snows arrive. Conditions in this part of the Highlands can become immensely challenging at the drop of a hat, so be prepared to turn back if difficulties arise.
You can seek accommodation in Logie Coldstone, near many of the hike’s potential starting points. Alternatively, Aboyne is a pleasant village on the banks of the River Dee, with restaurants, shops and lodgings.
There are a couple of good routes to the summit of Morven, either from the east or south. Parking to the South at Tulloch church is the best, and the trail to the hill is good, bog free, and peaceful
April 22, 2024
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