Superb hike to Morven, Caithness.

[trekker53]

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Just a short report to highlight the spectacular landscape of Caithness. To often overlooked by more popular mountain areas.
Two years ago my cousin Deborah and her partner Dave came up from Lancashire to celebrate her 50th birthday. They are keen walkers so we decided to take them to Morven, Caithness's highest mountain at 706m. Here they would get good views of the vast Caithness moors and Flow Country.
The weather was bright and forecast good so we set off to Braemore about 6 miles inland from Dunbeath.
The previous day she poured her own 15year old malt from the cask at the Old Pulteney visitor centre in Wick. A gift from my brother she was happy to accept.

The liquid gold being drawn

Deborah being presented with her bottle by tour guide Deborah.

Back at Braemore we parked beside the bridge and the now rare red phone box.

Getting ready for the hike

Crossing the bridge we passed the estate cottages and outbuildings on a good track to Corrichoich. The going was easy passing through a small woodland.

Through the woodland

As you leave the forest a sign mentions beware of bull but all the times I've been there I've never seen one.
Now the landscape opens up and we get views of the Maiden Pap at 484m with Morven in the background. A great wee hill, some minor scrambling required to reach summit.

Maiden Pap with Morven to the right

Onwards to Morven

Morven

Onwards passing the old deserted house beside the Berriedale Water at Corrichoich.

Deserted house at Corrichoich, by Berriedale Water

After here the track stops and we now follow a line through the heather. Morven is now firmly in our sights getting so close. But first we have to negotiate the peat hags that are more frequent now.

Jumping over the peat hags

Lots of jumping and zig zagging around we arrived at the bealach between Carn Mor and Morven.

Bealach between Carn Mor and Morven

Deborah was finding this section a bit hard as her normal hiking has been on good tracks in the Lake District.

Deborah all alone.

The rest of us was fine so now there was only one way to summit and that was straight up 400m. There is no track, just make your own line up. Poor Deborah decided it was not for her so settled to relax and wait for our return.

Dave leading the way.

As we got up higher the views opened up. You could see all over Caithness. Faraway mountains were seen on the skyline. We were all alone. We stood there taking in the quietness. A marvellous feeling of being at one with nature. Just the odd birdsong broke the silence.
At the summit Dave was happy he made the climb.

At the summit

Celebratory handshakes and photos taken we moved back down.

Scaraben mountains to the right and Maiden Pap, left of centre.

Had a quick bite to eat as we were thinking of Deborah down below waiting for us.

Lunchtime

We descended a lot quicker than going up and soon reached Deborah. She was very happy relaxing in the soft sunshine and listening to the sound of silence. Something that city folk rarely hear.

Morven with Berriedale Water

We negotiated those peat hags again and chatted away as we returned by the same way back to the car.
We finished of our day by going to a local Indian restaurant where we quenched our thirst with a few beers along with a good curry.

A great way to end the day.

The next day Deborah and Dave was heading back down the A9 with some wonderful memories of their time in Caithness.

[Johnny Corbett]

Lovely looking hills and area. Will need to venture up the north east and do some walking, cheers

[takoronga]

Great report and photos - thanks for that, I was planning on going this weekend and people always talking about "the long walk in" but now I've seen it, it seems like a fine long walk in to me so am all prepared : ) Cheers

[basscadet]

Oh, I didn't realise this is only a graham.. Nice to see a walk report for it.. Was up this way a lot as a teenager

Should of done the pap as well though.. beautiful wee pimple that one

[fred67]

Wow it looks amazing. I have never seen something like that in Europe. Last week we went by car from Forres to Bettyhill and Thurso. And in our way back I saw the first time this magnificaint landscape. I Was not able to take a photo, so I am thankful to see this picture of Caithness. If I come to Scotland again, I will stay there for a few days. If you have more photos of this area please let me know!