Mona Gowan

[rob munbett]

The forecast was for seriously deteriorating weather so it was an early start for Mona Gowan. I parked on the A939 in a fair-sized lay-by on the west side of the road at NJ310040 and walked south on the road for about 200 meters to reach the track heading up the hillside on the east side of the road. Shortly, this led to a metal gate and the estate road proper which went virtually all the way to Scraulac 741m.

On Scraulac looking over to Cairnagour Hill

A cold wind was getting up so there was no time to pause much. The route over to Mona Gowan follows a good fence all the way. First, it was a plod through some quite boggy sections to Cairnagour Hill 744m.

On Cairnagour Hill looking back to Scraulac

On Cairnagour Hill looking over to Mona Gowan and the distant Morven

From here there was a bit of a descent, slippery in places after the torrential rain, to a deep continuous peat hag which had to be negotiated before the final pull up to the summit of Mona Gower.

Descending Cairnagour Hill looking over to Mona Gower

The summit of Mona Gowan

By now the wind was strong and the cold was biting and I could see squalls of rain approaching from the south so it was time to wrap up, get the head down and plod back to the car before the soaking could get me!

Heading back to Cairnagour Hill from Mona Gowan

[Graeme D]

Looks like trouble brewing in that last shot. Well done on winning the race againt the clock. Have looked at the Mona Gowan/Morven route a few times of late.