On the eastern fringe of the Cairngorms, Morven dominates the Aberdeenshire farmland of Cromar lying to its east. It provides a popular ascent for Aberdonians, with extensive views.
Steep hill path, some short boggy sections.
None to start.
End of public part of minor road towards Groddie, near Logie Coldstone.
To reach the start, take the minor road which branches west off the A97 1km south of Logie Coldstone - it is signed for Groddie. There is space for a number of to park at the end of the public section of this road, where it forks into two tracks. Begin the walk by taking the left fork, but immediately turning left through a gate. Head up through the field towards Balhennie, passing through another gate to reach this abandoned farmhouse.
Pass just left of the farmhouse and head up to pass through the right hand of two adjacent gates. Continue up the field with a fence on your left to reach another gate, giving access to the open hillside. TUrn right to follow an initially faint grassy path; it soon becomes very clear as it climbs directly west up the steep slopes, passing some large boulders and scattered young trees.
The climb eases onto a flat, boggy shoulder at around 600m before a further steep pull leads up just left of the cairned rocky outcrop at Little Cairn - one of several false summits.
From here the ascent is more gradual, eventually pulling up more steeply just left of a second outcrop of rocks, Mid Cairn. At this point the summit comes into view for the first time across a slight dip.
Continue along the path to reach the windshelter and massive summit cairn, believed to be of some antiquity; the trig point is in a second windshelter on the north side. As might be expected, the views, especially over Aberdeenshire, are very extensive. Bennachie and its Mither Tap are easy to pick out, whilst the tor on Clachnaben can be seen on a clear day. The summit rising high above the moors to the south is Mount Keen, whilst Lochnagar reveals its fine northeastern corrie.
The quickest way back is to retrace your steps all the way, but there is a variant which eases the steepness of the second half of the descent. Return past Mid and Little Cairn but on the slope leading down to the flat 600m shoulder take a path which forks slightly to the right. This aims for a bare patch in the heather on the shoulder (crossing a briefly boggy section); from here vehicle tracks in the heather lead away south. These soon become a bigger track, leading down towards the bealach north of Roar Hill.
Here bear left on a very faint grassy path that continues close by the burn. There's some boggy ground before the grass gives way to heather again and the path becomes much clearer. It now begins to descend northeast across the slope. Soon the path forks; the left branch is the old stalkers' route shown on maps but has since become overgrown lower down, so instead follow the clearer right branch. Rough underfoot at first, it later becomes a smooth, grassier track. After passing through a gate, continue downhill, but fork left onto a fainter ATV track off left well before reaching the woods. This grassy ATV track leads north, crossing one short boggy area, before reaching a gate at the northern end of the plantation. Pass through this and follow the track as it swings left to head back to the ruin at Balhennie. Retrace your steps back to the start.
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