Mona Gowan and Morven

Roadside, the track heading to Glen Fenzie

The A939 connects Ballater with Grantown-on-Spey. Just north of Ballater, the road crosses the River Gairn and briefly climbs before dropping to a bridge over the Allt Glas-choille - the start of Glen Fenzie Burn.

A rough parking area is found near this bridge, making it the most convenient place to leave a vehicle. The start of the route lies a short walk up along the road.

Track heading up Scraulac

From the parking spot, walk around 250m along the road to reach a track heading into Glen Fenzie. Follow this to a gate just before the ruined buildings of Glenfenzie Farm .

Through the gate, a well-formed estate track aims northwards uphill beside a fence-line, climbing gently toward Scraulac. The track levels about 30m below this hill's summit - here, it is left behind (the track heads northwards and downhill) and instead the fence-line is followed north-east to the modest, heather-clad top . A small cairn marks the summit, beside which lies a granite slab with the faint number '16' carved into it.

Keeping to the south of the fence-line, a set of ATV tracks is picked up and followed eastwards toward Cairnagour Hill. A little height is lost along the way. As the ground changes from heather to grass and wetter peat, the tracks fade slightly. The hill's high point , just south of the fence, is marked by a low pile of stones.

Path aside fenceline leading to Mona Gowan, Morven behind

Path aside fenceline leading to Mona Gowan, Morven behind

Descending Mullachdubh on way to Morven

A faint path threads eastwards through the heather from Mona Gowan, with occasional old wooden posts serving as markers. The route descends to an unexpectedly narrow, rocky col — an out-of-place feature in this otherwise rolling landscape. Skirting around its southern side, a grassy slope is then climbed, leading over undulating ground to a minor top, Mullachdubh , the highest point identifiable by stone lying by a patch of bare gravel.

Turning south, the route follows the shoulder's crest and picks up a faint path near a slender cairn. A short, steep descent leads to the Glac of Bunzeach col above the Braes of Flintock.

Trig point on Morven's summit

Trig point on Morven's summit

The ruins of Glenfenzie Farm

The route is traced back down the track and along Morven's western shoulder , then following the track downhill toward Morven Burn. The track turns south to drop and meet a broader estate track running east-west.

The estate track is followed toward Morven Lodge , set within trees. Before reaching the lodge, the track turns - I attempted a shortcut here, heading directly west - though this proved ill-advised, leading through deep rush grass and soggy ground.

Once rejoined, the track is followed down into Glen Fenzie, for a brief uphill, past the remains of the old farm and finally back to the roadside.