Morven from Berriedale Water

On the A9 in Caithness, around 55km south of Thurso, the road crosses Dunbeath Water. Just west of the bridge there is a staggered junction with the northerly branch signed for Braemore.

A narrow single-track road is followed past a few houses and farm buildings before it heads into a wide expanse of quiet moorland. Passing places are surprisingly sparse along its length, which runs for roughly 10km to its end. Maiden Pap, its conical profile rising sharply, gradually comes into view on the approach rising abruptly from the surrounding peatlands.

The public road ends in some woodland beside a red telephone box, with space to park around three or four vehicles in a gravel area overlooking Berriedale Water. A sign indicates no overnight parking.

The route begins from here and the first 4km can either be done on foot or by bike.

Taking the road to the left of the red phone box leads to a bridge over Berriedale Water. The road then swings west and meets a junction - keeping left leads out of the woodland onto more open ground, with Maiden Pap once again dominating the view ahead.

Signposts for “Morven and Maiden Pap” soon begin to appear , guiding walkers and cyclists away from the buildings of Braemore Lodge and onto rough grassy tracks. The line rejoins the estate road , now more of a track, which rises gently past small patches of forestry and beneath the flanks of Maiden Pap. Morven comes into view at this point, still some distance away across the moor.

The track reaches its highest point, then curves south-west as it drops to meet an old wall before its end beside the lone house of Corrichoich , tucked just beyond another strip of forestry. Here a worn path cuts through a gravel turning circle and trends towards Morven. Skirting the edge of one last patch of forestry, the path - intermittent and often damp - continues across open moorland, occasionally following old ATV lines.

As height is gained, the line can be traced towards the bealach between Morven and its eastern neighbour Càrn Mòr.

From the bealach, the ascent turns onto Morven’s steep eastern flank. A mix of boulderfield and heather leads uphill, with intermittent traces of path aiding progress. The boulders can be loose in places, though nothing technical is encountered. Higher up, the terrain and gradient ease, and on grass, the line swings around a rocky outcrop - mist lending it a curiously atmospheric feel on my visit, bringing back memories of hikes in clag on higher peaks.

The return is made by retracing the outward route.

Maiden Pap , with its steep slopes and distinctive conical shape, can be climbed as an optional detour on the return route, either from the track or by hiking over Càrn Mòr. The easiest line of approach to the summit heads up its southern face.