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Morrone (Morven) from Braemar

Cairngorms Walk

Nat Park - Cairngorms - Cairngorm South

County/Area - Aberdeenshire

Author - Andy Smith

Length - 7.4 miles / 12 km    Ascent - 1800 feet / 545 metres

Time - 5 hours 10 minutes    Grade - moderate

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Morrone (Morven) from Braemar
Click image to visit gallery of 9 images.

Escaping Munro status by just 181 feet, this fine Corbett often gets overlooked as people flock west towards the Cairngorm massif via Linn of Dee. It is however a very rewarding summit producing fine views in every direction for miles around with the added bonus that the route can be completed in half a day.

Braemar is a large village but considering it's highly isolated location it has surprisingly healthy options for accommodation, the most popular being the Caravan Club campsite or the SYHA opposite. There are also two large hotels within the village centre along with self catering cabins.

The walk starts from the centre of the village (grid ref. NO150913). Leave the village on the small road to the south which follows the River Clunie. Continue along this road for 3km passing the golf course until a chained access track is reached at grid reference NO153883 next to a sheepfold. Leave the road climbing the track uphill across the hillside, this can be quite exposed to the weather and slightly on the tedious side, nevertheless the improving views soon produce a reward.

The track continues to climb and after an hour or so starts turning right towards the summit which is now clearly in view. The large radio mast dominates the top but can also offer welcome shelter from high winds once reached! On top you take in fine views in all directions, Linn of Dee is the real treat though with the River Dee and its lush green forest cutting up towards the huge southern Cairngorm range.

Leave the summit to the northeast in the opposite direction from the ascent track and locate the only path heading downhill back towards the village which is well marked with cairns. After half an hour Braemar suddenly comes into view nestling amongst the mountains, here you can reflect what a beautiful part of Britain you are currently in as you stride a cracking pace downhill towards this superb village.

A fence is reached at grid ref. NO144904. Turn left here and continue downwards passing the cairn and bench as you enter the woods. Pass the pond to your right avoiding the huge duck population, and head down the small road which leads you back into the village centre. A short but rewarding way to spend a summer's afternoon in this great National Park.

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Other walks nearby

Walk 3108 Creag Choinnich circular from Braemareasy/mod4.0 miles
Walk 1864 Glen Quoich & Glen Lui (near Braemar)moderate10.0 miles
Walk 1119 Ben Macdui & Carn a' Mhaim from Linn of Deehard19.0 miles
Walk 2356 The Cairnwell ridge from Glenshee Ski Centremod/hard9.3 miles
Walk 1881 Ben Macdui & Cairn Lochan from the Ski Centrehard10.4 miles

Start Point Details

Ordnance Survey Grid Ref N0150913

Latitude 57.004997 Longitude -3.4010569

Postcode AB35 5ZP

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Walk description may contain detailed information on the start point for this walk.

Further Information

Cairngorms Walking

Walking in the Cairngorms National Park, which was formed in 2003 to protect the unique aspects of the area, offers some of the great walks of Scotland. It is the UK's largest national park with a large mountain range at its heart with diverse communities around it. The habitat offers a secure haven for many of Britain's rarest bird, animal and plant species. Forests include remnants of the original Caledonian pine forest which contrast with large areas of heather moorland to foster ecological diversity. Of particular interest to hill walkers is that four of Scotland's five highest peaks can be found in this National Park where the arctic wilderness is the largest example of arctic mountain landscape in the British Isles.

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