Hill: Morrone
Date: Wednesday 31st December 2014
Company: Just myself
Distance: 6.7km, Ascent: 480m
Time: 2Hrs


An easy walk today en-route to spending the Hogmanay weekend at Muir Cottage with the Moray Mountaineering Club. The weather forecast was not good. 80mph gusts were forecast.

I last ascended Morrone in July 2002.

Click here to see a map of the route undertaken

I parked in the car park next to the Duck Pond. From the car park, I followed the path heading towards Morrone.

Morrone from Duck Pond:


On reaching the marker post, I took the track heading uphill leading to Morrone. From then on it was just a case of stick to the track.

1.5 miles to Morrone summit from marker post:


Views were somewhat lacking today with the exception of looking down to Braemar.

Looking back to Braemar:


Looking back to Braemar:


During the initial few hundred metres ascent there wasn't a breath of wind. Was the forecast wrong?

Ascending Morrone:


On gaining a bit more height the wind strength increased dramatically. I don't think there were 80mph gusts but the average windspeed must have been 30-40mph. While the wind was not too bad the wind chill was intense. It felt very cold.

Morrone summit:


I didn't hang around at the summit. After visiting the cairn and trig and having a walk round the buildings, I set off back down the hill via the same route.

Plaque on wall of building at summit:


A few hundred metres from the duck pond, I passed a toposcope that I have not seen previously.

Deeside Field Club toposcope:


Good to see ducks on the duck pond .

Mallards on the Duck Pond:


Good to finish off 2014 with a walk albeit the weather could have been better.

All the best for 2015.