Times are my own pace, with Chase. I didn't start recording until about 20 minutes up the hill, so the distance, time and steps above include an estimate for that first stretch. Recorded on the app: 6.85 km, 2 hr 3 min, 9,642 steps.

Same rule as always before anything else: always go back down the way you came up. If you’re not sure of the ground, that’s the way you know.

Morven is a Corbett of 872 metres in Aberdeenshire, above Logie Coldstone. It stands on its own out there, which is why the view goes as far as it does once you’re up.

This was the second hill of the day for me and Chase, after Clachnaben in the morning. Clachnaben gave us nothing but cloud. This one gave us the lot.

Getting parked

The app did its job and took me to the parking spot. There’s enough room today, but I imagine on a busy summer’s day it would get quite crowded.

The parking spot off the track, with the hill behind it

Through the gate

The climb starts as soon as you enter the gate. Not sure if it was because this was my second hill of the day or not, but I could feel the steepness of the surface as soon as I stepped through.

The gate at the start with the hill rising behind it

After the gate you’ll see two paths branch off from one another. Take the one to the left, and follow the path down the bend and up, until you arrive at a derelict house on your right.

Two mown paths branching apart through the rough grass

The path running down and up towards the house, small in the distance

The derelict house

The derelict house in the grass with Chase in the foreground

I had a wee nose in the house, but wasn’t keen on going right in — judging by the state outside it was ready to crumble.

A cast iron fireplace still in the wall, earth and rubble on the floor

Through a doorway into the next room, panelling still on the walls

The story board

After the house you carry straight on until you come to a gate with a story board on it.

The grass path running up to the gate with Chase heading along it

The Welcome to the Moor board standing at the fence

The board mentions keeping your dog on a lead if you can, or keeping him under control. I know my dog. His recall is good, and I always hold onto him if folk are coming or going, and ask if they’re all right with dogs — ninety-nine percent of outdoor people like dogs. So I kept him off the lead, confident he’d behave.

Finding the path

After the gate, if you look to your right, there’s a vague outline of a path. Follow it and the path becomes clear.

The faint line of a path through the rough grass

The same path once it clears, running up through the heather with Chase on it

The climb

Now just so you know, it’s a straight walk — or straightish walk — to the summit from here, and the climb is brutal. It’s one of them where if I never had the app and knew how far it was to the summit, every bump where I think it would end, there’s always another climb. So prepare your legs for this one.

The path running straight up through the heather, another rise on the skyline

Take breaks when you can, and of course admire the view.

Looking back over the fields with the derelict house small below

The glen opening out, heather in the foreground

The wide view back over the farmland to the far hills

The first climb reaches a flat point where there’s a little boggy patch. Wasn’t too bad today, but I could imagine it being quite messy on another day.

The ground levelling off with the next climb behind it and Chase on the path

One final look back on the view here before starting another steep climb. You can clearly see the cars on this one.

Zoomed in on the car park, the cars small on the track, with the derelict house below

Fake summits

Again, take breaks when you need to here, as just when you think you’ve reached it, another climb appears.

The rocky path climbing into the cloud with a post on the skyline

A cone with a cairn on top of it, which is not the summit

And some random rams along the way.

How the hell did they get up here?

Two rams lying out on the hillside with the glen behind them

A shower of rain falling on the far hills

When I got up and over that last fake summit I had around 800 metres, with the top finally in view. The climb was more levelled out here, and not too bad on the legs.

The real summit showing through the boulder field, Chase's head in the bottom of the frame

The top

Wee pose at the top as usual, and a water break.

Me at the trig point with my arm round Chase

The summit plateau, the trig point on its cairn and the hills running away behind

Another summit reached, another star off the map, and a few final photos before heading back down.

Looking off the top across the moor and the forestry

Looking off the top over the fields with the loch

One badge to go

Morven is badge seven of Couch to Corbett. One more and the programme is complete.

The app showing the Morven badge earned, with Ben Rinnes queued up next

Ben Rinnes next. I’ve done it twice before, but I need the badge, and I need the star — plus I need a report.