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Mona Gowan from Glenfenzie on A939

Start/Finish

Parking area by the bridge 200 m S of Glenfenzie on the A939 Tomintoul to Ballater road at about NJ 312 027.

Distance/Time

10 km      Approx 3½ hours

Peaks

Mona Gowan, 749 m, NJ 336 058. OS sheet 37.

Introduction

An easily ascended peak with fine moor land views and, on clear days, views to Lochnagar and Ben Avon. Mona Gowan’s summit has a large jubilee cairn. Its ascent can be combined with Morven to the E and is the subject of another walk.

Route

(1) Walk N up the road, past Glenfenzie, to a track which starts at NJ 312 037 and first heads SE then N and is a bit boggy and indistinct in places. Follow the track to the W shoulder of Scraulac then head E to the Scraulac cairn. Now head E over mainly level ground, boggy in places, to the cairn on top of Cairnagour Hill. Descend E on a narrow path through the heather then ascend E to the large jubilee cairn on Mona Gowan, 749 m.

(2) Descend the broad S ridge which has a track on its W side to join the main track at about NJ 332 045. Follow this back to Glenfenzie. On this date, the burn flowing down the S of Scraulac had mink traps across it.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 14^th November, 2009.

(b) An easier approach, although parking is not easy, is from Fleuchats to the N at about NJ 335 090 where a good path then track can be followed almost to the summit.

(c) Not far to the E of Mona Gowan is a gap known as the Slacks of Glencarvie. These are worth the short detour. To reach them descend the broad E ridge, following some old fence posts to reach a gap aligned N to S. This is the Slacks of Glencarvie and there is quite a prominent “stack” at the northern end which can be climbed easily on its E side. Return over Mona Gowan or contour around to join its S ridge S of the summit.