Borewka (1,596 m a.s.l.) is a raw and rarely visited peak in the Gorgany massif of the Ukrainian Carpathians, sitting on the border of two districts of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. If you are after untamed mountain scenery, boulder fields and silence, this is exactly the kind of summit that rewards the effort.

The peak forms part of the north-western section of the Syvulia ridge. Its summit and upper slopes are treeless, scattered with the iconic Gorgany scree — chaotic jumbles of bare rock that give the whole range its distinctive, almost lunar character. Patches of dwarf mountain pine cling to the slopes here and there, while dense forest takes over lower down. The north-eastern and south-western flanks are steep and hard to navigate, adding a genuine sense of adventure. On a clear summer day the views stretch north to the Ihrovyshche ridge with its twin high points of Ihrovets (1,804 m) and Vysoka (1,804 m), and south-west across the Bystryk valley to the Gorgan ridge itself. Autumn turns the surrounding forests into a blaze of colour, while early winter wraps the boulders in snow and ice for an almost Arctic atmosphere.

The nearest villages are Osmoloda and Stara Huta.

• Osmoloda village — approach via the Bystryk valley towards the Syvulia ridge — demanding, mountain experience required
• From the col between Borewka and Ihrovets — alternative approach along the Syvulia ridge crest

• The col between Borewka and Ihrovets once hosted two pre-war tourist shelters — no structures remain today
• The steep north-eastern and south-western slopes are considered very difficult to pass — avoid descending these faces

The saddle and meadow of Ihrovyshche between Borewka and Ihrovets were busy enough before World War II to support two mountain shelters — a reminder that this corner of the Gorgany has long drawn those who appreciate wild, uncompromising landscapes.