Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ASCENT OF BEN NEVIS
Of all the walks in and around
Glen Nevis, the
ascent of Ben Nevis
(4406ft), Britain's highest
summit, inevitably attracts the most attention. In high summer the trail is teeming with hikers
- around 100,000 summit each year. However, this doesn't mean that the mountain should be
treated casually. It can snow at the summit any day of the year and people die on the slopes,
so take the necessary precautions (see p.42); in winter, of course, the mountain should be left
to the experts. The most obvious
route
, a Victorian pony-path up the whaleback south side of
the mountain, built to service the observatory that once stood on the top, starts from the
helpful Glen Nevis Visitor Centre, a mile and a half southeast of Fort William along the Glen
Nevis road. Return via the main route or, if the weather is settled and you're confident enough,
make a side-trip from the wide saddle into the
Allt a'Mhuilinn
glen
for spectacular views of
the great cliffs on Ben Nevis's north face. Allow a full day for the climb (8hr) and check the
weather forecast before setting out (
W
bennevisweather.co.uk is useful).
3
Maps
One of the best maps of the mountain is
Harvey's
Ben Nevis Superwalker Map
, available from Fort William's
tourist o
ce and most local bookshops and outdoor stores.
Equipment
You can buy mountain equipment and last-
minute supplies at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Achintee Farm Guest House
Glen Nevis
T
01397
702240,
W
achinteefarm.com.
Friendly B&B with adjoin-
ing hostel and self-catering cottage, right by the
Ben Nevis
Inn
at the start
of th
e Ben Ne
vis f
footpath. Drying rooms
and wi-fi. Dorms
£17
; doubles
£45
Ì
Ben Nevis Inn
Achintee, Glen Nevis
T
01397 701227,
W
ben-nevis-inn.co.uk.
A basic and cosy bunkhouse (book-
ing advised) in the basement of a lively 250-year-old pub,
50m east of
Achintee Farm Guest House
. The pub has a terrific
atmosphere and the menu - with a chunky lamb and veg
casserole for £9.85 - is especially tem
pting aft
er a day on the
mountain.
Daily noon-11pm.
Dorms
£15.50
Café Beag
2.5 miles southeast of Fort William along
the Glen Nevis road, before the Glen Nevis SYHA hostel.
Close to the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre, this attractive
wood-panelled café sells hearty soups (£3.50) and big
cooked breakfasts (£6).
Mon-Thurs 8am-6pm, Fri-Sun
8am-8pm.
Glen Nevis Caravan and Camping Park
Glen Nevis,
2 miles southeast of Fort William along the Glen
Nevis road
T
01397 702191,
W
glen-nevis.co.uk.
Offers
a range of lodges and rentable caravans as well as camping
pitches. Facilities include hot showers, a sh
op a
nd restau-
rant, and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
£11
/pitch
Glen Nevis SYHA hostel
Glen Nevis, 2.5 miles along
the Glen Nevis road from Fort William, opposite the
start of the path to the summit
T
01397 702336,
W
syha.org.uk.
Though far from town, this friendly hostel
is an excellent base
for
walkers.
Very
busy in summer, so
book ahead. Dorms
£22
; doubles
£50
The Nevis Range
Situated seven miles northeast of Fort William by the A82, on the slopes of
Aonach
Mhòr
, one of the high mountains abutting Ben Nevis, the
Nevis Range
is Scotland's
highest ski area. The one-and-a-half-mile gondola trip (15min), rising 2000ft, gives an
easy approach to some high-level walking as well as spectacular views from the terrace
of the self-service restaurant at the top station. There's also a Discovery Centre here,
providing insights into the mountain's geology and wildlife. From the top of the
gondola station, you can experience a white-knuckle ride down Britain's only World-
Cup standard
downhill mountain-bike course
, a hair-raising 3km route that's not for
the faint-hearted. There's also over 25 miles of waymarked off-road bike routes, known
as the Witch's Trails, on the mountainside and in the Leanachan Forest, ranging from
gentle paths to cross-country scrambles. The base station area also has a café and there's
a high-wire adventure course and nature trail nearby.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
THE NEVIS RANGE
By bus
Bus #41 runs from Fort William's bus station four
times a day (Mon-Sat; 2 on Sun).
Gondola
Daily Easter-June, Sept & Oct 10am-5pm; July
& Aug 9.30am-6pm; winter: 9am-sunset (closed mid-Nov
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