Glen Nevis and Ben Nevis
-> Scotland
-> Highland region
-> Great Glen
-> Fort William
-> Glen Nevis and Ben Nevis
A ten-minute drive south of Fort William, Glen Nevis is indisputably among the Highlands' most impressive glens: a classic U-shaped glacial valley hemmed in by steep bracken-covered slopes and swaths of blue-grey scree. Herds of shaggy Highland cattle graze the valley floor, where a sparkling river gushes through glades of trees. Highland County bus #42 runs from An Aird, beside the Safeway supermarket and the railway station, Fort William (roughly hourly) as far as the SYHA hostel, two and a half miles up the Glen Nevis road; some buses carry on another two and a half miles up the glen to the car park by the Lower Falls (mid-May to Sept only; 10-20min beyond the hostel).
Apart from its natural beauty, Glen Nevis is also the starting point for the ascent of Britain's highest peak, Ben Nevis (4406ft). The best map is "Harvey's Ben Nevis Walkers Map and Guide", available from the tourist office and most local bookshops and outdoor stores. Despite the fact that it's quite a slog up to the summit, and that it is by no means the most attractive mountain in Scotland, in high summer the trail is teeming with hikers, whatever the weather. However, this doesn't mean the mountain should be treated casually. It can snow round the summit any day of the year and more people perish here annually than on Everest, so take the necessary precautions; in winter, of course, the mountain should be left to the experts. The most obvious route to the summit, a Victorian pony path up the whaleback south side of the mountain, starts from the helpful Glen Nevis visitor centre (daily June-Sept 9am-6pm; Easter-May & Oct 9am-5pm), a mile and a half southeast of Fort William along the Glen Nevis road (bus #42 from An Aird in Fort William). Allow a full day for the climb (8hr).
Copyright Rough Guides Ltd as trustees for its authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved. The Rough Guides name is a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd. |
back