2023 Ben Nevis! (write-up a bit late)

 30 April 2023

 

Very late with this write-up but better late than never!

Ben Nevis the highest mountain in Scotland, the United Kingdom, and the British Isles. 

The summit is 1,345 metres (4,413 ft)[1] above sea level and is the highest land in any direction for 739 kilometres (459 miles). Ben Nevis stands at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Highland region of Lochaber, close to the town of Fort William.

The Easter treats provided in our lovely cottage to fuel us going up the hill!

 The easiest route up the mountain, the track begins at the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre car park, at Achintee on the east side of Glen Nevis about 2 km from the town centre of Fort William, and approximately 20 m above sea level. The track starts with a steep climb to the halfway lochan', or Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe, and then the ascent features snaking zig-zag paths up to the summit.

What you miss from the images is how windy it was! Very blustery indeed up here.

J fuelled by courtesy Iron-bru!

At the summit, there's a cairn that marks the highest point and your reward on a clear day there are incredible 360° panoramic vistas which can stretch as far as Northern Ireland. From the top, see if you can point out other peaks including the Torridon hills, Ben Lomond and Morven at Caithness.

 

A unique feature of the summit is the Old Observatory, which was opened in 1883. It provided hourly meteorological data for almost 20 years, recording some of the UK's most useful information about mountain weather to date. It closed in 1904 and it now lies in ruin, but can be used for shelter in emergencies.

A great walk. Kids found it a doddle. Adults however had sore knees the next day.