Michael Tyler

I am now heading home to lovely Wolverhampton.

Glad the weather has stayed good throughout.

Full version

MacTavish’s is a Scottish Theme restaurant, one of the popular places on the drag of Fort William.

The service is abysmal but the food is excellent and you have the additional treat for £2, of being entertained in an authentic Scottish style whilst you eat.

I have captured a little of the Scottish festivities – click for a video.

If you are going to book the best tickets are the ones with the lower numbers 12 represents an aisle. People aren’t enthused about swapping.

6 station stop offs along the way and many photo opportunities. The train stops in Mallaig, terminus fishing port.

Mallaig

Sheets of rain flush the streets as I make my way round.

Mallaig is a fishing port which in the summer receives a lot of tourists.

After two hours in windy, rainy conditions, tourism aesthetic has given way to grim realisation that Mallaig is a dirty fishing village with knobs on.

The novelty is how it has become a tourist destination in the first place.

The fish and chips are rated the best in the country and you can catch ferries in many of the Scottish islands, but I would rather catch a flight to the south of France or Spain.

This is what the Scottish tourist industry is up against.

Jacobite steam train to some – Harry Potters Hogwarts Express to others, this is the legendary train which takes Potter above the Scottish Highlands to the mystical Hogwarts Magical Academy.

The railway is run by West Coast Railway Company and is not part of the services offered by Scotrail, tickets are sold separately.

The train takes you to Mallaig and back via Copach and Glenfinnan, the Glenfinnan viaduct is featured in the Harry Potter film. Past Loch Shiel and the statue of Bonnie Prince Charlie then Arisaig and Morar to stop in Mallaig.

You can get all the way there and back for £22.00 per person (1st class).

It was funny the way the journey reduced grown men to little children all jostling and excited, crowding around windows with their video cameras, needless to say I did not partake in this childish behavior.

REAL Hogwarts Express! – !!!***The Movie ***!!!!!

Version 2

Travelling down the mountain was by the same path. In addition you have the option of taking a number of short cuts, scree covered hit and miss affairs for the more hardened mountaineer (like myself).

I embarked upon more than one of these, the first having done the job: bypassed a number of fellow climbers and shaved minutes from my descent.

Again, kiddies were out in front negotiating sliding around on the scree.

After the second ‘cut relative merits have reduced to the point where I would only recommend to surfers and skaters and nutters in general.

Feeling a bit worst for wear and a sore I embark on a little rock hoping and jog down to the bottom, much easier than walking.

This is the second major peak I have sought to conquer in the UK having seen off Snowdon last year. Bank holidays represent a good time to venture out and get the job done.

The weather is hot and sunny, the accommodation in Fort William is booked up, the buses are swelling with backpackers, Scots and Brits alike are out to make the most of the weather.

Have not encountered midges yet. These may come later.

There are two ways to climb the mountain, to start from the Youth Hostel or to start from the Visitor Centre, both are on the same path.

Recently climbed up Snowdon.
There you have a choice of about 3-5 paths to the peak itself and many more interjoining across the hills and valleys below.
Ben Nevis has one route to the top.

The Path
Climbing was fairly easy, much of the lower sections path are slabbed.

Midway point is marked by a lake not visible directly from the path.
Stop here and have yer brew or banana or whatever.

Approaching the summit, kept on finding kids where trying to overtake me.
Not effected by the altitude they were able to almost run up the last part, little buggers.

The last part was made up of lunar scree. Bleached rock etc.
Have got some pictures to demostrate this exciting landscape which has a tendency to slip out from under your feet on the way down.

Summit
On the top of the mountain the had a memorial to people who have lost lives of friends or family on the mountain.
There were more than a few.

Also there was a small tin refuge mounted atop a pillar of rock for climbers who find themselves in a predicament not wishing to become part of the memorial.

After surveying these mountain top features and the view, which was fantastic. Ate scotch eggs ready for descent.

Holed up just outside Fort William.

There are a couple of bunk houses. I am staying at one called Farr which is about 3 miles out of Fort William itself.

Have taken a walk down to the Caladonian Canal in the evening. Am enjoying this much more that my time in the city.

Have met couple from London. Teachers. They are travelling from John O’Groats to Lands End by mountain bike. Mad.

They’re staying in the same accommodation which is a lodge house with all the amenities cooking, fridge freezer, rooms with TV’s etc. Prices are £12.50 per night. Not Bad.
Its fairly comfortable and the people are friendly.

tomorrow I will take on Ben Nevis.