Scotland - I'd spent so much time driving all over it for work but only occasionally had the oppurtunity to stay up there and enjoy it. This time, we decided to have some time off and really get out there and discover what it was all about.
We went to the Highlands of Scotland and based ourselves in Fort William - we tried to get a room in the Cruachan Hotel - an old favourite of mine - the host was just like Basil Fawlty but that was going back a few years. We couldn't get a room at the Cruachan (so Basil must have moved on) so instead stayed at the more reasonable travel inn but even they couldn't accommodate us all the nights we required so we treated ourselves and stayed at the Glenspean Lodge (http://www.glenspeanlodge.com/) at Roy Bridge just outside Fort William. This we can highly recommend - a well stocked bar/wine cellar, beautiful food and set amongst some outstanding natural scenery, it couldn't be better.
After filling our faces and trying more than our fair share of whiskies in the Glenspean Lodge, we headed off the next day to tackle Ben Nevis or "The Ben" as its affectionately known. The weather was good and the forecast was great. We parked in Glen Nevis, the traditional starting point and headed off. The weather was amazing as the photo above tells you - this was taken once you'd walked out of the Glen and started to climb. The views were fantastic.
After about 3.5 hours we reached the summit and were amazed to see snow, not just bits here and there either. There was about 4 foot of it and so near the edge that you couldn't safely stand there incase it was a cornice you were standing on, you just didn't know - see top photo - be warned, this was the month of June when we were walking aswell! This is as high as you can go in the UK and at 1344m its a little chilly even in the summer so go prepared.
For the decent, we decided to forego the abseil route down and headed for the more traditional, if not a bit scary Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête (see photo above). You need some modest scrambling techniques and a real head for heights. This gives amazing views all around and if you stop and turn around will give great views of the cliffs of the north face of "the Ben". It really gets your heart pumping in places.
Another day, we headed south of Fort William and drove through Glen Coe - that is an unbeliveable experience - the place is so huge with massive hills all around you and it really feels like you've stepped back in time to the days of the famous massacre of Glencoe - it has an eiry feel to it. We headed through Glen Coe and parked at the car park at the start of the descent down. We were tackling the Buachaille Etive Mor today or as its known to the climbing fraternity - "The Buachaille". From the A82 south of Glen Coe, the Buachaille looks like a perfect pyramid.
This is a great walk and from the top gives many options for routes to walk. The views aren't bad on a clear day aswell! The photo above shows the south entrance to Glen Coe from the summit. We passed a little snow here aswell.
You have so many walking options here in Scotland that its quite frustrating to pick the ones you want to do, frustrating because you have to leave other routes for another day.
Another great route is the Ring of Steall on the other side of Glen Nevis to that of "The Ben". This is another great walk. Drive to the end of Glen Nevis and continue to walk up the Glen until you reach a peaceful and flat valley floor - here you will find a wire bridge to cross (good fun!) and then go up and around the Devils Ridge to Sgurr a'Mhaim - you have a choice of routes but the Devils Ridge is a real thrill and has amazing views - again you need a good head for heights but its worth it.
One of the best experiences was on the way back home - we drove south through Glen Coe and then after starting to descend you reach some hairpin bends going down into the valley. On one of these bends is a layby where deer hang out occasionally. They are amazing, so serene and quiet. They are quite used to humans but please don't feed them! The views here are still amazing!
Scotland is far more than stag and hen parties in Glasgow and Edinburgh, its far more than the Edinburgh Tattoo or even the Edinburgh Festival in August. Venture out of these 2 cities and head in pretty much any direction and there is a whole outdoor life. The Borders, Fife, Aberdeenshire and even Dumfries and Galaway (just north of Carlisle). The trekking and walking oppurtunities are never ending, just park the car and walk for about an hour and you'll start discovering this fantastically beautiful country.
