Ben Nevis Visitor Centre to Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe and return
Ben Nevis
Distance 8km Climb 600m
Thursday 17 August 2017
We were staying at The Goirtean on the West coast of Scotland at Smirisary near Glenuig. This was the first time Danny, Callum and Declan had stayed there with us. Hope they enjoyed the holiday? From The Goirtean there is a good half mile walk to the car park and this is a mini adventure in itself. Followed by an hours drive to Fort William and the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre.
On Wednesday, the day before, the weather was atrocious, driving rain and I thought conditions would be bad on Ben Nevis however we would still go and take a look. Driving down from Glenuig it was heavy driving rain that cleared the nearer we got to Fort William.
Arriving at the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre it was drizzling in the car park, looking up towards Ben Nevis we could see a thick wall of mist, low cloud and rain further up the mountain side. We would take a walk up and see what it was like. Due to the weather we started in our waterproofs.
We would be walking the tourist trail, a new bridge has been put in place since my last walk up Ben Nevis in August 2015.
The bridge is now nearer to the centre and has reduced the walk along by the river on the other side. Anne and Declan came to wave us off.
This sign is where we would leave Anne and Declan (22m). The path by a field up towards Achintee House was very wet and muddy. Crossing the style at the top we followed the sign by the big boulder upwards.
The higher we climbed the wetter and colder the rain.
We passed loads of people on their way down as we were on our way up. Someone was waving at a friend below, we all stopped to help and waved as well.
Water was running down the path. A new bridge was in place over one of the streams that falls down the mountainside.
After a short rest we continued up to the sign where the very old path had been closed to conserve it.
Rain was falling steadily.
I could just make out the people walking further along the track, walking either into or out of the cloud, depending on whether they were walking up or down Ben Nevis.
Reaching the track junction near Lochan Meall an t-Suide (625m) we met a group of three Dutch men who had been to the top and were on their way down. I was surprised to see people camping near the Loch. This was as far as we were going, after a short rest we turned round and headed back down hill.
On our journey back down, there were only two or three people who passed us going up, mostly everyone was coming down.
If the weather had been better we may have pushed on a little further, but we had walked far enough for today. The Ben will still be there, for another trip hopefully in better conditions. From the car park to the track junction near the Loch and back is approx. 8 km with approx. 600m climb. We had already covered some extra kilometres as well as including the walk to and from The Goirtean making a total of 13.64 km with a climb of 710m.
More to follow.
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Scotland or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
Previous walks up Ben Nevis
National 3 Peaks Challenge August 2015.
3 Peaks, Ben Nevis not as part of the 3 Peaks Challenge 17 September 2011.
Ben Nevis with Anne 11 June 2009.
Ben Nevis as part of my WHW. Best birthday present ever 20 March 2009.
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