nice one, Joe.

Bryno - try the walk at the very end of Glen Nevis... drive or walk til you reach the car park, and then follow the path in the gorge until it emerges onto Rannoch Moor. Stunning scenery all round. Not too strenuous, but rewarding.

Make sure all your group can navigate off the Ben in bad weather.

This might be of interest to you www.munromagic.com/MountainInfo.cfm…

Thanks Peter and MountainM, that was very helpful.

Thankfully I have no problems finding my way around anywhere (undergrounds, airports, major cities) once I have done a little research.

Peter and MountainM, if you are ever in Southern Ireland and want good hiking tips, make contact with me.

Thanks Bryno, hope you enjoy Ben Nevis!

Hi

Good luck with the weather on the ben - apparently it is clear on average 60 days a year - hope it is for one of yours!

There are lots of options nearby.

If you are super fit, one of the best is the Grey Corries - just north of spean bridge - another long day, but a super ridge and great views - see dbethune.com/Mountains/…GreyCorries.html

There is also Glen Coe- the Buachaille Etive Mor is a lovely hill - with great views - and can either be quite short (if you just go for the northernmost top) or a longer day if you do the whole ridge.

If the weather is good when you are on the ben by the way, it is much more interesting to go via Carn mor Dearg and the arete which links it to the ben than to go up the so called tourist track - the views of the north face of ben nevis are stunning and you get a nice, narrow ridge to scramble across (if you like that sort of thing).

I'm afraid after I went up the ben (via the CMD) I decided that a day trip to Mallaig by train was more in line with my energy levels....

Have fun

Bryno,

Depending on how you are feeling after doing the ben will reflect the walk you do the next day, it isn't that difficult but can be a slog

The carn mor dearg route is definitely the bets one as opposed to the tourist track, the ridge is not too narrow but you are boulder hopping a lot of the way.

The walk that was suggested by petersot is a good un, from the top og glen Nevis walk up to the steal falls, 30mins on a well worn track, this brings you out into a beautiful alpine meadow with a 100ft water fall at the end. They used this for filming in harry potter films. From here you can cross the 3 wire bridge and head left to go up an Gearnagh. This is the first munto on the ring of steall.

Any walks round this area are beutiful(weather permitting!)

Have a look at the munromagic website for any other hill ideas.

Enjoy

Peter and LovesScot (and others), thanks very much, took your advice re Steal Falls and it was a great recommendation. On the day after our ascent of The Ben, it was nice to have a leisurely stroll.

We were so glad that our hike on Friday was one of the 60 days in the year that Ben Nevis has a clear summit. It was so good we were able to sit on top for an hour for a well earned break and of course a shot of Ben Nevis Single Malt.

I would love to go back to the Highlands again someday, but I will not stay in Fort William. We came across far too many grumpy people there who do not know the meaning of the word 'hospitality'.

if you need good mountain weather advice - i.e when is there another clear day on ben nevis

check www.mwis.org

Glad you had a great time :-).......and yes that sounds like Fort William :-(