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The Highlands of Scotland: hundreds and hundreds of miles of open, free-to-roam, wilderness peppered with fresh and salt water lochs, lush glens and rocky mountains as far as the eye can see! We recently took a trip to the North of Scotland, to try and capture this magnificent untouched landscape and the lives of the animals that call it home.

In a series of photos we reveal our adventures through the home of British mountaineering. Our base was Fort William, featured in ‘The Best Places for Adventure in Europe’. Situated at the foot of Ben Nevis (the highest peak in Britain) and a stone’s-through from the world famous downhill mountain bike track, this was the perfect summer hideout.

Aonach Mòr

Near the top, storm clouds started forming. It made for a great atmospheric photo but also signalled that it was time to go. Ski lifts and equipment abandoned until winter also adds to the wild feel of the area. Following the snow fences up the mountain means there is no need for a compass, but the route should only be attempted in good visibility as there is a steep drop-off at the top. We spotted this little green guy on one of the fence posts. If you know the species of spider, please let us know in the comments below. Looking back down towards the World Cup Downhill Mountain Bike track. An exposed ridge-line with a steep drop-off waits at the top. Snow from the winter was still clinging to shaded grooves. The ridge can be followed towards Ben Nevis but the route should not be undertaken lightly. We spotted this mountain frog on the way down and somehow managed to capture a hopping shot. Storm clouds made for a rapid descent but really highlight the rugged natural beauty of this landscape. Near the summit of Aonach Mòr. The wind chill was pretty fierce for this time of year and there was plenty of snow left on the south face (yep—the south face is more exposed on this mountain). Luckily I had my Berghaus Antelao Gore-Tex Pro and the view to the west was spectacular.

We started the trip with an ascent of Aonach Mòr. At 1,221 m (4,006 ft), it forms part of the Glen Nevis Range. The mountain turns into a winter wonderland when the snow comes, becoming a ski resort. A gondola takes you from sea-level to around 600 m and the start of the downhill mountain bike track. It’s not advised to climb from the base station as the only way up is along the mountain bike track itself. From my experience riding alpine DH tracks (in mainland Europe), the track was unusually quiet however, with only a few bikes being taken up on the lift.

From here, the ascent is completely free—climbing up through the labyrinth of ski runs, though using some of the snow fencing as a guide it’s possible to spot a boot print or two. Half way up, the steepness increases and with large patches of scree, the hike becomes more varied. At the top there is a steep drop-off along the ridge-line. From here it’s possible to follow the ridge towards Ben Nevis. However this can be dangerous and sadly while we were still in Scotland, news broke that a hiker had fallen around 600 m on a similar route.

Glencoe and the Lost Valley

A rainy day in Glencoe followed, giving me a chance to test out my Berghaus Antelao. Returning for a hike up between the ‘Three Sisters’ towards the ‘Lost Valley’ was a great shout when the weather improved.

Scotland is still beautiful when it's raining. A hike through a pine forest revealed some awesome spots. A spectacularly view of one the three sisters of Glencoe. We took a fun route up to the left of this photo towards the 'Lost Valley' in the heart of these mountains. The second river crossing is more tricky. You can either wade through a little further down the mountain or venture up a small scramble climb towards this gentle rock crossing. The route is a mix of mild scrambling, rocky track and river crossings.

The track up towards the ‘Lost Valley’ is really fun with some rocky, scrambling sections to keep things varied.

Steall Falls

Steall Falls, situated at the very end of the valley below Ben Nevis is spectacular. After a 1.6 mile stretch of rocky trail above the river, the route opens out into an amazing meadow with a breathtaking view of the falls. The water cascades well over 100 m (328ft) down the rockface making it one of the highest waterfalls in the UK. Vibram rubber soles are a must as the route is slippery. Even with the severe warning signs at the start of the trail I felt that a couple of the walkers I passed on the way were unprepared and taking an unnecessary risk.

Steall Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the UK; the water cascades over 100 m (328 ft) down the rockface. There is a car park at the top of the Glen Nevis valley, where you can pick up the trail. We decided to add some miles and start further down the valley reaching the car park on foot and then picking up the trail. The route from here is a blast with numerous rocky sections, water crossings and some mild scrambling along the Nevis Gorge. However due to the severe drop towards the river and the wet trails, turned stream in some places, it’s important to have the right gear. The path opens up into a gorgeous meadow where the falls can be admired in spectacular fashion.

Ben Nevis

Looking down at the surrounding mountains touching the low cloud, before ascending into the fog towards the summit. Looking across the Glen Nevis Valley with Ben Nevis beginning to rise on the left. With erosion in mind, this shortcut is unadvised. Looking back down towards the starting point. Stone walls guide the initial track before the real climbing begins. At around the halfway point this cool waterfall breaks up the mountain side. A short paved section from the tarn gives way to a naturally eroded rocky trail past this point. This was too breathtaking to caption. Low lying clouds descent on the valley. Climbing into the mist there was a fair bit of deep snow left from the winter along the trail and at the summit. Temperatures dropped so it was on with the Berghaus Antelao.

As mentioned in a recent article, high on the to-do-list was an ascent of Ben Nevis at 1,344 m (4,409 ft). Taking the mountain track towards the summit provided amazing views and scenery of the surrounding landscape, with a few great photographic opportunities along the way. The mountain route begins at Achintee on the east side of Glen Nevis, at around 20 metres above sea level. Taking the bridge across the river gave us access from the west side. The track climbs steeply via several small zig-zags to the saddle by Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe (known as the halfway lochan) at 570m, then ascends the remaining 700 metres up the rocky west flank of Ben Nevis in a series of larger zig-zags.

Click on ‘Page 2’ for wildlife and landscape photos from the trip…

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