When you take the Three Peaks Challenge, stay
at Chase the Wild Goose
Hostel near Ben Nevis Fort William Scotland for
comfortable, friendly affordable backpackers
accommodation. The best of youth hostels Fort
William Scotland.
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Page
reproduced by kind permission. Take
part in an organised Three Peaks
Challenge
Three Peaks
Challenge
Ben Nevis
(1344m)
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Ben Nevis
from Corpach
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Situated in the
Highlands region of Scotland,
Ben Nevis is the highest peak
in Britain. The coastal town
of Fort
William
is at the foot of
the Ben, and has many outdoor
sports and climbing shops,
good accommodation and places
to eat. It is at the end of
the West Highland Way, and
popular with tourists in the
summer, and with skiers and
winter climbers during the
winter, so arrange
accommodation before you
arrive. |
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The start of the Tourist Path is
only two minutes drive from the centre of
the town and the railway station.
The original path (now named the 'Mountain
Track') was constructed in the 1880's to
service the observatory which was being built
on the summit plateau. This is now no more than
a badly derelict building, however the path
remains. The path on the summit plateau is not
distinct, and should be treated with upmost
care in poor visibility. Large cornices will
sometimes remain well into the summer months,
disguising the top of many gullies. Footprints
onto the cornices are from climbers.
The
'Mountain Track'
Route.
From the car park
at Glen Nevis Visitor
Centre, cross
the footbridge and walk beside the river
a short while, then left beside a wall up
to the start of the main path. Climb
steadily and soon the path
from Glen
Nevis joins from the right. Continue
upward, crossing two Alpine style
footbridges, then more steeply to Lochan
Meall an t-Siudhe, where a second path
joins. Please note any erosion diversions
in force.
Bear right at the junction and head up the
zig-zagging trail. After the zig-zags, the path
eases onto the summit plateau, which should be
treated with caution, especially in poor
visibiliy.
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Descending
from the summit.
This advice comes
from Lochaber Mountain Rescue
Team, and is
printed on the summit area map which they
produce.
Warning : these bearings and
distances are only likely to be of any
assistance if you are already a competent
navigator. Even very experienced mountaineers
can have great difficulty navigating accurately
in severe wind or white-out conditions, such as
occur frequently on the Ben Nevis
plateau.
1. From the summit trig. pillar
walk 150m on a grid bearing of 231` to near the
top of Gardyloo Gully (first marker pole*).
2. Then follow the grid bearing of 282` to
clear the plateau (a second marker pole is
situated 300m along this second bearing, at the
top of McLean's Steep*).
Marker poles are removed
regularly by people who disagree with their
placement, so do not count on them being in
situ
Walking
on
BEN NEVIS information
leaflet/webpage from the Mountaineering Council of
Scotland. Lots of good information - take a
look.
Walking
times
As a rough guide, you should be
aiming to achieve
these times at least on the mountain
From the Visitor
Centre:
2.5 - 3 hours
climb,
2 - 2.5 hours
descend.
Remember that as Fort William is at sea level,
you will have to climb almost the full 1344m to
the top. The start to Scafell and Snowdon both
allow you to gain some height in your vehicle
first. This is one good reason to start your
challenge in Scotland rather than Wales !!
The path to the top is steep or very steep for
it's entire length, but is well maintained.
Good navigational skills are required for the
summit in poor visibility.
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Image produced from the Ordnance
Survey Get-a-map
service. Image reproduced with
permission of Ordnance Survey
and Multi Media
Mapping.
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At 'Chase The
Wild Goose Hostel' we aim to provide
simple shared accommodation where you can
meet with like-minded people, perhaps share a
meal with them, talk or even walk with them
for a while. We hope you can find
courage to try something new. We hope
you can rest awhile for refreshment of body
and spirit. We hope you can experience
that unique relationship with your
environment, intertwined physically and
spiritually, with the natural and
super-natural. We hope you can grasp
the deeper meaning and purpose of Life.
We hope your dreams can spring to life...
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