Monday 24th April, W8D4

Here's my spot for the night, on the shore of Loch Linnhe outside the Onich Hotel, not far south of Fort William. Not bad, eh? 

Slow departure from Spean Bridge this morning while I did my laundry, then headed SW, aiming for Ben Nevis area. Aiming high, I took the only mountain gondola in the UK, ignoring  my  normal antipathy to altitude, and ascended a modest 650metres on the slope of Aonach Mor. 

I really wanted to down a dram of  Ben Nevis single malt at the highest bar in the UK, but they weren't open, so I made do with a coffee. 

At the start of the road through Glen Nevis there used to be a curling rink in winter, and they've landscaped it and added a sculpture to represent the sport. 

I was feeling a distinct lack of walks and waterfalls today, so continued up the Glen to the Lower Falls, and then walked on for about a mile, not enough to reach the Upper Falls, which would involve a bit of a scramble, so I called it a day at that, and turned round. I'd have really liked to bathe my feet in the icy stream, bht didn’t have appropriate equipment, so I picked up a small nicely shaped stone as my memento, which must have washed down from Ben Nevis. 

Glen Nevis has a memory for me of my first scout camp. We played a 'wide game' (as you do) on the slopes of the Ben, and I remember having to wade knee high through the River to get back to camp because I wasn't as fit as some others and couldn't make it to the bridge in time. (I was a rather tubby chap even in those days. 😢) 

Moving on, I skirted the centre of Fort William and drove down Loch Linnhe to this hotel, suggested to me by another in Fort William, who doesn't do food on a Monday, and this place is just about perfect. I've had a reasonable meal, and was able to sit at the table long after everyone had gone. Strangely the bar doesn't stock Ben Nevis malt, so I've settled for a Balvenie Doublewood and an espresso. Too cold just now to sit outside in the dark, so I'll sit in the comfy lounge until it's time to find my way to the van at the shoreline. 

Slainte and Night Night