Been There, Done That!

Well, I’ve now been along the Cape Wrath Trail (Been There) and climbed up Ben Nevis (Done That). 

To recap I had breakfast and left the B&B yesterday as dear Elsie, the owner, had a doctor’s appointment. I wandered into town and came across the end – being the beginning for me – of the West Highland Way. 

It took me longer to find the end of the Cape Wrath Trail. Mostly because it isn’t a trail for many miles along the way; it’s difficult to follow when paths don’t exist! But it’s an embryonic trail and an attraction for devoted walkers. So it deserves it’s unmarked roundabout conclusion, shared in true Caledonian fashion with a stalwart of the glens – McDonalds!! I kid you not, this is the published start/end point.

I made my way along my new trail – The West Highland Way – up Glen Nevis to a campsite where I pitched my midge-proof tent. Thank you god that I didn’t bring Wilson (although he was sick) as I would have been bitten to buggery. I made my way to the camp restaurant/bar and had haggis, neaps and tatties and a coupla beers.

Oh that aromatic haggis!

I was keen to get up Ben Nevis, as the highest mountain in the UK, and I couldn’t get a glimpse of it in the low cloud. 

I got an early night, got up and had a Scotch Egg and Prawn sandwich, which I’d bought at Morrisons, the previous day, for breakfast. What a treat!

I set off at 7.30 and made my way up this amazing hill. It’s not that high compared to the Alps or Pyrenees, and Puig Campana that I’d climbed in Spain earlier in this blog is higher, but it’s high enough. It’s also very north, so it’s colder and more desolate, particularly in low cloud. 

The path up is hard and steep, and being almost the longest day in the year and a Saturday the mountain was crawling with charity walkers, several hundred of them; and there’s only one safe path. After 3 hours of slog I reached the snow line and it had turned windy and very cold. 

Where else can you find a group of nuns at 4000ft?

It was knackering walking through snow in those conditions but everyone plunged on. There’s a great, supportive camaraderie going up mountains. Strangers sharing words of encouragement. 

A bloke volunteered to take my photo.

It’s just a question of keeping your head down and grinding away. At 11.15 I finally made it to the summit, with the charity crew.

To eat my Morrisons 69p pork pie I had to lean against the leeward side of the stone cairn at the summit, with other pilgrims, to avoid most of the icy blast. 

On the way down I saw another group of charity walkers together crossing the snow and it was a great, evocative photo.

When I got down to the lower levels of the mountain the views up and down (to my camp site) were great. 

I got down at 13.30, doing a not bad 6 hours. It’s warmer in the valley, and the midges are delighted. Loafing about and ready for tomorrow for the start of my journey South on the West Highland Way. 

Bite Bite.