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 Advice please

We are going to Fort William on the 4th June and would like any ideas/tips of attractions to see/do?

Yes! Yes! I know about Ben Nevis but would like some advice.  me and hubby,  21 year old daughter and 13 year old daughter will be going.  The girls have never really walked before so i don't know whether Ben Nevis is accessible to inexperienced walkers.  I don't want to attempt it if we are being silly to even try.  Have heard of Glen Nevis range when you can go up the cable car so that might be a bit more like it. 

 Any info would be appreciated.  We are staying on a caravan site about 5 miles outside  Fort William and will be there until 8th June.

thanks Joanne  

The tourist route isn't technically difficult in summer, but you need some navigation skills as it is possible to go off route and end up on very dangerous ground.  Also the weather can change and what is an easy sunny walk can become something quite different.

Go for it.

There are various options for days out at Fort William:

• A visit to the Ben Nevis Distillery
• Train journey from Fort William over the Glenfinnan Viadut to Mallaig, either on the "Harry Potter" Jacobean steam train or on the Scotrail diesel.
• Boat trip down Loch Linnhe to see the seals.
• The Glen Nevis cablecar.

This is the main page for Fort William.

This is the main page for Ben Nevis.

The Ben used to have a fully manned Observatory on the peak and that was built and supplied by materials transported up there by donkey trains, so there is a roadway right to the top. 

So your main problem is not the way up but the weather that can be encountered on the mountain.

Parts of Ben Nevis has snow on it all year round so it doesn't matter how lovely the weather is at the base, wear good boots and warm clothing and take extra warm waterproof clothing with you.

Quote: Originally posted by Bernie47 on 26/2/2012

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There are various options for days out at Fort William:

• A visit to the Ben Nevis Distillery
• Train journey from Fort William over the Glenfinnan Viadut to Mallaig, either on the "Harry Potter" Jacobean steam train or on the Scotrail diesel.
• Boat trip down Loch Linnhe to see the seals.
• The Glen Nevis cablecar.

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Ben Nevis was on telly the other night when Griffen Reece Jones ws doing the climb.

First he tried running up the track but stopped halfway, changed into boots and walking gear and then continued towards the top but the weather turned bad and he had to retreat.

The second time he tried it, it was with and experienced climber and the did the North Face. Although they made it to the top this time, it was a hairy going in wet weather and there was nothing to see at the summit as the cloud was bocking out the view.

A spectacular mountain in good weather, but unfortunately it gets more bad days than good ones.

I mistakenly called the track a "donkey track". It is ofcourse a Pony Track.

To add to the good suggestions so far - the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge not far north: spectacular setting, and I challenge anyone not to be moved. Don't miss out on the amazing seafood - there's a restaurant overhanging the sea wall at Fort William, or take a run down to Oban where there are two well-reviewed places (via good dog walks at Sutherland Grove near the CCC site at Oban but actually Benderloch) or have lunch at the Holly Tree Restaurant at Kentallan, with local langoustines. Don't miss Glencoe - the Visitor Centre is worth a visit, but a wander along a path once you've taken in the tragedy of the Massacre will let you feel the strong atmosphere of the Glen, which is always present. Go out to the beaches of Morar and Arisaig, where "Local Hero" was filmed, and marvel at the turquoise water over the silver sands. Try and get on a ferry to somewhere! as that's the joy of the west coast. Oh, and take Skin So Soft and antihistamines - the midges will be fierce at that time of year at dusk, when the wind drops. But in June the nights will be getting short and the days long - glorious!

lol, done it three times years ago and never seen a view from the top yet, but a great walk still. Have the right gear on or packed and some spare food and drink and go for it.

Andy