I CLIMBED A FREAKING MOUNTAIN!!!!…read more Ahem, I'm sorry, I'll restrain myself. Anyway, yes, I climbed an mountain and made it to one of the peaks. Not THE peak but up there. The Scotsman and I took the gondola ride for about 15 minutes at a nice pace up the side of the mountain. This is quite picturesque, through the trees, over the bike and walking trails and over several little streams. It's GORGEOUS. Finally when we disembarked, we were at the Ski lodge area. We looked about and took the path that led to the viewing point. It's a nice path, it meanders some what and gets quite steep. It's not EASY but it's not HARD either. If you're not at least some what accustomed to walking around and up things, don't try it. There are plenty of spots where you can rest and a lovely little cold stream running along the land. Out about 1000' from the trail is a memorial to someone who loved or lived there. May they rest in peace. Once you get to the top, the view is incredible, and there's a sense of accomplishment, or there was at least for me. My knee didn't give out and my friend surprised himself too!

Seriously, go climb this mountain. What awaits you at the top is worth it. The view is absolutely…read morebreathtaking. Not only in this on epic level hike it is also a popular snow sports destination and am everything else outdoors. The entire town of Fort William the readied at the base of Ben Nevis is geared towards the outdoor recreation lifestyle. This make it easy if you forget an item or two in your rucksack.

First of all - the path to The Cobbler is not on The Chalets, that was just the closest I could…read moreget. You can park in car park off the A83 just across from that street (The Chalets). Cross the street and you're in! Logistics: The first part of the climb is a steep-ish zig-zag through the trees. It's not too hard, but will get your heart pumping. When you get above the tree line is when things really start to get fantastic. You walk through a magnificent valley filled to the brim with mountain streams, flora, and giant rocks that give the landscape an otherworldly feel. It's just one gorgeous vista after another, and the best part is it's mostly flat! But then...it gets tough. The ascent to the mountain is steep, and you will need serious hiking boots. Don't make the mistake we did. When you get to the fork, go right. If you go left, it is faster, but it's also a perilous climb up a rocky riverbed. If you go right, you will stay on a trail which is both easier and safer to climb. The Cobbler receives rave reviews all over the interwebs, and having tackled it this weekend, I can see why. I didn't even get to see those spectacular views from the top (it was foggy at the peak) and I was still amazed by it. I'd say anyone who is in reasonably good shape and has a pair of hiking boots and a waterproof jacket can do this round-trip in under six hours. This is the day trip to beat all day trips! You will be surrounded by beauty and feel amazing afterwards.

We found the Falls of Foyers 100% on accident, but I'm so glad we did!…read more It's a bit of the beaten path-- a ways off a side road off the B road on the east side of Loch Ness. You get to see some Highland Cattle (aka fluffy cows) on the drive in. There was plenty of parking at at the top. The hike to the top viewing point is short and not too steep, but I'd still make sure to have good shoes, and be careful if you have limited mobility at all. The stairs and trails are very well-maintained, but still a bit uneven, and there isn't always a railing. The hike to the lower viewing point was steeper, but well worth the effort. The trails past this viewing point are quite pretty as well, and lead to great views of a river leading into the Loch. We ended up turning around after a bit because we were short on time, but there's a longer loop you can do that is likely gorgeous. Keep an eye out for red squirrels, as well as plaques with poetry and explanation about the falls. Don't rush when you're driving through the Highlands; definitely take the time to follow signs pointing vaguely to a waterfall so you get to see incredible views like these.

Nice little falls, although rather more modest than some of the descriptions suggest. Nonetheless,…read morewell worth seeing after the pleasant drive to their location. The walk to half way is modest and very manageable for most. But, try and avoid the holiday makers we ran into. They were rude and blocked the narrow and slippery path. Phooey to them.

So today was a sunny spring day so a group of us decided to head to the whangie, I'd been before…read moreearlier in the year but it was so icey we had to turn back after only getting half way.. The whangie and Queens view is only 30 minutes from Glasgows city centre in the car, unfortunately I don't think there is any public transport to get there. There is a small car park at the bottom which on sunny days will be busy.. The first part of the walk is the toughest bit, but even then it's not that tough.. It's a lovely walk for walkers of all abilities.. There are parts which you have to be careful and concentrate on, but most of it is easy.. As I said today it's a talkie walk, which means you can chat whilst doing it without needing to catch your breath.. The views from the start are amazing you can see loch Lomond which today looked beautiful and blue.. Once you get to the top you see the actual Whangie.. It's a big piece of rock that has a slice through the middle which you can walk through, it is beautiful, I loved it.. Legend has it that the whangie was created by an angry dragon whose tail smashed through the rock, creating the slice.. It's a really lovely walk and to the top and back down took about 1 1/2 hours..

Amazing Road Trip We…read morewere travelling England, Scotland and Ireland for a few weeks by car with our doggy. Northern Scotland of course was high on our to-do list. We weren't able to do the whole way, only about 2/3 of it (Inverness - whole East Coast - John O'Groats - Thurso - and a bit further than Durness). But the part we did was amazing - beyong any words. I've done some good Road Trips before. The Route 66. The US / Mexican Border. Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway). Australia (Uluru - South Coast - East Coast) and more. And this here belongs to the very top Road Trips I know. The landscape is simply amazing. Every few minutes you feel the urge to stop, get out of the car and take in the wonderful views. You could do that - if you have a bunch of weeks time. We took about 5-6 days for our part of the NC 500 and we still felt it flew by so fast. After Thurso the main road becomes a one-lane. That's for both directions! There are enough spaces though to let other cars pass....about every 100-200 meters. Most drivers are very respectful too. Sometimes some Caravan Drivers acted like they own the road though. Besides that it's a fantastic ride - almost a rollercoaster somtimes :) So many lovely towns, views, vista points and landmarks. Some that we think you shouldn't miss: Inverness: lovely town, good shopping Wick: a good lunch stop Duncansby Head: one of the most amazing landscapes we've ever seen, great walks - way better than Dunnet Head Thurso: nice town, also a good base for exploring the area The Road to Dunnet Head: great views, nice small lakes, Dunnet head itself is a bit disappointing Dunnet Bay: huge (and empty) beach, pet-friendly, great views Kyle Of Tongue: amazing views, backed by many mountains Durness and Sango Bay: good stop for lunch, lovely Beach The stretch between Thurso and Durness were for us the most impressive. Fantastic all the way. The landscape along Loch Eriboll is also magical. It's a wonder this Road Trip is not more popular. There is some traffic, yes. But still not much. But that's a good thing! Better keep it secret....oh, I shouldn't have written this review then :)

Hi Guys, cycled…read morethrough Scottland from Glasgow to the northern boarder, to the ouder hebridies, to Edinburgh, back to Glasgow, twice. Took the boat from Inverness for return trip to Fort William - 30 years ag (1990/1991). Great experience - without any E-... . Today I am cycling an E-MTB:.. To take a rest we stopped in Fort William for 2 days - but did not rest... I a booklet we rent from university "Mountainbiking in the Scottish Highlands" a tour was described around Ben Nevis. (unfortunately at this time my English has had much room for improvements..... and I did not understand the rating "challening"...... Well, we started at 9 and arrived the West Highland was at 6pm, followed the West Highland way to Fort William and arrived in Fort William at 9pm. the B&B lady was so friendly (and afraid about her house.......) and offered us to wash and cleand our stuff - if we would leave it outside.......... It was really a very nice lady. we have had very good experience with Scottish. On the ouder hebridies we recognized that we needed a post office to collect some money - but unfortunately the only one was located north of the mountains on Lewis or Harris - dont remember which one is the northern one - and a postbus driver invited us to join him on his car and trip to Stokinish. It was such a nice experinece "bloody old English ...." 500times during the 2 hours trip. In the evenig he invited us to join us at legioneers Pub / Club. It was so nice. If I would find some power for the E I would do it again....... Great country, people, weather........(:...).

We did the WHW from 6th - 15th June this year and really enjoyed the hike over the 8 days, the trek…read moreis really good marked and we reached after 154 KM Fort William, I highly recommend to do this once in a life time :-)

This is a very easy, very rewarding wee hike right outside Stirling. It's real simple. Just drive…read moreinto the town centre (of sorts) of Menstrie, right on the A91. Across from the Spar there's a big open green, at the back of which you'll see a Scouts Hall. Park somewhere near there. Follow the path to the left of the Hall. You'll see a sign that helpfully says "Path," pointing to a cement staircase curving up to the right. The first part of the climb is a bit blah, but once you get past the teensy dirt path and the weird abandoned hobo pit (don't be scared...it's all ancient rusty cans) and over the crest of the hill, you'll be rewarded with magnificent views. There are approximately 72,004 sheep to terrify you with their horns, who will promptly skitter away if you come within ten feet of them. The last little stretch to the top is somewhat steep, but definitely do-able. We were all in sneakers (or trainers, if you will) and during our one hour hike to the ascent we were lapped by a man who jogged to the top and back in under 30 minutes. If a guy can do it every day on his lunch break, then so can you. It's a mostly beautiful amble with spectacular views of the William Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle once you reach the top. Well worth a visit and definitely earns a trip to the pub afterwards.

This was my first bothy experience. My friend told me all about it before we headed out to it. It's…read morebasically a giant cabin or hostel out in the middle of the wilderness and its FREE. This one held about 14 people in a giant bunk bed that covered the entire back wall. The bothy also came with a kitchen area that you can cook in. It is located right off of the coast of the Isle of Skye. The ocean is literally 40 yards away. We backpacked about three miles from the parking area which is on a one lane road. While you are hiking out, you will be traveling through the pasture, so be sure to close the gates so the little sheep don't get out and keep your dog on a leash. There is a decent about of elevation gain and loss to get out here, so be sure to pack light or be prepared to get tired. The grass in this region is typical of what you will find in the highlands. I don't know much about it, but it's super wet. Once you get to the top of the hill looking down towards a lake, you will see several bothy's, but only one is open, which is the bothy on the left. Be sure to respect other people you see and leave the house to the right alone. They are very close to shutting the bothy down due to people not respecting the land. So don't be "that guy" and ruin it for others. As this is a shared space, be prepared to share sleeping space with other people. I was pretty nervous for this as my first hostel experience was a little strange, but I got super lucky! My friend and I met some people from Belgium, and Germany and all got along great. We shared stories, food, and all showed each other respect to make the day go by well. Be sure to share the same respect for others and the land, by clicking on this link below and following the rules of the bothy. http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/usingabothy.asp

Can you review a mountain?…read more Evidently, you can! Besides, it's not like its feelings can get hurt. I just want to brag about how I climbed this bad boy yesterday! My first munro, just like Ickle M's. Definitely not my last, either! Ben Lomond is roughly 3100 feet, and one of the most popular climbs in Scotland. Its location lends to it being accessible by most on the central belt, and its gradual ascent makes it completely conquerable by people with little to no experience of walking, hiking or mountain climbing. As Ickle M said, it's only really sign posted towards the beginning, but it's a very sociable walk so no doubt you'll be able to tag along with fellow adventurers should you get lost. There is a path that takes you all the way up to the top from the information centre so as long as you stay on the beaten track you'll be safe. This was my first climb, so I'll give you some pointers if, like me, you're only just getting to grips with the great outdoors in such a dramatic fashion. First off, pack a bag full of food. There are no cafe's or scenic routes along the way - this is pure, untempered land. It may be a tourist attraction, but it's still rugged and left in its natural state (thankfully). Even if you get boiling, stuff your bag with as much warm clothing as it can hold. On a summer's day with no cloud cover you will likely not use any of it - we went up yesterday and I was roasting despite the cloud cover. But if it is cloudly, towards the top you will get drenched with water vapour and little ice particles in the air. If you are the type who doesn't like to get their hands dirty, don't bother. At several points you have to grab on to the neighbouring rocks to hoist yourself further up the path, and while you won't end up caked in mud, you still can't shy away from the great outdoors. If you're inexperienced, don't climb it in winter. I felt safe yesterday because my friend is a professional mountain climber (he had a pick axe with him and everything!). Although you don't need such extreme equipment for this Munro, it can get quite narrow and slippery towards the summit, and consequently quite dangerous. It may be an easier mountain to climb but there are still some sheer drops, so don't look down! Bring shoes with a good grip. I survived it in wellies that I bought at a festival! So it can be done. But I wouldn't recommend a summer skirt and court shoes for this trek. Climbing shoes or thick leather boots with a good grip would be ideal. From someone who has never climbed a mountain before, Ben Lomond was a great starting point. It's nice and near the city, the path is easy enough to climb even at its rockiest points, and there's plenty of opportunities to stop and gape at the gorgeous view. Unfortunately yesterday there was a lot of cloud cover, but on a clear day you can see for miles around. All in all, it's a good mountain to start you off, and makes a great day of extreme tourism. It's a good day out for older kids, accessible for older generations - there are even dogs who make it to the top! There are ususally plenty of people around that will gladly help you out if you need it, and there is a conveniently placed pub at the bottom. You will earn your pint after this adventure! Happy hiking!