Home -> Europe -> Scotland -> Travelogue 2003 -> Tuesday 18 March

To the south, Glen Nevis and Loch Leven

Last week we went already to Ben Nevis, but then we didn't have time to visit Glen Nevis, the valley that enters the mountain massif east of Fort William. It is a little more than an hour's drive, so we travel southward.
We have regularly passed Fort William, but we have never paid a visit to this glen. There is one narrow single track road through this valley with a few extremely steep hills and, of course, the many curves. The thermometer in the car tells us that the temperature outside is quickly rising to a very pleasant 18 degrees Celsius!

From the end of the valley a footpath goes into the mountains and it is possible to make long hikes from here. But one always has to be careful here, since the weather can change very quickly and the path can be treacherous. More people die every year on the Ben Nevis than on the Mount Everest. But many more people come here for a walk, of course.

After a long walk through the beautiful valley with it's many gorges and waterfalls, we continue our way to the south, to drive around Loch Leven.

To the south we look at the mountains that form the Glen Coe. Glen Coe means 'Valley of the weeping' and reminds of the mass murder that took place here in 1692.

After a break in Fort William we return to the north, but this time we turn right at Fort Augustus, to travel back on the eastern side of Loch Ness towards Inverness. There are several narrow roads in this area and now and then we pass through a small village.

After taking this picture, we suddenly hear a sort of barking and two animals run away. They are some sort of Japanese deer that live in the wild, here. After zooming in very closely, we could see them near the border of the woods in this picture.

There is an enormous variety in the landscapes on the eastern side of Loch Ness: sometimes we are in dense forests where the sun never shines, sometimes we find ourselves on bare plateaus like on this picture.

In the woods there is still some snow and now and then the roads are slippery. So we have to be careful with all these curves.

There is not much traffic and we drive all over the area. Not many tourists come here, most people go for the touristic places on the western side like Drumnadrochit with the monster-exhibitions and the beautiful ruins of Urquhart Castle. The eastern side of the loch offers more quietness and plenty of nature to enjoy.

At sunset we return to Beauly and spend the night (again) in the pub. Among the customers is an Irishman, who lives in Glasgow, who can tell fantastic jokes; he keeps us busy the whole evening.

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