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© Graeme Haynes


Outdoor Capital of the UK Blog

Want to know the latest about your favourite outdoor activities? Get an inside look at what's happening in Lochaber with our blog.


There is snow at Nevis Range

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Swampy from Ski Patrol out enjoying boarding at Nevis Range on 16th Feb 08


Skier up at Nevis Range Terrain Park with Ben Nevis in the background.

The last 10 days have been really dry but there is snow at the top of Nevis Range, runs are narrow but with sunshine and blue skies it's worth a visit, with the views alone making the trip. Stevie Mckenna took these pics on Saturday 16th. He noticed chairs being put onto the Braveheart lift so when the next dump comes there will be lift access to the back of the mountain!

People get ready....with the Mountain Festival on until the 23rd Feb why not visit the Outdoor Capital to get some homegrown sunshine

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Beautiful Highland Mountains

Monday, February 18, 2008


The great weather continued into the weekend so on Sat I walked from Kinlochleven through the Mamores to and up Binnein Beag. This lovely walk was long but took me into spectacular and remote country. Coire an Lochain was surprisingly wintry being tucked away behined Binnein Mor and Sgor Eilde Beag.


For info on winter weather go to our weather page on the Outdoor Capital site.


posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 10:40 AM  0 comments

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A lunch with a view

Friday, February 15, 2008

OK, so it's not one of our usual Outdoor Capital action shots, but I thought I'd put up this pic of glorious Glen Nevis taken yesterday. Even though I was slaving away in the office all day, the beauty of living here is that it's easy to nip out to a gorgeous spot to have your packed lunch!

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posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 10:56 AM  0 comments

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Valentines Day - love cragging in the Highlands!


It's been very cold overnight with widespread frosts but clear skies during the day so temperatures are really warming up in the sun. So much so that a friend and I took the afternoon off work to nip out and get some cragging in at Polldubh in Glen Nevis. We warmed up on an easy Diff - 'The Gutter' - the first pitch is harder and the start stiff for a Diff (!) but it's a great warm up route , then my partner felt bold enough to try the HS 'Tear'. This has a great write up in the SMC guide book but is now very worn and smooth. The route was also quite dirty and we wondered if groups had been abseiling down it. It was gone 4.30pm by the time we got onto it and the temperature was falling as the sun disappeared behind the hills so we were pretty cold and I struggled.

However it felt great to be out - not bad to have a run of dry, sunny weather so you can go out cragging in Feb!

posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 10:37 AM  0 comments

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Fort William Mountain Festival Art and Photo Exhibition

Wednesday, February 13, 2008


For those of you wanting a bit of culture this weekend the Fort William Mountain Festival starts and on Sat 16th there is a gala opening of an Art and Photo exhibition at the Nevis Centre from 6-7pm with a light supper and complimentary fizz. The exhibition runs alongside the Festival, and closes Saturday 23rd in the evening.

Many local professional artists enter, as well as keen amateurs and last years winner was Jamie Hageman with his painting of The Three Sisters in Glencoe. Go to Jamie's website to see more of his art.


For more about this event and all the other festival events see the Outdoor Capital events pages

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Winter Navigation

Monday, February 11, 2008

Mike illustrating the finer points of navigation using natures white board and and ice axe to write with!
We were rewarded with great views down into Glen Nevis as we came down the north east ridge of Mullach nan Coirean

Although the weather didn't look too promising on Sunday - mild and overcast I had booked to do a day course on winter navigation with the Nevis Hill Walking Club and local guide, Mike Pescod. Starting out in Glen Nevis we went up into Coire Riabhach and then onto Mullach nan Coirean. Because of the mild weather much of the snow had gone, but Mike cleverly substituted rolling heather covered hillside. He soon had us navigating using only contours and pacing and we began to surprise ourselves with the accuracy. We moved onto boxing out and dog-legging round hazards(such as cornices). A really informative day and Inow feel much more confident about getting myself out of tricky situations, such as when it's blowing hoolie and there is limited visibility.

I'd thoroughly recommend Mike's courses - him and his partner Donald are running courses at cost over the Fort William Mountain Festival - go to http://www.mountainfestival.co.uk/ and look up workshops to find out more.

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Make sure you don't go to your grave wishing you had spent more time on the slopes!

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Picture of the Snowgoose run courtesey of http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/ - my camera batteries failed me!

January weather is often stormy, and this winter the storms have laid down a great base of snow up in the ski areas in Lochaber. However with storms and snow come high winds - so when a sunny, calm day is forecast I have learnt to make the most of it. I took the afternoon off work yesterday to ski at Nevis Range and didn't regret it for a moment. The snow was the best I have seen it for several years, and even I managed to ski 'The Snowgoose' run with some style and grace, well...without falling over.

I topped the afternoon off with coffee, cake and then some mulled wine at the cafe at the Snowgoose resturant at the top gondola station.

Not bad.....

However more stormy milder weather has come in exactly as forecast so no ski-ing for the next few days but keep your eyes peeled for when the weather gets a bit cooler.

posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 10:07 AM  0 comments

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Winter Climbing Courses

Tuesday, February 05, 2008


A friend was up in the area last week attending Plas-y-Brenin's Performance climbing course up here in the Outdoor Capital. The weather wasn't the best but they got out 4 of the 5 days and completed classics such as North Gully and Green Man on Ben Nevis, as well as Morwind on Aonoch Mor Even they had to retreat indoors on the final Thursday - the spent time perfecting their techniqe on the indoor ice wall at the Ice Factor in Kinlochleven.


For more info on tuition and guiding available in the Outdoor Capital visit our website.

posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 11:53 AM  0 comments

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