Hello playmates, this month seems to have flown by – must be because the hols are fast approaching.

Twenty-six of us boarded the bus bound for Glen Nevis. I counted them all out and I counted them all back (that’s progress on our last visit to Glen Nevis then ).

Rob Murray jumped ship at Drumnadrochit, having barely had time to warm the seat of his pants. With his trusty fishing rod in tack he set forth past Divach Falls, passing Loch Dubh and onto the unpronounceable Meall Fuar-mhonaidh. (Well, unpronounceable for a mere mortal like me.) From the top, Rob cast his net down to Loch nam Breac Dearga (who makes these names up?) and allegedly caught two fish, before making his way to The Invermoriston Hotel for, presumably, a fish supper.

Next, hoping to get off the bus at Laggan Lochs, was David Brown Douglas. With conversations in full flow, however, we drove past and David ended up with an extra couple of miles added to his day, as the bus was unable to find anywhere to pull in. Undaunted, he followed the forestry ride on the northwestern shore of Loch Lochy, before striking up hill to make Cam Bhealach, prior to following the zigzags onto Sorn a Choire Ghairbh. Retracing his footsteps back to Cam Bhealach, our intrepid lone walker powered onwards and upwards to take in Meall na Teanga, ultimately turning his attention to the return of Laggan Lochs.

Alighting at Spean Bridge, Graeme Bartlett pawed his way over the Grey Corries, also intending to take in Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag, “because they are there.” But due to the inclement weather (not what it said on the tin), Graeme decided against the Aonachs and headed for Polldubh car park in Glen Nevis – a mammoth day by anybody’s standards, but not for a man who completed the Ben Nevis Race in 1hr 50!

As we drove past the Aonach Mor Ski road, a motley crew readied themselves to disembark at Fort William Golf Club – Mark Richford, Richard White, Graeme Gillespie, Brian Fraser, Stewart Watson, Dave Whitelock, Illona Morrice, Andy Brooks and Jenny Smith. Taking their lives in their hands they made a dash across the bunker-ridden golf course to the safety of Allt Mhuilinn, squelching through the bog at the start of the woods with “Fore!” still ringing in their ears.

Brian and Stewart headed up on to Carn Mor Dearg, before dropping back into Coire Leis. Passing by the C.I.C hut they walked round to Lochan Meall t-Suidhe where they turned down hill to the Youth Hostel.

Mark, Richard and Graeme headed into the snow-filled Number Five Gully, the snow making the transition onto the Ledge Route quite tricky. Topping out on Ben Nevis they made their decent via Carn Dearg, circumnavigating the top of Five Finger Gully. This is a great way to the top of the Ben, but a steep and rocky descent.

Meanwhile, back at the C.I.C hut, Dave, Jenny, Andy and Illona were starting their climb up Tower Ridge, scrambling up into the loose and slimy East Gully and into the Gap. There followed the smooth 20-metre chimney pitch to gain the ridge properly and on to the Little Tower. The top of the tower was reached via an awkward slanting ledge, followed by an exposed corner, to reach a long flattish section beneath the Great Tower. Scrambling up the nose of The Great Tower, the crew reached the Eastern Traverse and followed round to the deep cleft crowned with a huge boulder. They clambered up through the roof of the cave to reach the top of Great Tower and Tower Gap. Time to rope up for the very narrow ridge leading to the gap where you need to swing down, land on a small block in a very airy position and then lean over the gap to climb out the opposite side. A wonderful exposed position and a fitting end to the climb, with just a short scramble to the top round Gardyloo Gully and on to the summit itself. There followed a rather tame but long troll back down the Tourist Track to the Youth Hostel.

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George Herraghty left the bus at Fort Billy to thumb a lift up the Corpach road to Annat. He then had a midgy walk through the woods to Druim Fada, not the most exciting hill but with splendid views. Thumbing a lift back to Fort Billy, he walked back up Glen Nevis to meet the bus at the Glen Nevis Hotel.

Letting the train take the strain, Malcolm Campbell, Jerry Jacobsen, Fiona Cunninghame, June Simpson and Stephen Linturn forged their way along Allt Coire a’ Mhusgain to Stob Ban. They struck west to take in spot height 917, before tackling the ridge up onto Mullach nan Coirean. They then turned northeast to follow the ridge back to Polldubh. Andy (Wednesday) Lawson set off ahead on his own undertaking the same route as far as Mullach nan Coirean but then followed the North ridge down to the West Highland Way to also grab the Marilyn Bidein Bad na h-lolaire and finally down to the Youth Hostel in Glen Nevis. Andy’s highlight of the day was getting within three-feet of a ptarmigan and its chicks.

On the same route Bob Weeks, with Pam & Julian Shaw, wandered along Allt Coire a’ Mhusgain onto Stob Ban and, as Julian put it, the ‘other one’ (Mullach nan Coirean). The descent was via the corroded path down to Polldubh car park, but all knees arrived back in one piece.

Also progressing nicely up Allt Coire a’ Mhusgain were Ray Harron, Drummond Beattie, Colin Cowie and Bill Lindsay. Reaching the head of the Coire, they followed the ridge onto Stob Ban and continued east to Sgurr an lubhair, turning north onto Stob Choire a’ Mhail to cross the impressive Devil’s Ridge to Sgurr a’ Mhaim. All that was left then was the walk down the northwest ridge and back to the bus.

A warm welcome at our pub stop, the Bothy in Fort Augustus, completed our day. Shame about the beer.

Dave Whitelock