Ben Nevis / fort bill time of year.

Planning on booking a log cabin in or close to fort William, to ride the tour de Ben Nevis route and other rides.
Plus a walk up Ben Nevis itself. Want to book now, as nice places get booked up. So was wondering when to go early next year to avoid the harsh weather and snow. Don’t mind the cold so thinking end of feb/ early march.
Anyone know if this would be a good time to go.

Thanks.

So was wondering when to go early next year to avoid the harsh weather and snow. Don’t mind the cold so thinking end of feb/ early march.

If you want to avoid the worst of the weather in the Scottish mountains then summer is your best bet, not winter and even then it’s far from a guarantee.

Total pot luck at any time of the year up there. I’ve been up every May for the last 8 years & had every kind of weather you can get, from blazing sunshine & 28 degrees to cold rain, sleet & gales.
It’s great!

Perhaps I should have said that I enjoy winter riding.
Just wondered if anyone had experience of riding there at this
time of year and knew if the worst of snow/harsh weather is likely
to have passed by then.

You won’t be too bad on the TDBN route as it’s pretty hardpacked most of the way round, but it’ll be wetter than an otters pocket on any moors due to rain & snowmelt.

Thanks for the replies esselgruntfuttock, think I’ll plump for early March.
Next step, find somewhere for whiskey tasting!

Walking on Ben Nevis that time of year will be full on winter conditions with crampons and ice axe required plus the relevant winter skills to go along with them.

I suggest you look at some hill walking websites/forums for trip reports around that time of year to get an idea of conditions before committing to anything.

Walking on Ben Nevis that time of year will be full on winter conditions with crampons and ice axe required plus the relevant winter skills to go along with them.

This.

Barring a big dump of snow the TdBN route will be fine but the Ben itself will likely (hopefully!) be plastered feb/march.

Next step, find somewhere for whiskey tasting!

Good idea! Except the only whisky factory for miles is…..

http://www.bennevisdistillery.com/

However, the shop at Spean Bridge & the one on the roundybout (to Glen Nevis) have whisky shops & you can have a few snifters there.

Enjoy!

If you want to avoid the worst of the weather in the Scottish mountains then summer is your best bet, not winter and even then it’s far from a guarantee. go somewhere else

HTH 🙂

http://www.bennevisdistillery.com/

“Drink not the whiskey of Nevis for it flows from the golden glacier”

as my china used to say, referring to the gigantic yellow stained snow patch that often resided behind the CIC hut.

The weather was mingin’ when I was up there at the beginning of June 8)

Which one are you yunki?

the good looking fella

I notice your holding that fella tenderly on the love handles whilst he has closed his hand rather than clasping your shoulder.

I gave him a friendly little squeeze I admit.. Possibly what caused the tension 😕

😀

he had a very firm flank