....Some views of Britain's highest peak today....
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Hidden view of the Ben's southern aspect, and its ribs and gullies.
Taken 3 miles south of Fort William, on the A82 roadside with a 300mm lens.
A gap in the trees gives the first view of the mountain when travelling north.
Ben Nevis North Face
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Here's an interesting panoramic photo around Inchree - taken last month from Ardgour, which is the remote area on the west side of the Corran Narrows, reached by a 3 minute ferry ride on the Corran Ferry. (300 mts. from Inchree)
The viewpoint is only place that you can see the Ben Nevis, Mamore & Glencoe Mountains in a single view at ground-level. It also sums up how marvellous Inchree's location is, being equi-distant to all 3 mountain areas. (10 minutes to Glencoe, 15 - 20 minutes to Ben Nevis & Mamores.) Truly no better location in the West Highlands to base yourself for some mountain-sport or just a holiday.
Click on the image to enlarge:
....This month, we've been doing some improvements to our 6 family ensuite rooms.
This has basically involved replacing all beds - many of the previous ones were tired -looking metal bunkbeds. They've now all gone, replaced with proper beds. (Although 3 of the rooms still have 1 set of bunkbeds each, these are a quality, wooden type.) See pics below for end results.
In doing the above, we've reduced our overall bed capacity by 11 - essentially meaning, having less for greater overall comfort.
Our rooms building originally started life as a hostel, with the first wing of 3 dormitory rooms built 11 years ago, and a 2nd wing of 8 private rooms added 5 years ago. As the years have progressed, the market has changed substantially, resulting in the traditional 'hostel' offering becoming an unviable and unwanted business model for us. (Athough we still offer hostel-type accommodation in our Group Hostel - as the name suggests this is kept for larger groups only, of which there's still a good market for.)
With these improvements completed, we now offer good-quality, ensuite, private rooms. However, our tariffs still remain outstandingly-good value. We've built up a substantial guest-base in our 35-odd years of operating, and appreciate that many of our regulars are still looking for budget accommodation.
How many places do you know where you can get a twin ensuite room with self-catering facilities for between £40 & £49 per night? (That's for the room, not per person.) In fact, for a group occupying our 5 & 6 berth family rooms, the nightly rate still works out just as cheap as a hostel, but with a far better standard!
The model of convenient budget rooms is the way ahead in the UK, (Think Travelodge & Premier Inn.) ever-more-so in the economic era we now find ourselves in. So it's out with unwanted tat like trouser presses and mini-bars, (which just bump up the tariff) and in with clean, warm, comfortable, but simple & affordable rooms.
See our on-line booking system for best tariffs, but of course if you prefer to speak & book with a human, just give us a call anytime.
Five-berth family room that has 1 double bed, 1 single bed & 2 single bunkbeds
Ensuite of five-berth family room
Foyer & ensuite area of six-berth family room. Room has 1 double bed, 2 single beds & 2 single bunkbeds.
3 berth family room. (Has 1 double & 1 single bed)
Also offered as twin or double room at 2 person occupancy rate
....Taken from the lawn in front of the chalets at 8am.
The current cold weather & high-pressure system means more red-sky mornings.
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Looking south-west from Inchree. The peak is Sgurr Dhearg, (1024 metres) and forms part of the very popular 'Ballachulish Horse-shoe' high-level walk. More info here.
This month's business recommendation is Cioch Direct, who have been designing, making and providing quality outdoor clothing since 1988.
They can can be found at Struan on the Isle of Skye, in the shadow of the mighty Cuillin Mountains, from where they operate a highly personal service, based on years of experience in the outdoors and feedback from customers. Their outer-layer clothing utilises the Nikwax Analogy Light material, also used in Paramo clothing, and well suited to British weather conditons.
In a nutshell, they can design and make outdoor clothing to your own body dimensions for almost the same price as buying off the shelf, so you can be sure you're wearing something that works as good as can be. Their after-care service will fix any tears for free.
If you're looking for a new outdoor jacket or trousers, then its well worth popping up to their shop, if you can. Its a bit of a hike to get there, but quality is always worth the effort...
...If you can't justify the trip up there, then they also have a detailed body measurement guide on their website, so you can still order by mail.
Cioch's website: http://www.cioch-direct.co.uk/
...The original 'Cioch', Coire Lagan, Skye
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....The long-established, Fort William Mountain Festival will be taking place between the 16th to 19th of February inclusive. It promises as always, a plethora of mountain-based culture, with workshops, talks, events and films all on offer.
Check out the FMMF website for full info.
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Sunrise from Onich Beach, looking over Loch Linnhe towards the Glencoe Mountains. (Viewpoint, half-a-mile from Inchree)
The peaks of Stob Coire nan Lochan (left) and Bidean nam Bean in Glencoe
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......Here at Inchree, we wish all guests, past, present and future a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.
The e-card below is of Loch Leven & the Mamore & Glencoe Mountains, taken on Christmas Day 2010. Unfortunately such pristine conditons won't be replicated this Christmas!
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....Although its going to be a mild Christmas, we've seen our share of cold conditions already this month, both at ground level and on the hill. Below is a selection of pics from the local area over the last 2 weeks.
Sunrise from Inchree Chalets.
Early morning light hits the north-east face of Garbh Bheinn of Ardgour, taken from Inchree Chalets
Looking across Loch Linnhe towards Inchree & Onich, taken from Ardgour, over the Corran Ferry. (Our location marked by red spot) The Mamore Mountains are behind.
Late-afternoon light on the south side of Ben Nevis, taken from Ardgour
The western entrance to Glencoe, taken from Ardgour
Loch Leven, Ballachulish & the cliffs of Aonach Dubh in Glencoe, taken from Ardgour.
Red Deer in Glen Tarbet, Ardgour
......The first-time visitor to the Western Highlands is often surprised to discover that the area possesses some stunning & uncrowded sandy beaches. Many can be found on the wester-most coastline of Lochaber, in the Morven & Ardnamurchan area. One of them is Camusdarach, a real hidden gem, which can be found an hour's drive from Inchree, along the magnificient 'Road to the Isles.'
Camusdarach is situated a 30 minute drive from Fort William, 30 seconds off the A830. There's a convenient car park, from where a short walk takes you through sand dunes to the vast expanse of beach. There are amazing panoramas from the sands out to the islands of Rhum and Eigg ('The Small Isles) and Skye. It's a fantastic place to be on a good sunset, where the rugged outlines of the islands are highlighted.
More info on Camusdarach Beach:
Daily Telegraph Travel article on Camsudarach.
Camusdarach's location on Google Maps
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Taken from the hill behind Inchree, above the forest walks
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This Weather Widget is provided by the Met Office
This Weather Widget is provided by the Met Office
