The Inchree Blog

Fort William Mountain Festival, 16th February to 3rd March

   Now in its 4th year, and firmly established as one of the UK's leading mountain festivals, the Fort William Mountain Festival 2007 will feature a packed schedule of lectures, films, workshops, exhibitions, plays, music and much more.

The diversity of next year's programme reflects the Highland Year of Culture 2007, where the arts will mix with the outdoors. Co-inciding with a traditionally reliable period for climbing conditions, it means you'll can have some memorable days & evenings over the half-term break.

At Inchree we've still got some chalet and hostel accommodation available over the 2 weeks, as well as spanking new twin & double rooms opening on the 9th of February in our Lodge. Each room is well fitted out & has it's own toilet, shower and wash-basin adjoining. Tariffs begin from £16 per person per night, which includes a continental breakfast, self-service in the Lodge kitchen. (where you can self-cater as well.)

You can also benefit from a 10% discount on Festival tickets if you stay with us - to claim this, just let us know your intention to purchase tickets. We'll give you a promotional code to enter on the Festival website @ www.mountainfilmfestival.co.uk for booking tickets on-line. At the checkout the 10% discount will automatically be added. See you there! 

View a Video of Inchree

....We've now got a groovy little video of the place to show you....check it out here.

Video by Tourist TV Scotland.

Lochaber - Outdoor Capital of the UK

The Outdoor Capital is a local community company formed in February 2003 and it's vision is: To establish and maintain Fort William and Lochaber as the UK's foremost destination for outdoor pursuits and adventure tourism in an exceptional natural environment. It's aim is to attract those interested in outdoor pursuits, adventure tourism and those who just want to do 'something' out of doors.

The range of outdoor activities available in the Lochaber is without doubt, unrivalled in the UK. However It's probably fair to say that in the past, the promotion of this to the outside world could have been more co-ordinated - OCUK now fills that gap. Ultimately the aim is to have the Fort William area spoken about and regarded with the same reverence as other global outdoor destinations, such as Chamonix in the French Alps and Queenstown in New Zealand.

Inchree Centre supports this initiative by being a business member - Check out the Outdoor Capital's website for more info.

Get into Sea Kayaking

Glenmore Lodge, Scotlands' National Outdoor Centre & based at the bottom of the Cairngorm Mountains near Aviemore, runs 5 day beginner's courses in sea-kayaking between May and October each year.

Great value-for-money, these courses teach skills such as paddling techniques, emergency procedures and tide & weather analysis. They're based at the lodge for the first day where you'll get to learn the basics on nearby Loch Morlich, and then with us for the next 4 nights in chalet accommodation, full-board included. From Inchree, you'll be introduced to the spectacular coastal and loch scenery that surrounds us, paddling around the Ardnamurchan coastline, Loch Linnhe & Loch Leven.

More & more folk are getting into sea kayaking in Scotland, and these courses offer the best possible way to safely get underway, as you'll have the UK's best & most experienced sea kayakers imparting their knowledge to you.

Check out the Glenmore Lodge website for more info. 2007 course dates till to be confirmed.

If you can't justify doing a course, then you can still get out sea-kayaking just for the day when you're here. Rockhopper, based in Arisaig on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, run guided kayaking trips on demand. A great option for an activity day that all the family can do.

Photography by Dave 'Cubby' Cuthbertson

Dave Cuthbertson (Cubby) is one of Scotland's foremost climbers, with may cutting-edge, first ascents to his credit. He was instrumental in providing Scottish climbing with something of a new face-lift in the 70's and 80's (and into the 90's)and has played a significant part in the development of modern rock and ice climbing in Glen Coe; a passion that continues to this day.

Cubby makes a living as an International Mountain guide, which he combines with photography and occasionally providing safety and technical consultancy to the TV and film industry.

His most recent assignment was something of a starring role in which Cubby acted as Joe Simpson's climbing double in 'Touching the Void.' and performed stunts for one of the most famous falls in climbing history.

You can view a selection of Cubby's landscape photography on the wall in our Four Seasons Pub, as well as from the gallery on the left and his website at www.cubbyimages.co.uk.

NOTE: All photos are copyright © 2006 Dave Cuthbertson/Cubby Images: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. None of the images in this gallery may be reproduced or used in any way without prior written permission from Cubby Images.