The Inchree Blog

Fort William Mountain Festival 2008

For one week in February, Fort William will once again host a multitude of the best films, speakers, workshops & exhibitions on all things outdoors. Fort William Mountain Festival is now in its 5th year, and is firmly established as one of the countries best festivals on celebrating outdoor sport & culture. 

Beginning on Friday 15th of February, the festival's final day is on Saturday 23rd Fort William. Put it in your diary now! See Festival Website for more info. Inchree Centre is once again pleased to be a supporting sponsor of the event.

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! 

Fort William Mountain Festival 2007 - Programme Launch at Inchree

For 16 days this February, the Lochaber area plays host to a celebration of mountain culture....

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 tradionally reliable period for climbing conditions, it means you'll have some great days & evenings over the half-term break.

The official programme launch was held today at Inchree Centre, where both local and national press were treated to what's in store, and afterwards to a spot of high-jinks at the Inchree Waterfalls for some memorable photo-shots! Check out the Festival Website for the full programme so you can start planning your time off...

Inchree Centre are pleased to again be a supporting sponsor to the Festival - we've got hostel & chalet accommodation still available over the Festival period, as well as spanking new twin & double ensuite rooms in the extension to our Inchree Lodge. Tariffs here from £16 per person per night, which includes breakfast. Give us a bell on 01855 821287 or e-mail to book.

 

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team Seeks New Premises

Lochaber MRT has plans to construct a new headquarters in Fort William to ensure the team has the base facilities necessary from which to operate from in the 21st century.

Currently, the team work from a garage at the back of Fort William Police Station - an inadequate arrangement for the UK's busiest mountain rescue team.

Check out their website for the full story, where you can also contribute by donating on-line.

Mountain-biking World Finals at Nevis Range, September 3rd - 9th 2007

Nevis Range, a mountain resort complex near Fort William, will be hosting the most prestigious world mountain-biking event outside of the Olympics next year.

Nevis Range has firmly established itself as an international mountain-biking venue, having held World Cup stages every year since 2003.

Fantastic for the area it undoubtably is, with 700 competitors and up to 20,000 spectators expected in 2007 my only concern is lack of accommodation. The previous World Cup championships held at Nevis Range always fill all available beds in Lochaber. (The 2006 world cup event in June attracted approx. 14,000 visitors, with many competitors and spectators having to stay outwith the area.)

We're already getting bookings for 2007- so while it's still be a year away, if you're sure about coming then best get your accommodation booked now!

Inchree is only a 20 minute drive from Nevis Range. You can view all latest news and book tickets on-line at the Fort William World Cup website.

Navigation on Ben Nevis Leaflet

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland have produced an excellent leaflet which aims to reduce the number of accidents / incidents which occur on Ben Nevis due to errors in navigation.
Copies of the leaflet can be collected from leaflet holders at Inchree & also be viewed and obtained by post on the MCofS website. You can also view some of the leaflets content here.

Where to get Web Info on Mountain Weather, Avalanche, Climbing, Skiing & Canoeing Conditions This Winter

Bookmark this page for all the websites you need for finding conditions on the above in the Western Highlands.

If you're coming up to Inchree to climb or ski this winter, you can also give me a bell on 01855 821287 or 0772 0068111 for on-the-spot info on conditions. If I haven't been out myself to get an idea, it's likely I'll have been talking to someone who has!

West Highland Mountain Weather Forecast

We've got our own 5 - day weather forecast for mountain conditions at 3000 feet +. It makes a great little 'at a glance' summary, and is particularly useful during winter. View it here.

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.

Roll over Kendal...! - Fort William Mountain Festival, 2007

It's never too early to remind folk about next year's Fort William Mountain Festival. This year's event was the best attended yet, with a great programme of films, guest speakers, lectures, activity workshops and much more. Combined with excellent winter climbing conditions, it meant visitors to the area had a perfect combination.

The organisers have proved that Fort Bill can attract the big names just as well as anyone else, and 2007 will be no exception. Already pencilled in as guest speakers are renowned Glencoe mountaineer Hamish MacInnes, and the legendary Yvon Chouinard, founder of the Patagonia clothing company.
Put a note in the diary - it's from the 16th of February to the 3rd of March in 2007, coinciding again with the half-term holiday. Keep checking the festival website for more details.

2007 is also the Highland Year of Culture and it's hoped to widen the appeal of the festival by incorporating aspects of Highland arts, music , etc. as well as all things outdoorsey.
We're pleased to have been supporting sponsors of the FWMF for the past 2 years, and will be again in 2007.