Spean Bridge, Scotland
At 4,413 feet, Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in Scotland, Great Britain, and the entire British Isles. I first learned about Ben Nevis when I found out about the National Three Peaks Challenge, where people drive to and climb the highest peaks in England (Scafell Pike), Wales (Snowdon), and Scotland (Ben Nevis) in 24 hours. This challenge always seemed insane to me, as aspiring climbers have to walk 23 miles total, with an ascent of over 10,000 feet, while hiking and driving at night. The trip is not on my list of future travel goals, but I have great respect for anyone who makes the climb.
According to VisitScotland, Ben Nevis has two translations from ancient Gaelic. The first translation I witnessed was ‘mountain with its head in the clouds.’ Ben Nevis was covered in clouds when we saw it, and that is what I captured on film and video. The other translation is ‘venomous mountain,’ which might be a more apt translation for people making the trek up the mountain. I looked up what it would take to climb the mountain and realized it would take 7-9 hours to reach and return from the summit. The weather on Ben Nevis changes often, and climbers need to be prepared for changing conditions. It is also advisable for climbers to be able to read a compass and a map.
We got to see Ben Nevis when we stopped on our drive south through Scotland at the Commando Memorial. It was impressive to see Ben Nevis in its glory in the Scottish Highlands. It is important to recognize your limits when traveling, and I am glad I knew climbing the mountain was not my goal for this trip.