Web design and hosting, database, cloud and social media solutions that deliver real business results
  • Database Services
    • Technical Articles
      • Get Open Query
      • SQL Server Data
      • SQL Server Maintenance
      • Using SQL Server Dates
      • Using SQL Server Functions
      • Using SQL Server Pivot-Unpivot
    • Technical Tools
      • Claytabase Server Disk IOPs Calculator
      • SQL Code Backup
      • SQL Printer
      • Stored Procedure Field Generator
  • Web Services
    • Logo Design
    • Open Projects
      • Site Management Project
    • Web Site Optimisation
      • Blog Micro-Site or Landing Page?
      • Keeping Content Natural
      • How do I minimise HTML?
      • Should I use a CDN?
      • Should I use HTTPS?
      • What is SEO?
    • Website Security
      • Disabling old TLS Protocols in IIS
    • Technical Articles
      • Using ASP-NET
      • Using CSS
      • Using JavaScript
    • Technical Tools
      • Colour Picker
      • CSS Optimiser
      • JavaScript Optimiser
      • Lightbox
  • Cloud Services
    • Microsoft Azure
    • Microsoft Office
    • Technical Articles
      • Requesting SSL and Generation of PFX file in OpenSSL Simple Steps
      • Task Scheduler Error 2147943645
  • Social Media Services
    • Using Social Media
      • Asking for a Google Review
      • Changing a Facebook account from personal to business
      • Choosing where to focus Social Media effort
      • Social Media Image Sizes
      • Using Meta Data to set Social Media Images
  • About
    • Blog
      • Building Ousia Content Management System
      • Google Core Update Jan 2020
      • Hot Chilli Internet Closure
      • How To Choose Content For Your Website Adverts Leaflets
      • Preventing Online Scam
      • Skimmers of the gig economy
      • The most annoying things about websites on the Internet
    • Portfolio
    • Team
      • Chester Copperpot
      • Gavin Clayton

Ben Nevis – Conquered!

Friday 31/08/2012

So if you read some of the other articles I have written, you may have noticed  we were climbing Ben Nevis in memory of Sammy, so I thought I would put some  pictures and videos up from our weekend.

In the Pub Before

We all met in Croydon, to get the train to Gatwick for a flight to Inverness.

Then it was a minibus round to the hire car place, to pick up a car for the  weekend, and then a 2 hour drive across Scotland to Fort William. It was dark at  the time, so we couldn’t see what the scenery was like until we were on our way  back.

Weather Actual

We checked in at a wonderful B&B on the outskirts of town, called Taransay. They had kindly swapped our breakfast for some sandwiches we could take up with us, and it was time for a quick check of the weather and an early night as we were leaving the next day at 08:00. The weather looked like it was going to be shocking!

Saturday 01/09/2012

Morning ViewEveryone was up bright and early the next day, and we were in the car for the short journey round to the Visitor Centre at Ben Nevis, and as the Met Office had predicted, it was indeed shocking weather, the cloud level was at about 300m at the time but rising, so we knew we would have at least 1000m to climb in fog and wind. 
The decision was taken out of hands as to what route we would take up, it was going to have to be the Mountain Path as it was the safest way in the weather conditions.
Raja on the ascentMerv and Sai on the ascentFrom the Car ParkThere were some spectacular views up until we hit the cloud, the area is extremely pleasing on the eye.
Stream on the ascentTowards Glen NevisView Towards the TopView of the Bottom
In The CloudsThe wind was getting stronger as we went up, and once we hit the clouds, was gusting at about 40mph, with visibility probably at about 50m. While walking round a corner I found an area where you could catch views of the bottom, and just how strong the wind was.
Is it a Sign?At about 1000m we were starting to struggle, the conditions made it a lot harder than it should have been. While there I found this painted on one of the rocks. How True!
Highest Point in the UK

Once at the summit, there was no point in hanging around to much, the wind was  still getting stronger, the fog thicker, and we were getting colder and wetter!

I did get this snap of the summit though, and of the sheer drop hidden by the clouds.

What a drop
I took this video of the start of the descent, so we could show just how bad it  was getting, the winds were gusting at storm force, and at times knocking you off path.
Total time for ascent, 4:00.

The cloud was still rising as we came down, it must have been close to 1000m  when we came back below it, these snaps were our reward for climbing it!

Lochan Meall An T-suidheSai With SignalMerv, Sian and RajaView Down the MountainRaja and the Lochan
Highest Point in the UKMountain Stream

It took 3 ¼ hours to come back down, however we were delayed by 45 minutes  because there was a race up and down the mountain going on, I hear the winner  did it in 1:30!

Total time for descent, 2:30 (45 minutes taken off for runners).
Total climb time 6:30!
Relaxing

Once down, we went for some food and got some drinks to take back to the hotel  to celebrate our achievement!

Sunday 02/09/2012

We checked out after a fantastic breakfast and the people that ran the B&B  kindly gave us £10 towards our fundraising, this will be gratefully sent to the  Royal Marsden, and push our total up a bit more, hopefully we can break the  £2000 barrier on justgiving.

Flights weren’t booked until 20:00, so we had a few hours to kill. We took a  scenic drive down to Loch Ness and stopped off at a town called Fort Augustus at  the western end of the Loch. We took a few photos of the Locks for the canal and  then jumped back in the car as it was too early to get drinks in the pub!

Sian and MervLoch Ness and the Locks

Next destination was the Loch Ness Centre at Drumnadrochit, we had a browse around the Shops, and then found a pretty local  pub for a quick beer. The wasps were out in force however, so didn’t hang around  too long.

We were all beginning to ache quite badly by this time, every step felt like a huge effort, but it was quite amusing.

Our final destination was the Clansman Hotel, where we could chill out until we needed to take the car back and get to the Airport. I took this video of us trying to get down the stairs.

View from The Clansman BalconyView from The Clansman Inside

From here it was back to Croydon, the journey wasn’t bad, but we started struggling more as the evening went on, and were amusing ourselves with Mervin’s  walk.

Monday 03/09/2012

Ouch, should have booked the day off! I’ve even had to take steps backwards at one point!

Summary

If you are looking for a break in this country then I would definately recommend taking a look at Scotland, and it was a fitting tribute to a great man

Our services

database maintenance | database design | web site design | web site hosting | web site security | cloud services | social media

© 2016 Claytabase Ltd, registered company in the UK 08985867

Quick links

RSS Login ContactCookie PolicySitemap

Find us on social media

facebook.com/Claytabaseinstagram.com/claytabase/twitter.com/Claytabaselinkedin.com/company/claytabase-ltd

Get in touch

+441983 300 796info@claytabase.co.ukGround Floor, Building 1000, Lakeside North Harbour, Western Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom, PO6 3EZ

Partners and memberships

Ousia logo
The settings on this site are set to allow all cookies. These can be changed on our Cookie Policy & Settings page.
By continuing to use this site you agree to the use of cookies.
Ousia Logo
Ousia CMS Loader