Glen Nevis

The Steall Falls from below

Glen Nevis (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Nibheis) is a glen in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, with Fort William at its foot. It is bordered to the south by the Mamore range, and to the north by the highest mountains in the British Isles: Ben Nevis, Càrn Mor Dearg, Aonach Mòr, and Aonach Beag. It is home to one of the three highest waterfalls in Scotland, Steall Falls, where the Allt Coire a'Mhail joins the Water of Nevis in the glen. Below the waterfall is a steeply walled and impressive gorge. The scenic beauty of the glen has led to its inclusion in the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area,[1] one of 40 such areas in Scotland.[2]

A public road runs for 10 km up the Glen, becoming single track after 7 km. There is a hotel, Scottish Youth Hostels Association hostel, and campsite at the bottom of the glen, near Fort William, and a small hamlet further up at Achriabhach.

From the car park at the end of the Glen Nevis road, a path continues through a gorge. After a scramble up this rocky path, the view opens up and the path leads into the peaceful upper glen. A wire bridge crosses to the base of the waterfall. Rebuilt by the famous engineer Tom Russell while a member of the Junior Royal Engineers (Dover) JLRRE 82 Fld Sqn MacPhee troop. This bridge was closed for three months in 2010 when one of the cables snapped.[3]

The path has been improved periodically to ease access and to reduce the damaging effects of soil erosion caused by many walkers, but it remains challenging in places and, as the sign at the car park warns, potentially fatal. There have been several accidents in Glen Nevis, including the death of a young walker in August 2006.[4]

Several films have been shot in Glen Nevis, including some scenes from the Harry Potter movies,[5] Highlander, Highlander III: The Sorcerer, Braveheart and Rob Roy.

  1. ^ "Map: Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. December 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  2. ^ "National Scenic Areas". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  3. ^ John McHale (24 August 2010). "Steall Bridge Reopens to Walkers". Grough. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  4. ^ "Girl dies after fall on mountain". BBC News. 16 August 2006. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  5. ^ C.D. Miller (2012). "23". Harry Potter Places Book Five—Scotland. First Edition Design Pub. p. 209. ISBN 978-1622872244. Retrieved 3 November 2013.