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Fort William in the rain for the next week and a half (Read 3584 times)

SA Chris

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Going to be there from Sunday with family, forecast is shocking, but if it's good, hoping for a couple of Glen Nevis sessions, if it's not, 3 Wise Monkeys / Ice Factor / any other suggestions anyone has in the wet, if anyone fancies meeting up.

sherlock

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Not very inspiring I know but the pizzas at the Black Isle Brewery are pretty good.
Excellent bookshop on the High Street.Obviously depending what's showing, the newish cinema is a great facility and deserves support
As you mentioned 3 WM and last time I was at the Ice Factor the Bouldering had improved  -slightly.
Down the Glen, some faces of the boulders dry pretty quickly depending on previous rainfall and wind direction.Dont write it off too soon.
A short drive to the Coe, followed by a wet walk up the Lost Valley and an extravagant luncheon in the revamped Kingy might suit a gentleman of refined tastes such as yourself :yes:
Good luck anyway  at least it's not work.

SA Chris

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Cheers for the recommendations.

Have bikes and wet weather gear.

Going to try convince the family rafting in the rain will be fun.

Bond at the new cinema.

Finally build my Lego VW Van.

Like you say, better than work or home with 1001 DIY jobs to do.

Alex-the-Alex

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Make a start on Andy's list Chris! The wall at Sanna dries instantly and its a magic spot whatever the weather. Ardnamurchan Lighthouse has a good caff too. Arisaig cave might also offer a dry boulder, though a bit far to drag family. Or a day trip to Oban? Good cafes, good distillery tour, and the brandy stone! The bolted routes there dry in a few hours too. SAMS at dunstaffenage have a cool little ocean explorer outreach centre and the café there is pretty good now aswell. It's worth a visit along with the beach and castle there. If its a bit driech what about wetsuiting the kids up and jumping in some (not absolutely raging) pools/waterfalls? There's loads around lochaber. Grey mares tail is a good start. And it has a via ferrata.

I'd offer to join you at the brandy but I'm down south next week.

edshakey

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Excellent bookshop on the High Street.

I second this, great climbing and mountaineering section. Got loads of old copies of things like Crags, OTE, etc for less than a quid each. I came away with a few, including one that made a very low key announcement of the FA of Comes the Dervish - they didn't show indication of how notable it would end up.

haydn jones

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Going to be there from Sunday with family, forecast is shocking, but if it's good, hoping for a couple of Glen Nevis sessions, if it's not, 3 Wise Monkeys / Ice Factor / any other suggestions anyone has in the wet, if anyone fancies meeting up.

Hope you get good weather later in the week. it was glorious yesterday and today's looking good. Did curved Ridge and crowberry tower with my dad and brother yesterday and just setting off on aonoch eagach in 20 mins. Quite intimidating for them they don't climb!

Sunday looks horrendous but they seem keen for 3WM where I can teach them to belay and hopefully get a boulder in myself! Maybe see you there.

The book shop sounds like it's worth a look

Fiend

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Good luck, hope you  get something fun done despite the forecast. However your post title did make me laugh....

Quote
Fort William in the rain for the next week and a half

That's a top sales pitch  :lol:

sherlock

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Excellent bookshop on the High Street.

I second this, great climbing and mountaineering section. Got loads of old copies of things like Crags, OTE, etc for less than a quid each. I came away with a few, including one that made a very low key announcement of the FA of Comes the Dervish - they didn't show indication of how notable it would end up.
Forgot about the old mags, got a copy of Mountain with the infamous headline "John Allen free climbs Great Wall but uses chalk".
And some of the adverts....

BrutusTheBear

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Make a start on Andy's list Chris! The wall at Sanna dries instantly and its a magic spot whatever the weather. Ardnamurchan Lighthouse has a good caff too. Arisaig cave might also offer a dry boulder, though a bit far to drag family. Or a day trip to Oban? Good cafes, good distillery tour, and the brandy stone! The bolted routes there dry in a few hours too. SAMS at dunstaffenage have a cool little ocean explorer outreach centre and the café there is pretty good now aswell. It's worth a visit along with the beach and castle there. If its a bit driech what about wetsuiting the kids up and jumping in some (not absolutely raging) pools/waterfalls? There's loads around lochaber. Grey mares tail is a good start. And it has a via ferrata.

I'd offer to join you at the brandy but I'm down south next week.

Bit of trek from Fort William to Ardnamurchan Point (2hrs 20mins of mostly single track) but I guess driving is something you can do in the rain. We really rated 'Tioram' the cafe in Acharacle (on the way to Ardnamurchan).

JJP

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we are just back from some time just north at fort augustus.

stopped at glen nevis yesterday on way down but cameron stone and heather hat were too wet/ seepy.

had a great days with kids at ruthven which was dry but a fair drive from fort william.

also had a good morning in the water at glen etive in the rain followed by some lunch at kingshouse.

we did a fair few slightly sheltered forest walks on wettest days.

thought about trying arisaig few weeks ago when was in fort william in the rain but the description of the “landung” in the guide book made me think it would not go down so well with the wife/ kids!

good luck!

Johnny Brown

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Arisaig (or Morar) is pretty quick on the new road now and a scenic drive (<1 hr), weather is often better on the coast and even if not a wander on the beach can be enjoyable in the rain. No idea about the cave sounds like a tickfest tho.

SA Chris

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Cheers for all the suggestions.

Weather was pretty pish, so any dry weather was spent doing family stuff, so no rock, but not sure it would have dried out anyway. Did a couple of sessions a 3WM. setting in the boulder room isn't great, but a few things to keep me occupied and had a decent workout on the training boards.

Managed to get a morning rafting with active highs, which the kids loved, last water release of the year. Good fun, but a reminder of what a faff river sports are.

Walked to Steall Falls in mixed weather, and also up to Dun Deardail fort, which has a great view of the Ben. https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/dun-deardail.shtml recommended for a lower level option, as Munros were really windy and apparently a bit of snow and ice on the tops.

Went to Glen Finnan to see Jacobite train passing (thought about taking the trip but stupid price) beautiful area and good for short walks.

Also escaped to Nevis range late one afternoon when weather was awful and no-one else was bothered, and blasted out the short red, plus the world cup red. Great fun, but it was just about dark in the trees by the time I got to the bottom.

Plus a lot of chilling out.

 

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