Classic ridges of Lochaber.

We've been enjoying some warm and mostly dry weather here in the Outdoor Capital of the UK. Yesterday I was lucky enough to enjoy the company of Jim, Keith and George on a climb of Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis. The mist came and went a bit on the summit during the day but we got it clear at The Great Tower and Tower Gap, the best bits of the ridge near the top. The rock was dry and grippy and we had a great time.

We saw very few other people on the North Face of Ben Nevis which is normal for this time of year. It's a shame that not more people are enjoying the classic ridges of Ben Nevis or even the amazing rock climbs. All the ridges were mostly dry and many of the rock climbs looked pretty good as well. It was a different story once we were on the summit. Last year 160,000 went up Ben Nevis and this year looks likely to be the same or more. In fact the number of people on Ben Nevis has doubled in the last ten years, making the environmental management of the Nevis area a real challenge. Thankfully we have Nevis Landscape Partnership doing this work for us but it could do with all the support it can get right now.

Very well done to Jim, George and Keith. You all did really well on the climb and I had a great time climbing with you.

Today I enjoyed the company of Lisa and Oliver in Glen Coe. These guys have walked up about 50 Munros and want to explore some of the more technical routes now. So we went for Curved Ridge on Buachaille Etive Mor to get them into the swing of scrambling. It was another warm and dry day with lots of sunshine, and it went very well.

Curved Ridge in the sunshine is so nice! The scrambling on clean rhyolite with nice positive holds goes on and on. The views are expansive, the exposure immense and it leads directly to the Munro, Stob Dearg. On Buachaille Etive Mor there are four stobs. Stob Dearg is the northerly Munro, Stob na Doire is next, then Stob Choire Altruim with Stob na Broige at the southern end, the second Munro. We walked over all four peaks after climbing Curved Ridge for full effect and it is highly recommended, especially when the views are as good as they were today!

As they go on to other Munros, Lisa and Oliver will have to tackle Aonach Eagach, An Teallach, Liathach and all the Cuillin Munros on Skye. All of these involve some scrambling, narrow ridges, airy positions and demand a hands on approach. Have fun!