Mount Ben Nevis, Scotland

The highest peak of Great Britain is not so great - 1344 meters its height. But this is the highest point of the British Isles. Perhaps, that is why she was submissive to people, as the facts say, even on cars and with pianos on shoulders. But many mountaineers are familiar with its harsh nature. Only one wrong step in the middle of the pitch mist and snow can cost a person the most expensive - life.

Where is Ben Nevis? About this, about its features, the history of these places and many other interesting facts will be told in the article.

Location

There is a mountain at the tip of the Grampian Mountains (west, Highland), which are part of the Highlands of North Scotland. Near it lies the famous tourist and shopping center - Fort William. Fort was founded in the XVII century, during the 10 years it was the only civilized area in this rather harsh, isolated from the rest of the world edge. This is the shore of the Loch Linnaeus Bay.

The close location to Fort William, a relatively small by international average height, seemingly uncomplicated path, are the reasons for the eagerness of tens of thousands of tourists to conquer this amazing peak.

About the purpose of the mountain

The mountain with the name Ben Nevis (or simply Ben) serves practically only to be climbed by climbers. However, earlier (from 1883 to 1904) it was a place for scientific meteorological research. At that time, at its top was the observatory of the meteorological society of Scotland, there was also a hotel for tourists. The remaining ruins from the observatory are one of today's attractions of this area. Thanks to the work of the observatory, weather information for the whole of Great Britain was previously determined.

Many travel agencies and now make this route to the list of basic excursions to the magnificent Scotland. Mountain tourism in the tourism industry of this country, and indeed in the world, occupies 15-20% of the total market.

Mount Ben Nevis - this is the most ideal option for a beginner climber, because, despite the small in terms of world tourist standards, the mountain is in this country the highest. In addition, this route was laid long ago for ponies, carrying the cargo to the very top, so it is well-established and not very dangerous.

However, it is not so simple as many people think at first glance. In any case, serious preparation, appropriate instruction, availability of schemes, maps, etc. is necessary. Statistics show that about half of the attempts to climb within one year remain incomplete. And every year several people die here.

From the history

The very first conquest of the summit was accomplished by a botanist from Edinburgh by James Robertson in 1771. He collected here unique samples of various vegetation, with which Ben Nevis is rich.

The mountain in Scotland was also visited by the great poet, the Englishman John Keith. He climbed the mountain in 1818. Later they were told that climbing this mountain is almost the same as climbing 10 St. Paul's cathedrals without any convenient stairs.

To the north of Fort William at the foot of the mountain is the old distillery (founded in 1825), which produces the popular whiskey "Ben Nevis" (single malt).

Then, thanks to a more careful study of the terrain by geologists, in 1847 the cartographic society confirmed that this mountain is the highest in the whole of Britain.

In 1894, a railroad was built at Fort William. And at about the same time, there were projects on the construction of a derrick railway leading to the summit. However, none of them later became reality.

On the origin of the name

What is Ben Nevis? In Scotland, the inhabitants are local, and many guests of this place are called simply by Ben, in a friendly way. But, in fact, in the name of this little thing friendly.

It occurs according to one of the versions from the Gaelic BeinnNibheis, where the first word means "mountain", and the second - "spiteful", "evil".

There is one more, more romantic version. The mountain was named after beinnneamh-bhathais, which means "mountain of the sky" or "mountain with a head in the clouds".

In conclusion a little about the curious facts

An interesting fact is that in the spring of 2006, in the process of garbage collection at the top, a very old piano was discovered. This tool was raised there by the Scottish woodcutter Kenny Campbell (he said) 35 years ago. The reason for this act is the attraction of money to the parish church, in which the organ was replaced by a piano. As a young man, Kenny was dragging a plow and a keg with beer to the top of the mountain.

On mountain Ben-Nevis often raised and motorcyclists with bicyclists. The year 1911 was marked by the fact that the mountain was climbed by a Ford car (an advertising company). This recovery was carried out using boards and ropes and took a total of several days.