If you visit Fort William, then taking a trip into Glen Nevis is a must. The rugged scenery is magnificent with majestic mountains towering around you in a 360-degree panorama, not to mention the tranquil running waters of River Nevis and the gushing waterfalls and Nevis gorge. You may even get to see a Highland cow or two grazing in the meadows.
Walking and Hiking in the Scottish Highlands
Glen Nevis is perhaps most famous for Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain, but if climbing mountains is not your thing, there are several other interesting and more accessible places to visit on a walking holiday in the Scottish Highlands. Read our blog below to learn more about some of our favourite locations in Glen Nevis, just a 15-minute drive from Distant Hills Guest House in Spean Bridge.
The Nevis Gorge and Steall Falls
Perhaps the second most popular place to visit in Glen Nevis after the mighty Ben Nevis is the Nevis Gorge and the Steall Falls. To access this stunning gorge and dramatic waterfall, follow the road past the Lower Falls car park as far into the Glen as you can go until you reach the Upper Falls car park. From here, follow the footpath through beautiful, leafy woodland which occasionally opens up to reward you with jaw-dropping views back down the Glen. The path soon becomes rocky and can be wet and slippery after rainfall so care should be taken.
After 20 minutes or so, you will start to see and hear the thundering water in the gorge below and to your right. Not too far beyond the gorge, you will get your first glimpse of Steall Waterfall in the distance. I have never failed to take an intake of breath at its first sight and to sigh a marvelling ‘wow’.
If you’d like to get up, close and personal with the waterfall and try out your balancing skills, you can have a go at crossing the wire bridge to reach the other side. Or you can simply sit on the riverbank or in the meadow and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Make your way back to the car park by simply retracing your steps.
Dun Deardail (The Vitrified Fort)
If you’d like to imagine what it must have been like to live in Glen Nevis in the Iron Age, you can take a walk up to the ancient, vitrified fort site of Dun Deardail believed to have been built in the 7th Century BC. While all that remain visible is its circular shape underneath a grassy mound, there is an informative picture board below the site and the views of the surrounding mountains are spectacular. You can also see part of the West Highland Way route in the distance and the many long-distance hikers making their way to their final destination in Fort William. The well-signposted path starts from the Braveheart car park and is 6 miles in total with 340 metres gradual ascent.
The Nevis River to the Lower Falls
If you enjoy low-level walking, we can highly recommend an 8-mile circular route through Glen Nevis starting from the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. On leaving the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre, cross the bridge over the River Nevis, turn right and follow the path running parallel to the river. The path is straightforward for the first couple of miles but can get a little water-logged further on after heavy rainfall. Arguably, the most impressive feature on this walk are the Lower Falls, also called the Polldubh Falls. It’s a popular spot with the locals for swimming in the pools below the falls. At the Falls, cross over the bridge and pick up the trail on the other side of the river from the Lower Falls car park. The route follows a wide forestry track with a gradual ascent before descending back to the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. For a full route description visit Walking Highlands here.
Cow Hill
A walk up this unusually named hill offers fantastic views over Fort William, Loch Linnhe, Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis. There are several starting points for this very well-signposted walk, some beginning in the town and others in Glen Nevis itself and the route is very popular with locals, families and dog walkers. The hill is very easy to spot with the telecommunications mast marking the summit, but do not let this manmade feature put you off. As well as various starting points, there are also various routes that you can take making the walk more or less difficult. For more information visit Walking Highlands here.
The Ben Nevis Inn
Once you have visited the areas of your choice, or if the weather is inclement, a great place to seek food, refreshment and shelter is the Ben Nevis Inn which is situated close to the start of the mountain path up Ben Nevis. The Ben Nevis Inn can also be accessed by car along Achintee Road (PH33 6TE). The building is a converted 200-year-old barn with awesome views and tremendous character. The food and friendly service are excellent in equal measure and the vibe is akin to a mountain hut full of jovial chatter about the great outdoors and spirited adventure.
Want to explore more of Glen Nevis?
Glen Nevis is a hiker’s paradise with routes for all levels of experience and ability. Combine that with its dramatic scenery and close proximity to our Distant Hills Guest House in Sean Bridge, it is no wonder that many of the routes on our Distant Hills Walking Holidays are in Glen Nevis ranging from low-level river walks to the harder-level Munros. If you would like more information on our Distant Hills Walking Holidays, please visit our walking holidays page here.
Distant Hills Guest House
If you are looking for superb, modern, clean accommodation with added luxuries such as a hot tub, honesty bar and drying room, please take a look at what we offer at Distant Hills Guest House and check our availability at Distant Hills Guest House, Spean Bridge, near Fort William. We are just a 10-minute drive from the North Face Car Park and 15 minutes from the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog and found the information useful! Exploring the Scottish Highlands is a joy!
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