In Episode 6 of the Glen Nevis Walks podcast series we are taking the popular Cow Hill circuit at the mouth of Glen Nevis. Cow Hill is one of the easiest and quickest ways to get out and see some of the scenery around the glen and hence it’s often the first walk that new visitors will take when they arrive in Fort William or Glen Nevis. It’s also handy because you can access the circuit from Fort William itself, just a few minutes walk from the station, and walk around on some lovely quiet moorland into the wooded slopes of Glen Nevis

Along the way we’ll hear about some of the changes that Hughie and Isie Cameron have seen, growing up and living in the glen since the 1940s.  I’ll also look further into the past as the walk also takes us past the spot where the Cameron clan fired their canons on the Garrison in Fort William during the Jacobite rebellion in the 1740s. Geologist Noel Williams will explain the mind boggling geology of the Great Glen and how the other side of the glen has slid hundreds of kilometres along the line of the fault. We’ll also hear more about the wildlife you might see on this walk from John Muir Trust ranger Ali Austin, with some real local tips for wildlife spotting from the locals Hughie and Isie!

In episode 5 of the Glen Nevis Walks podcast series we take a gentle circuit of the lower slopes of Ben Nevis itself, hearing about the Gaelic names and their meanings of Ben Nevis and many of the other hills and features you can see. We also talk to mountain guide Mick Tighe about his rather daring rescues on the north face cliffs on the Ben, being lowered down the cliffs on a 1000 foot rope to pluck injured ice climbers of the face. Dropping back down and across to the wooded side of the glen, we hear from John Muir Trust ranger Ali Austin about some of the fantastic wildlife you’ll spot in the woods or by the river.

Episode 4 of the Glen Nevis Walks Podcast series takes us to the wildest part of Glen Nevis, and one of the most scenic spots in Scotland; Steall. Beyond the end of the road, the path that leads around the Glen Nevis Gorge and on to the massive Steall waterfalls is a very accessible way to get yourself amongst dramatic mountain scenery and rock architecture without having to walk too far!

In this episode We’ll here about some dramatic rock climbing thrills and spills on the cliffs lining the gorge, The violent history of the Jacobite rebellion and the cave hideouts in this part of the glen, how this landscape of water scalloped cliffs was formed and how the whole glen was nearly dammed and flooded for a huge early hydro electric project.

Listen or download below, or on iTunes here.

In episode 3 of the Glen Nevis Podcast series I’m walking from the Lower Falls up to Paddy’s Bridge. This is one of the most accessible walks in the glen following the construction of a fantastic path on the far side of the glen from the road.

On the way up you can’t fail to notice the Polldubh crags covering the whole lower slopes of Ben Nevis, a playground for climbers for since the late 1940s. The rock here is some of the finest in Scotland to climb on. Yet it is composed of Mica Schist, which in other areas of Scotland is not always great quality rock. It’s all in the volcanic baking as Geologist Noel Williams explains.

The area around Paddy’s Bridge (the wooden bridge half way from Lower Falls and the end of the tarmac road up the glen) is one of the most beautiful spots in Scotland and photographer and climber Dave Cuthbertson explains why these views and Scottish landscapes in general have been so rewarding for him.

Finally, Archaeologist Jennie Robertson talks about the origins of the many charcoal burners platforms in this part of the glen, a clue to the long history of different land use over the preceding centuries, as well as the remains of some later dwellings than can be seen by the path.

Here is episode 2 of the Glen Nevis podcast series. This episode covers the walk to the Iron Age vitrified fort of Dun Deardail which overlooks the glen from a spectacular position above the forested western slopes opposite Ben Nevis.

In this episode, we hear from writer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish on the beautiful ancient caledonian pine forest that once covered this glen and indeed much of the highlands. Some of the best remnants of this forest can be seen from Dun Deardail. Local John Muir Trust ranger Ali Austin explains some of the reasons why this forest has retreated over time and how complicated it can be to attempt to reintroduce the pines.

Archaeologist Jennie Robertson talks us through some of the fascinating history of the fort itself and the mysterious vitrification applied to the stone walls at great temperatures. Finally, local Gaelic historian Ron Cameron gives us some leads on where the unusual name ‘Deardail’ may originate from.

The Friends of Nevis has produced a series of 6 podcasts exploring Glen Nevis. Scottish climber Dave MacLeod takes us on 6 classic low-level walks in Glen Nevis, exploring the sights, sounds, flora, fauna and natural history to be found. Along the way, Dave talks to many experts, long time visitors to the Glen and locals who live there now, hearing their stories and experiences from one of Scotland?s most beautiful and famous highland glens. Maybe the podcasts will inspire you to take the walks yourself?

Each episode covers a different walk, and different parts of the glen. The walks are based on a booklet published by the Nevis Partnership which you can pick up in The Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. In this first episode, Dave describes the walk from the Visitor Centre to Lower Falls. He talks to leading climber Dave ‘Cubby’ Cuthbertson about a near fatal adventure in the impressive Five Finger Gully overlooking the walk. Local Mountain Guide and historian Mick Tighe explains more about the long  narrow gullies overlooking this part of the Glen on the lower slopes of Ben Nevis. Archaeologist Jennie Robertson talks about the remains of ancient clan settlements here and the curiously named ‘Ach nan Con burial ground. Finally, Geologist and mountaineer Noel Williams waxes lyrical on the extraordinary geological features visible looking into the Mamores range from Lower Falls.

We’ll be publishing each episode weekly and we reckon even the most prolific visitor of Glen Nevis will learn something new about it’s natural and human history. You can stream or download the first episode below. If you’d like to subscribe to the Glen Nevis Walks Podcasts, here is the Podcast RSS feed link.