[RWD version 1 ] Having rested after summiting Ben Nevis, I decided to meet up with collegues in Fort William. It was a nice little challenge to pop over the hill directly west from our camp site.
Just down the road from the camp site I headed west onto the West Highland Way for 100m before headind up the steep path toward Cow Hill and Cow Tower.
Along the way there is a lovely boardwalk out south to Outlandia. While it is a cul-de-sac it still looked very promising. This could not have been further from the truth! The way along the boardwalk was pleasant but what could heve been the jewel in the crown was a slap in the face! There was a high cabin in the trees that looked out over Ben Nevis and the Nevis Valley ... but it had been locked up for some time. The enclosing trees did not allow a clear view either. Very dissapointing.
I continued up until the path opened out on the hill. Kept to the left as if to avoid Cow Hill and on to a good wide service gravel road. At the T-junction I headed right up on to the summit. Cow Hill is off to the west on an indestinct series of hummocks. It is quite rough and boggy getting over there. Retraced my steps to the road and proceeded north on to Cow Tower, a wireless mast and its enclosure. The views on a good day are wonderful as you look down on Fort William, Lock Linnehe and over to Corpach to the north west.
Found the indistinct track heading down. It was rough and wet in places but it brought me down to the eastern upper reaches of Fort William. Continued down into the town and arrived at the famous bronze car sculpture commemorating Henry Ford's son's summit of Ben Nevis using a Model T car in 1912. Some achievement! I found it hard enough on two good legs.
Stopped in Fort William for a nice coffee and then headed back north east towards Claggan area. Decided to cross over the Nevis river and come back on the northern route to the start. From here it is a lovely silvan route along the river bank towards the Visitor Centre where there is a nice new bridge to cross over and complete the final kilometer to the finish. It was a good opportunity to streatch the legs on a track that was no dominated by steps!