Tower Ridge, Ben Nevis

Excuses, excuses again, but these are the only photos I have of this amazing route. No problems with camera batteries this time, I was just too busy, enjoying myself / hanging on, to take any more. Also the clag descended as we climbed making my second visit to the summit of Britain's highest mountain every bit as boring at the top as the last. However, today wasn't about the summit, it was about the journey up there.

So, two trips now to "The Ben" and not used the tourist path yet. The first time was enjoyable round the CMD arrete, this time was an amazing 600m plus scramble / rock climb with full on gear. Thank goodness I was with guys who were experienced and had done the route before. Not to say there's anything really that hard on the route but the occasional section such as the Douglas Boulder at the beginning, the 20m climb after the Douglas Gap and the infamous Tower Gap made me glad to be roped up. We moved together "Alpine Style" for most of the route and made quick (3 hours) progress on the ridge itself. The whole route took 8 hours in total, a 2 hour walk in in to start of the climb and 3 hours from the summit back to car.

Approaching from the Golf Course rather than the tourist side makes for a much more visually appealing route. Walking right up the Allt a'Mhuilinn Valley into the North side of the glen gives great views of the whole North Face (pic 2) and Tower Ridge (pic 5) can be seen beckoning and teasing for about an hour as you approach (the middle distance ridge in the photo with the nobbly bit near the top).

I've been looking forward to doing a day like this for ages and it didn't dissapoint

In one word, brilliant