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Midges hang on until the first frost, normally some time in September. October often brings clear air and lovely autumn colours. In between times there’ll be gales. Deer stalking (mid-August to mid-October) causes only minor disturbance to hillwalking in this area; with a little care and consultation, you can have hill days here during the stalking season more readily than anywhere else in Scotland (see ssss1).

Winter is a time of short days and often foul weather. Snow often lies on the high tops from December to April, with patches in the corries obstructing some routes even into June. Well-equipped walkers skilled in navigation and with ice axe love the winter most of all, for the wonderful crisp snow along the ridges of Bidean and the 100km views through the winter-chilled air.

The grand winter ridge of Ben Starav (Route 73)

WEATHER AND SNOW CONDITIONS

The most useful and accurate Internet forecast is at Mountain Weather Information Systems www.mwis.org.uk. This site has links to snow reports from various Fort William climbers and guides. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service issues forecasts of snow conditions and avalanche risk daily for Glencoe and for Lochaber (Ben Nevis area) from December through to Easter at www.sais.gov.uk.