Glen Nevis facts for kids
Glen Nevis (which is called Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Nibheis in Scottish Gaelic) is a beautiful valley in Scotland. It's located near a town called Fort William. This amazing place is surrounded by some of the tallest mountains in the British Isles, like Ben Nevis, Càrn Mor Dearg, Aonach Mòr, and Aonach Beag. Glen Nevis is also home to Steall Falls, which is one of the three highest waterfalls in Scotland. Below the waterfall, there's an impressive, narrow valley called a gorge. Because it's so pretty, Glen Nevis is part of the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area.
You can drive about 10 kilometers into Glen Nevis on a public road. After 7 kilometers, the road becomes a single track. At the start of the glen, near Fort William, you'll find a hotel, a Scottish Youth Hostels Association hostel, and a campsite. There's also a small village called Achriabhach further up the glen.
Exploring the Upper Glen
From the car park at the end of the road, a path leads through a rocky gorge. After climbing this path, the view opens up to the peaceful upper part of the glen. A cool wire bridge helps you cross to the base of the waterfall. This bridge was rebuilt to make sure it's safe for visitors.
The path has been improved over time to make it easier to walk on and to stop the ground from wearing away because of many walkers. However, some parts of the path are still challenging. Signs at the car park warn visitors to be careful and stay safe while exploring.
Glen Nevis in Movies
Glen Nevis is so beautiful that it has been used as a filming location for several famous movies! You might recognize scenes from the Harry Potter movies, Highlander, Highlander III: The Sorcerer, Braveheart, and Rob Roy.
Glen Nevis River Race
Since 1973, a fun 2-mile race has been held down the River Nevis in the summer. People taking part use floating items like LiLos to go down the river. The race can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how fast the water is flowing. After a break, the race started again in 2008 and is still a popular event today.
