About Lochaber Blog » About Lochaber http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com The online guide for Fort William and Lochaber Wed, 17 Aug 2016 04:29:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 [VIDEO] UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Fort William 2011 http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/06/video-uci-mountain-bike-world-cup-fort-william-2011/ http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/06/video-uci-mountain-bike-world-cup-fort-william-2011/#comments Fri, 10 Jun 2011 09:33:39 +0000 About Lochaber http://blog.aboutlochaber.com/?p=244 Read more ]]> Well that’s the thrills and spills of the MTB World Cup in Fort William over for another year! 300 riders from over 25 countries took to the track cheered on by around 20,000 fans who flocked to Lochaber  to soak up the action and the occasional ray of sunshine! The great news is the event, which generates around £2.5 million for the local economy, will return to Fort William until at least 2013 thanks to a new agreement UCI has confirmed with the fantastic Nevis Range.  For more information on this story read this.

We were there having a great time and felt sorry for all you who couldn’t make it, so we quickly threw together a wee video of a few bits and bobs we shot on the day, in between trips to the beer tent of course…  A truly great event brilliant organised by all involved, if you can make it next year then do!

Please share the video with your friends and help make next years event bigger than ever!

 

 

 

]]> http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/06/video-uci-mountain-bike-world-cup-fort-william-2011/feed/ 0 Results of the MTB World Cup in Fort William [PICS] http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/06/mtb-world-cup-fort-william-results-and-pics/ http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/06/mtb-world-cup-fort-william-results-and-pics/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:27:16 +0000 About Lochaber http://blog.aboutlochaber.com/?p=173 Read more ]]> Another great mountain bike world cup stage in Fort William over for another year, and it didn’t fail to disappoint. We’ve got a selection of snaps below for you to feast your eyes on, including both the 4-cross and downhill events.

Overall Highlight: New found affection for Tracy Moseley, winner of the women’s downhill.

Overall Lowlight: Instant realisation I’ve nae chance with Tracy Moseley, winner of the women’s downhill.

Coming soon a lovely video so keep your eyes glued to the blog for that.

Crowds gathered at the MTB World Cup 2011 4 Cross Downhill 4 Cross Downhill Downhill 4 Cross Big screen at the grandstand 4 Cross 4 Cross Downhill 4 Cross 4 Cross 4 Cross 4 Cross Downhill Winners Sofa? Downhill Downhill Downhill Downhill 4 Cross 4 Cross Downhill 4 Cross Awards Ceremony Downhill Downhill Downhill Awards Ceremony Downhill Downhill Awards Ceremony Lovely sunny Friday afternoon Downhill Tracy Moseley at the Awards Ceremony 4 Cross Awards Ceremony Downhill Upside Down bike Downhill Awards Ceremony tracy-moseley-wins-womens-downhill-2011

South African rider Greg Minnaar took top podium place in the Men’s Downhill following a tremendous show of power and skill down the course, beating runner up Danny Hart who firmly made his mark on familiar British soil.

Minnaar also stole the prize from top British riders, Ruaridh Cunningham (17th place), Ben Cathro (19th place) and last year’s winner, Gee Atherton who came in fourth.

Fans favourite Tracy Moseley took the top prize in the Women’s Downhill after fending off fierce competition from fellow Brit Rachel Atherton in an exhilarating challenge.Tracy held her World Cup lead while scooping a record breaking fifth win at Fort William: “It’s pretty awesome as Fort William is a tough race. It’s such an amazing feeling to win in front of my home crowd – the atmosphere was electric. I’ve had a brilliant start to the year!”

Celebrating his win, Greg Minnaar said: “It’s so great to win here in Fort William, it’s been a good weekend! I’ve been a strong contestant for the last two years and lost out to Gee Atherton last year so it’s great to take it home for South Africa this year.”

Commenting on his second place position, an ecstatic Danny Hart said: “It’s been an awesome weekend and I nearly closed in on the competition. I’ve kept my sensible head on all the way through so it’s been relatively easy to stay focused.”

MEN’S DOWNHILL FINAL RESULTS

1. Greg Minnaar RSA (4:43.854)

2.  Danny Hart GBR (4:45.153)

3.  Brook Macdonald NZL (4:45.788)

4.  Gee Atherton GBR  (4:46.858)

5. Aaron Gwin USA (4:47.047)

WOMEN’S DOWNHILL FINAL RESULTS

1. Tracy Moseley GBR (5:21:898)

2. Rachel Atherton GBR (5:23:619)

3. Floriane Pugin FRA (5:29:428)

4. Myrian Nicole FRA (5:30:49)

5.  Sabrina Jonnier FRA (5:31:970)

]]> http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/06/mtb-world-cup-fort-william-results-and-pics/feed/ 0 Lochaber Mountain Rescue 1920′s Fundraiser [PICS] http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/06/lochaber-mountain-rescue-1920s-fundraiser-pics/ http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/06/lochaber-mountain-rescue-1920s-fundraiser-pics/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:59:16 +0000 About Lochaber http://blog.aboutlochaber.com/?p=139 Read more ]]> To raise funds for the fantastic guys at The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, on the 27th of May Skipinnish Fort Wiliam was transformed into a 1920′s speakeasy, although with the prohibition era long since behind us the only thing illegal were some of the dance manoeuvres! !

The night was a great success with locals and tourists alike shimmying the night away in full costume to a cracking live swing band.  A great night had by all!

If you would like to make a donation to The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team in acknowledgment of the fine work they do then just click here.

Take a look at some photos from the night!

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Follow The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team on Facebook!

All photos courtesy of Ciera Harvey

]]> http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/06/lochaber-mountain-rescue-1920s-fundraiser-pics/feed/ 0 Fort William, Glencoe & Lochaber: In The Movies! (Part 1) http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/05/fort-william-glencoe-lochaber-in-the-movies-part-1/ http://blog.aboutfortwilliam.com/2011/05/fort-william-glencoe-lochaber-in-the-movies-part-1/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 17:06:28 +0000 About Lochaber http://blog.aboutlochaber.com/?p=110 Read more ]]> Well it’s no secret how beautiful the Highlands of Scotland are, in particular Glencoe and Glen Nevis near Fort William and Ben Nevis offers some truly stunning scenery which picks you up by the scruff of the neck and says “Look!  Just look how beautiful I am!” before dropping you down in The Grog & Gruel for a pint and a dram.  Of course this fact has been long recognised by the international film industry who have chosen Lochaber and surrounding areas time and time again for some memorable moments on the silver screen.  So we thought over the coming weeks we’d give you a wee rundown of some of the most famous and some not so famous (which even the locals may not know about).

Many folk would be surprised to know that Alfred Hitchcock used a little poetic license in his film ‘The 39 Steps’ (1935) when his main character hops aboard The Flying Scotsmanwhich promptly shoots over the Forth Bridge immediately into….nope not Fife but Rannoch Moor in Glencoe with the Police hot on his heels.  If you’re in this area you should check out The Clachaig Inn for some fine grub, tunes and cracking ales (not necessarily in that order right enough!)  If you want to ride the west coast line in style you should check out The Jacobite Steam Train which will take you on a whistle-stop tour of some breathtaking sites between Fort William and Mallaig.

 

Now who hasn’t seen ‘Braveheart’?  You?  Right stop reading immediately and get to Blockbuster!  Go on, get!  Now the rest of you however I’m sure couldn’t help but be romanced by the unquestionable beauty of the setting for Mel Gibson’s 1995, famously inaccurate, Braveheart.  The americanisation of the tale of Sir William Wallace saw his true home of Lanark changed for the haunting yet beautiful Glencoe and Glen Nevis, a few miles outside Fort William. I remember auditioning as a child to be an extra in the film only to be told I lived too far away and it wouldn’t be practical.  If you ask me I think they were just worried about a podgy ginger kid sticking out like a sore thumb in impoverished 13th century Scotland!  Alas my career as an actor wasn’t to be.  Anyway If you’re looking for somewhere to stay a stones throw from where all this was filmed you should check out  our page here.

 

We’ll be bringing you more soon so keep your bloggin’ eyes peeled!

 

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