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It shows a week in the life of Ben Nevis during a spell of some of the best weather we’ve had this year. Look out for the fastest tractor in the world making short work of ploughing the field!

You can see the live Ben Nevis HD Webcam here

Since the sport originated in the UK over a century ago, motorcycle trials have enjoyed a rich
association with Fort William and the Lochaber region, which hosts the SSDT. ‘The Scottish’
as it is more commonly known, celebrated its 100th anniversary last May and continues to be
one of the most prestigious events in the international competitive motorcycle trials calendar.
Motorcycle trials are unique in the world of motorsport, with it being the only discipline where
the winner is decided on skill alone and not speed. The SSDT sees its competitors ride
across the challenging terrain of the Lochaber countryside on special lightweight trials bikes,
negotiating steep gullies, slippery rock steps, rocky streams or boulder-strewn gorges.
Competitors can cover more than 100 miles on some days of the event, making it the ultimate
test of skill and endurance.

The SSDT is also unique in that it brings together riders of all ages, skill and experience
levels, with everyday hobby trials riders completing the same course as their international
championship heroes. It is free to go along to watch this fantastic spectator sport.
Amongst this year’s competitors will be last year’s winner, 25-year-old professional trials rider
James Dabill from Leeds. 2011 marked a double victory for Dabill, as not only did he
win the SSDT in its centenary year, it was the second time he has won the event having also
taken home the trophy in 2007.

He comments:

“It was a great feeling to win the Scottish Six Days Trial in its centenary last year. The SSDT
is one of the best trials events in the world. It’s every young trials rider’s dream to go up there
and do it. Winning the SSDT was definitely on the list of things I set out to achieve in my
career and now I’ve done it twice. It would be great to get a hat-trick this year and become a
part of that select club.”

“I don’t think you could have an event like it anywhere else in the world. It doesn’t matter if the
weather is bad or good, it always feels great to be there.”

Dabill admits to having the ‘Scottish Highlands bug’ having recently returned to the region on
a cycling trip: “It’s a beautiful place and the people are always so welcoming. I’m definitely
looking forward to being back in May.”

Check out details about the 2012 SSDT event here

The fireworks display at the Banavie Rugby Club was a fantastic success with a great crowd that filled the bar inside and lined the streets outside all way down to the Moorings Hotel. At the end, the crowd dispersed out to the many mini firework displays and bonfires that were scattered around the area.

The clear skies made for a fantastic moonlit evening while a thick frost descended. The warmth of a Roy Bridge Bonfire (and perhaps a spot of Ben Nevis whisky) helped warm our chilly toes from the below zero temperatures. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate the coming of winter and, of course, to remember, remember the 5^th of November…. not to mention homage to the genius behind V for Vendetta!

The event started at Nevis Range near Fort William and the track ran through the Witch’s Trails and part of the World Championship course. Some of the riders were solo and some of them in teams of two, three, or four.

The main aim of No Fuss Events is to focus on the fun of participation rather than on competition. This participation includes the long hours endured by the marshals who worked for the entire 24 hours with minimal hours of sleep. The photos I’ve got here have some long exposures taken of the cyclists flying by one of the marshal stations in the late hours of the night. The cyclists had nothing but their head torches to light their way and the glint of the marshal station fire to guide their progress…. and also the oddly high levels of enthusiasm from the marshals at 2am to motivate their energy.

Find out more about Nevis Range, including their Winter Sports, World Class Mountain Biking  and what’s nearby including hotels,  hostels, self catering and Bed & Breakfasts, all of which are only minutes from the town centre of Fort William.  For eating and entertainment take a look at the selection of pubs and restaurants in Fort William too.

For those of you who don’t climb or boulder Heather Hat is giant boulder that has a covering of heather. It juts out at a rough 30 degree angle making it the perfect place for a BBQ, be it rain or shine. It also makes it the perfect place for a boulder. But beware, bring a bouldering mat if you do plan to give it a go as a fall onto the sharps rocks below could result in a very sore lower back… I speak from experience!

Heather Hat is about 20 minutes drive outside of Fort William and a few minutes walk up from the car. It’s a bit of a marshy area so wear some good shoes and look out for those friendly frogs!

Despite the pelting rain and icy water temperatures the six brave ladies jumped into the boats and got motored across to the other side of Loch Linnhe to start their swim. The swim is 1.2 km from Treslaig over to the Lochaber Yacht Club and to be included in the race the swimmers are not allowed to wear a wetsuit.

Winning the race was Fiona Thompson with a time of 21.33, followed closely by Lochaber Mountain Rescue’s Emma Pearce. Shortly after there was the junior swim with only one junior brave enough to enter. Her swim was 400 meters. The Loch Linnhe swim is an annual event organised by Morag Hughes.

So if you find yourself inspired by the personal achievement of these women, or perhaps motivated to try and beat Fiona’s spectacular time, sign up for next year and hide that wetsuit away to avoid temptation!

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Where every stone, tree and river has our richly romantic and heroic history embedded within.”

To buy online please visit www.highlandsoaps.com.

To enquire about video promotion for your business, please get in touch!

Made by Ezra Byrne & Katherine Owen of Newport Film School.

There are plenty facilities nearby Glen Nevis and Ben Nevis including hostels, camp sites and Bed & Breakfasts to rest your arching bones, all of which are only minutes from the town centre of Fort William.  If you plan to stay in Fort William itself then check out our list of Fort William Hotels nearby Ben Nevis.

To get a live stream of Ben Nevis, check out The Ben Nevis Webcam!

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Ben from Kate Owen on Vimeo.