*Sirluu*: "The mountain with its head in the clouds" aka Ben Nevis (Scotland)!

We decided to climb Ben Nevis (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Nibheis) - it is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of Scotland, close to the town of Fort William and is affectionately known as 'The Ben.'

Ben Nevis attracts an estimated 125,000 complete and a further 100,000 partial ascents per year. The summit, at 1,344 metres (4,408 ft) above sea level, unusually for a mountain in Scotland, features the ruins of a building, an observatory, which was permanently staffed from 1883 until it's closure in 1904.

Half way up!

The name, 'Ben Nevis,' is from the Gaelic, 'Beinn Nibheis.' While 'beinn' is a common Gaelic word for 'mountain' the word 'nibheis' is understood to have several meanings and is commonly translated as 'malicious' or 'venomous' therefore giving the meaning of 'Venomous (or malicious) mountain.'
Another interpretation of the name Ben Nevis, is that it derives from beinn nèamh-bhathais, from the word nèamh meaning 'heavens (or clouds)' and bathais meaning 'top of a man's head.' This would therefore translate literally as, 'the mountain with its head in the clouds' although this is sometimes also given as the more poetic, 'mountain of heaven.'

We did it!

It sure was cold on top. It took us 7-9 hours (cant remember this point) to ascend and descend. Average it would take people 7 hours.

Part of the descend was fun and went quickly (E. invented it, im sure others followed our lead)

Tired, but happy - sauna and swimming pool awaiting jipiii!

Found love on the way

More info:
http://ben-nevis.com/walks/mountain_track/mountain_track.php

Blair drummond safari park - A day packed with adventure. It was fun indeed.

So you can trade your kids!

Im hiding, you cant see me!

Cought in the darkest jungle and transferred to Blair Drummond on the day we went there!

Im so fluffy I could die!

King of the swimming pool

Fun houses

Nice views in every corner!

Spring and daffodills!


Pitch and put! I won!

Always something happens during the travels. We were on a road in a car. Probably going up north. Suddenly I noticed little spider and wanted to through it out of the window. First thing that looked helpful for that was sunglasse hard case. I managed to get the little spider on it and opened the window. Little bugger started crawling on my hand instead. I really panicked and tried to shake it off from the window. Suddenly spider was gone and with it case and glasses - and not mine!! We stopped the car immediately, but it was too late, one car already had driven over it. Luckily for me she was able to replace those glasses!!

A pirate that is!

So many castles!

Stirling castle - Stirling Castle has been named as one of Top 40 Amazing Experiences in Europe in a new eBook authored by Lonely Planet.

Scottish castles are something else!

Auchindrain Township Museum in Argyll

Auchindrain, or in Gaelic Achadh an Droighinn, field of the blackthorn tree, is recognised as being the most complete surviving example of a Highland farm township, a type of settlement representative of much of Scottish rural history.