Sitting on the north side of Glen Nevis upstream of the Lower Falls, Polldubh has many rock buttresses climbing up the southern slopes of Carn Dearg, an outlier top of Ben Nevis. In just over a vertical kilometre rising from the river Nevis to the summit of Ben Nevis, the vegetation varies from temperate rainforest with Scots pine to an arctic environment. The lower crags are popular with climbers and some of the route names bear witness to the scattering of veteran Scots Pine growing on them, such as ‘Pine Wall’ and ‘Three Pines.’

 

Starting from the Lower Falls car park we will follow the single-track road for just over 300 metres before heading up along a path skirting below the crags and mixed native woods. This will take us past several small tree exclosures that were planted as part of the 2014-19 Nevis Landscape Partnership ‘Future Forests’ programme, which involved collecting pine seed from the Glen Nevis CPI granny pines, propagating them then planting with volunteers and local school children. 

The route returns to the road then back to the car park. Dependant on time it may be possible to make a short extension along a climbers access path further into Polldubh crags, or alternatively walk further up the Glen along a rough path to Paddies Bridge and return along a better footpath on the south side of the river Nevis.