Dùn Deardail is an iron-age fort whose outline can still be seen as grassy embankments. The fort has a spectacular hilltop location with stunning views and makes a worthy objective on this waymarked walk from Glen Nevis.
Bog Factor
Good tracks / paths throughout
Braveheart car park (charge).
Bus service between May and September.
NN123731
Park at the Braveheart car park, which is signed from the road up Glen Nevis. The walk begins from the top end of the track that leads to the parking area; here a sign for Dun Deardail points through a gate. Head along the track until a crossroads with paths; the left route is the West Highland Way leading down to the Nevis road, and the right turn is the Peat Track up onto Cow Hill. Our route continues straight ahead along the track - which is also now the West Highland Way.
After just over half a kilometre the track forks; take the uphill branch to the right which gradually climbs to give good views looking back over the lower end of Glen Nevis, and across to the mighty Ben. The track eventually zig-zags steeply right and then left; ignore minor paths on either side and stay on the main track.
Just before the track crests a rise there is a clear path heading off left, signed for Dun Deardail. Turn left onto this, and keep straight ahead when another path heads off right into the dense plantation.
The path rounds the edge of the trees before curving uphill over grassy ground. It crosses a brief boardwalk before the final ascent of the grassy mound that marks the summit of Dun Deardail.
The iron age fort here had a vitrified wall around the outside - stones heated to such a high temperature that they fused together - though now they exist only as a circular grassy embankment enclosing the top. It is well worth walking right around the embankment to fully take in the superb views. Ben Nevis in particular is majestic, looking its full height across the deep glen.
The aerial views over Glen Nevis and up to the great ridge of the Mamores are equally stunning.
Once you've finished enjoying the summit, the return walk is a retracing of your steps.
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