Every year, Cousin Charlie and I try to get to the top of Ben Nevis on Boxing Day. It’s always an adventure and pictures tell it better than I can.

Grim weather for the first half hour

Dark and wild.

First tea break at the lochen.

Thank goodness for the bivvy bag


Cousin Charlie on our way up.

Time for the crampons as the snow starts

Two ptarmigans in their white winter livery

Getting tougher


Sun getting low as we near the top

Family tradition honoured for another year with ascent reached by Alice and Cousin Charlie

It’s a long way down in the dark!