Mountain Memories – Ben Nevis Observatory and Hotel 1884

There were 3 Nevis observatories, one on the summit, one half way up at a place called the Half-way Lochan, Lochan Meall-an-t-Suidhe near the Red Burn, and one in Fort William near where we catch the steam train to Mallaig nowadays.

Salient Points: –

Pilot project 1881 driven by Clement Wragge. (He walked up to the top of the Ben every day for a year to make weather observations)
Scottish Meteorological Society launched an appeal and raised £5k
Path constructed (cost £800). Winching system installed by the Red Burn
Observatory built 1883 and extended 1884. Timber framed with walls 12ft thick at bottom, 9 months’ construction, supplies ferried up in summer by ponies
Observatory Road Surveyor took up mail every 2-3 weeks
Telegraph installed. Hourly observations
Visitor charges of 1/- per person or 3/- per horse for using the track to the top of Nevis
1890 Ft William observatory started
Half-way Lochan Observatory (1894?)
Highest Temp = 19 degC, lowest Temp = -16 degC, highest Wind = >150kts (anemometer broke), highest annual rainfall = 142 inches

Ben Nevis Observatory 1883 – 1904

Note where the snow piles up to – the main building walls are about 10ft high

Opened soon after the main observatory in 1882. Staffed by girls who walked up and stayed for weeks at a time