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Alexandra Hotel Fort William
Wednesday, 4th October
My Dearest Mother,
I am sorry that no letter was written to you yesterday. It was a miserable day, and we were not able to do much. John came back about 9 o'clock in the evening. He seemed to have spent a fairly comfortable time in Edinburgh. Yesterday the day clearing about 3 o'clock, Sandy & I took a short walk about 3 miles up the canal,
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a very pretty road, where we had excellent views of the Lochy which is an extraordinary fine river. Today being fine in the morning we all set out with the rope & ascended what is known as the Castle Ridge of Ben Nevis which is about 1900 feet high. We managed to get to the top in 4½ hours. We then went into the Observatory where we ate our lunch which consisted of several Protein Biscuits, raisins & figs. The Observers are very nice people; they are just packing up preparatory to clearing out. We also fell in with an English solicitor with the
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wife & daughter who had come up the track on ponies. The day having changed for the worse, with rain coming down in torrents, we returned to the Hotel as fast as we could, & now after having bathed & had tea, we are sitting at our ease talking & waiting for dinner. I am really enjoying myself in an extraordinary fashion. The weather is not good, but the country despite that looks magnificent. We are also very comfortable at the Hotel. If tomorrow does not turn out fine, we intend to take the train to Mallaig to
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have a sight of the Western Ocean. There is a letter come in from Geo. Orr, reminding John about his lecture & fixing the 3rd or 5th of December for the date. Sir J. Stirling Maxwell is to be the chairman. John is annoyed at not having received notice before. He also received a letter from Willie who seems all right. John will write to you tomorrow.
I hope you all keep well.
Much love.
Your affectionate son
J.W.B. [Walter Buchan]
