Dun Deardail – An Iron Age Fort above Glen Nevis
About 6.2 miles on foot.
Dun Deardail is an Iron Age hill fort on a bare green summit above Glen Nevis, with Ben Nevis across the glen.
People lived up here some two thousand years ago, in round huts inside a rampart whose grassy line you can still trace. A waymarked forest trail climbs to it from the foot of the glen. It's 10 km and about three and a half hours, a long steady climb with a rough, steep finish.
- Time
- About three and a half hours: Forestry and Land Scotland's Dun Deardail Trail, 10 km, with about 314 m of climbing. A long, strenuous walk to a hilltop.
- The path
- Forest roads and paths on a long, moderately steep climb; the path to the fort is steep and rough, with uneven stone steps.
- Where to start
- Forestry and Land Scotland's Braveheart car park, on the right about three-quarters of a mile along the Glen Nevis road: £1 for up to an hour, £3 all day, Blue Badge holders free; card or RingGo.
- Set off
- From November to January, set off by 11.30am to be down in daylight.
- When to go
- All year in daylight and clear weather. From November to January set off by 11.30am.
- Dogs
- Under close control.
- Children
- A long climb with a steep, rough finish: older children who walk well.
- Toilets
- Public toilets in Glen Nevis and in Fort William.
- Before you set out
- Forestry work in Glen Nevis: expect timber lorries on the forest roads and follow all signs, by Forestry and Land Scotland's notice of 8 October 2026.
The walk
Forestry and Land Scotland's Braveheart car park is on the right about three-quarters of a mile along the Glen Nevis road. Parking is £1 for up to an hour or £3 for the day, by card or RingGo. The Dun Deardail Trail is 10 km in all and takes about three and a half hours, with a little over 300 metres of climbing. It's graded strenuous: a long, moderately steep climb through the forest, then a steep, rough path to the fort with uneven stone steps. Dun Deardail, said 'dun jerra-dil', is an Iron Age hill fort.
People lived here in a compound of several round huts ringed by a rampart, and you can still pick out the grassy remains of the outer wall. On a clear day the view takes in the glen below and Ben Nevis across it. The West Highland Way passes close by on its last miles. Forestry work is under way in Glen Nevis, so expect timber lorries on the forest roads and follow every sign. The summit is open to the wind and the last path is slippery when wet, so leave it for another day in snow, ice or low cloud.
There are public toilets and places to eat in Glen Nevis and in Fort William. Keep dogs under close control. From November to January, set off by 11.30am to be down in daylight.
If it rains
Most of the climb is in forest, but the fort is a bare hilltop and the last steps are slippery when wet. In rain or low cloud there's no view to climb for, so keep it for a clear day.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Woodlands Glencoe, 10 miles away. Sleeps 2.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Boar Landscaping via Google