Visitors to Scotland’s first Via Ferrata are being invited to take a walk on the wild side on a new “sky walk” above a Highland waterfall.
The unique outdoor climbing experience uses almost 1,500ft of metal staples and cable bridges to climb a rock face alongside Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall at Kinlochleven, near Glencoe.
And work began this week on the second phase of building the popular Lochaber attraction, which includes a high bridge over the top of the falls.
Via ferrata – Latin for “iron ways” – were originally used during World War I to get soldiers across the Alps and Dolomites, but they have now become a big leisure activity for climbers.
Ben Starkie, owner of Via Ferrata Scotland and its sister company Vertical Descents, described the new bridge as scary but exciting.
An extension to the Via Ferrata is also going to be constructed to take it further up into the gorge at the back of the waterfall.
Mr Starkie said: “We always intended this to be part of the build, but we didn’t have the funds to do it at the start.
“Off the back of the success of the project so far we have put a big bridge across the top of the waterfall.”
He explained that the bridge was around 33ft long and about 260ft above the falls.
He said: “It’s the scariest part of the Via Ferrata. It’s really exciting and you get a great view over the top of the waterfall.
“We have also included another bridge so you can loop back onto the Via Ferrata.
“But you don’t have to do the bridge, you can just climb on up the old route.”
The Via Ferrata initially cost around £50,000 to build and phase two is costing a further £8,000.
The bridge is due to be completed early next week and the extension to the route further into the gorge is expected to take another two weeks.
Mr Starkie said the venture had been very successful since it opened in March 2014.
He said: “Last year we had about 1,500 people on it, which is double the number the year before.
“I think people are learning what it’s all about now.”
The route, which climbs up through stunning scenery with spectacular viewpoints, is designed to be accessible yet challenging for people with a wide range of climbing abilities.
