Tarvin Boys Climb High for Golden Eagles

Two brothers from Tarvin were inspired by a story they read in their RSPB magazine about a girl who scaled Scafell Pike in aid of the Golden Eagle appeal launched this year by the charity to support this Magnificent and precious British bird.

Being competitive young lads, and knowing that a family weekend trip to Fort William meant they would be close to Ben Nevis, Joshua and Tan couldn't resist the temptation to go one better. They didn't realise just how close we would be to the famous mountain. This is the view that greeted us on arrival.

After a long and gruelling hike (well, for Mum and Dad at least) they made it to the summit. It took the family about 7 and a half hours all told. After a very chilly lunch, huddled in the ruins of the observatory, the boys annoyed their parents and other adult hikers by skipping down the mountain like a pair of spring lambs, while the rest of us hobbled down, with our knees and thighs complaining bitterly.

It did seem more than a little unlikely and cliche'd but, on the ascent, we were lucky enough to see a Golden Eagle! Unfortunately, neither Mum nor Dad were quick enough in getting the camera out to get a shot of the beautiful bird playing in the thermals over the Ben's infamous zig-zag path. We couldn't believe that we had actually seen one, but, checking the likely locations of Golden Eagles on the internet, we concluded that the chances of a sighting around the Ben are actually quite high as this part of the Highlands seems to be a hot spot for the species.

Mum, Dad and the whole family are immensely proud of the boys, not for climbing the Ben (that probably would have happened anyway), but for going to the effort of asking for sponsorships. Altogether the boys raised £200.00 for the RSPB Golden Eagle Appeal.