Ben Nevis

The following poem is reputed to have been written in the visitor's book of the Ben Nevis Hotel in the late 19th century. Ben Nevis and Fort William below get some of the highest rainfall in Scotland...

Roll by, thou dense and damp pea-soupy shroud!
Do we thus reach the highest point in vain?
Roll by! we say, and leave behind no cloud
Our view to mar; but, should'st thou still remain,
Mark well the threat - "Never shall we come again."
If at first you don't succeed, try again:
Mist and rain you should not heed, try again;
When the clouds have rolled away,
And the sun holds glorious sway,
Climb the path without delay, come again,
All your labours he'll repay - grand old Ben.

We climbed thy stony sides, oh Ben!
We groped around thy cloudy head,
We peered and jeered and swore - and then,
In sheer disgust, we went to bed.

We toiled along with saddened hearts - and grief,
And found - ah, well, just mist and tinned Australian beef.