01/04/2026
BALLATER VICTORIA WEEK TO LAUNCH 4×4 SAFARI TO SUMMIT OF LOCHNAGAR 🏔️🛻
As part of this year’s Ballater Victoria Week celebrations, the committee are delighted to announce plans for what is already being described as the most talked‑about and most ambitious 4×4 Safari ever to happen: a bold, imaginative attempt to “climb” all 3792 ft of Lochnagar by vehicle.
The ascent, described as “logistically impossible, environmentally catastrophic, and very expensive given the cost of diesel” using a series of forgotten Victorian estate tracks, will take place on Sunday August 16th following the Duck Race on the Green.
Local expert and poet Alistair Cassie said when told of the plan, “Ye canna drive a car up Lochnagar..... No even wi diff‑lock”. However, BVW stalwart Athol Bowman disagrees, and plans to be one of the first up the mountain and has arranged for what appears to be the “prime summit parking spot,” normally reserved for wind, snow, and people who’ve spent four hours climbing and would quite like a sandwich.
Gordon Riddler, who has run previous 4x4 safaris, remains fully supportive of the project, and advises this year’s participants to ensure their folding table is tied down appropriately. H.M Sheridans are looking forward to catering for the event once again, however due to the new Cairngorms regulations for fires, they will be cooking using a new wind powered hog roaster.
With excitement building across the village, The Lochnagar 4×4 Safari is set to become one of the standout spectacles of Ballater Victoria Week 2026. Volunteers are already polishing bonnets, checking maps, and practising their summit‑selfie poses in anticipation of what promises to be a truly unforgettable adventure. Whether participants reach the top or just enjoy the thrill of trying, we are sure the bold, cheerful, and adventurous spirit will carry the day, giving many the chance to Be Amused.
If you would like to help run this year’s BVW 4x4 Safari, please contact us via [email protected]
