Join us on. Please visit the Sitemap to see the full range of information on this site. Web www. Back to Top. Or taken part in the Three Peaks Challenge? Or have a special walk you'd like to share? We'd love to here from you! Join us on or Send us an email. When to Walk and How Long will it Take? The normal time taken to climb to the top by the tourist path is three and a half to five hours - coming down is much faster, between one and a half to two and a half hours.
The Ben Nevis Tourist Path often called the Mountain Track is the only path which should be attempted by the novice walker. It is strongly advised that you return by the same route and that you take a map and compass with you. How to get to Ben Nevis. More detailed information about traveling to Ben Nevis by car or public transport can be found on here. From the Beginning Before you start your walk up Ben Nevis, make sure you are properly prepared.
The most important item is proper footwear. Trainers are not suitable footwear for this path as it can become very slippery when wet. The temperature at the summit is just below freezing on average, so make sure you take warm clothing with you. Tip: Take a camera with you and start snapping those breathtaking views as you go up! The weather will probably change as you climb, and you'll be able to take some beautiful shots as the clouds move over the mountains.
You may find that the cloud cover has come down by the time you reach the top, and you can't see anything! Achintee To get to the start of the walk follow the signs for Achintee, Claggan Industrial Estate, and then take the turn to Achintee where the Tourist Path starts. Your starting point is about 20 metres above sea level, so you'll be ascending 1, metres. The Ben Nevis walk lets you know what you are in for from the beginning.
After crossing the bridge over the River Nevis, you will start to climb steeply using the steps conveniently provided. After the initial steepness, the path does even out to a more moderate slog. The path crosses a couple of footbridges over small streams and curves round, climbing above the valley of the Red Burn. As the head of the burn is approached the path takes a very sharp left turn; please don't use the old path ahead which is eroded and loose.
The correct path winds up much more easily to reach the plateau that holds Loch Meall an t-Suidhe, known as the half way lochan - which is slightly optimistic. The walk doesn't approach the actual loch though, keeping well to the right. As the path begins to climb once more, a junction is reached. Turn right the path keeping left heads round below the North Face of the mountain.
After another half kilometre the path crosses the cascading upper Red Burn stream. The path is good at this point, but after a couple more bends becomes much rougher, a well-worn route through the boulders and scree, climbing relentlessly in a series of very wide zigzags - please stick to the path here to avoid worsening erosion.
Much higher up, the path passes above the steep screes which fall to the right into the head of Five Finger Gully. This has been the scene of many fatalities in descent, when walkers attempting to avoid the North Face of the mountain steer too wide a course and heading too far south and fall into the gully. In good weather, the views of the Glen far below are superb.
The gradient now eases as the beginning of the summit plateau is reached. The path passes close to the top of Tower gully, and, just before the summit, the vertigo-inducing top of Gardyloo gully. The summit of Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The summit area has several memorials, a trig point, and many cairns; some of the memorials have been removed in recent years to prevent the area looking a mess. There are also the remains of the meteorological observatory which operated here at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries.
The view is tremendously extensive and covers much of the Highlands, but there is nothing more dramatic than peering down the north side, across or down the massive cliffs; again, do not approach if there is snow as there could be cornices of overhanging snow which could collapse if you step on them.. You may spot rock-climbers coming up Tower Ridge or other classic climbs. The return is made by the same route.
In misty conditions and with snow covering the path, very careful navigation can be required to steer a course between Gardyloo Gully and Five Finger Gully. Follow a bearing of degrees for metres, and then a bearing of degrees, to pass the most dangerous section.
Once down - a celebration will be in order. Please follow the advice of the current phase from the Scottish Government , and always stay 2 metres away from those outwith your own household both indoors and outdoors. But Ben Nevis is the king of them all. In the north west Highlands , near the town of Fort William and part of the Grampian Mountain range, the famous peak attracts k walkers a year. Whether you're an avid ambler or you just love beautiful landscapes, bagging 'the Ben' is likely to feature near the top of your Scottish bucket list.
An ancient giant of the land, Ben Nevis was once a massive active volcano which exploded and collapsed inwards on itself millions of years ago. At the summit, there is evidence of an explosion in the form of light-coloured granite. The name itself has two translations from the ancient Gaelic language, meaning 'mountain with its head in the clouds', thanks to its iconic mist-shrouded peak, or it can also mean 'venomous mountain' — you can decide which translation you prefer after the climb!
Read on for an overview of walking routes up the mountain, or visit Walk Highlands for detailed maps, difficulty levels and walking advice. Remember it's never 'easy' to bag a Scottish Munro or Corbett. You'll need a good amount of hillwalking experience, fitness, hill craft and navigation skills using a map and compass, before attempting any Scottish mountains, even more so in winter.
Check the FAQs section below for safety advice. Looking for something different? Try these 9 alternative must-climb hills to Ben Nevis in Scotland. Scotland's largest mountain was once a massive active volcano which exploded and collapsed inwards on itself millions of years ago. There are two main walking routes up Ben Nevis.
The easiest route up the mountain, the track begins at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre car park, at Achintee on the east side of Glen Nevis about 2 km from the town centre of Fort William, and approximately 20 m above sea level. The track starts with a steep climb to the halfway lochan', or Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe, and then the ascent features snaking zig-zag paths up to the summit. From the top, see if you can point out other peaks including the Torridon hills, Ben Lomond and Morven at Caithness.
A unique feature of the summit is the Old Observatory, which was opened in It provided hourly meteorological data for almost 20 years, recording some of the UK's most useful information about mountain weather to date. It closed in and it now lies in ruin, but can be used for shelter in emergencies.
Though demanding, the route rewards walkers with the finest possible views of the mountain's North face. It can also be reached by following the Mountain Track to the 'halfway lochan', then taking the left fork whilst the right fork continues along the Mountain Track. You'll pass the CIC Hut, a private shelter for mountaineers. A longer and more strenuous walk than the Mountain Track, this spectacular route can take between hours with scrambles across boulders. It requires a good head for heights and careful navigation across the trickier exposed sections.
This spectacular route can take between 10 — 11 hours with scrambles across boulders. A rock climber's paradise, the North Face of Ben Nevis has steep jagged cliff edges which are m high in places and perfect for rock climbing. There is a variety of routes to choose from, including the Ledge Route and Tower Ridge. Find a knowledgeable rock climbing or mountain guide to show you the best spots on the mountain, and read more about rock climbing experiences you can have on Ben Nevis.
You can also take in the sights aboard a Nevis Range mountain gondola ride. Drift effortlessly along the north face of the Aonach Mor, and enjoy awe-inspiring views of the Great Glen and Ben Nevis, and sometimes even the Inner Hebrides on clear days.
The journey takes approximately 12 minutes, and each gondola car can take up to six people. The gondola cars are wheelchair accessible, and you can also bring your dog and take them for a walk along one of the mountain viewpoint trails.
For more information about prices and times, please visit the Nevis Range website. Turn your Munro-bagging dreams into reality and find out everything you need to know before you lace up your walking boots. Remember, discovering the sheer magic of Scotland's most famous mountain is all the more fun when you're completely prepared for anything. It really depends on your level of fitness, the weather conditions and how many breaks you take to admire the views. It will usually take between 7 - 9 hours to complete following the Mountain Track, with an approximate ascent of 3.
It's a long and arduous climb and you might have stiff legs the following day, but the feeling of accomplishment when you scale the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom is pretty tough to beat. A lofty 1, m. To put it into perspective, the London Eye stands at m and Big Ben at 96 m high. Although the Mountain Track is reasonably easy to follow on a clear day, it's essential to have both a map and a compass and know how to use them especially if there is poor visibility during the climb.
Camping on the mountainside is not advisable. The peak is exposed and busy with walkers during the summer, and pitching a tent would be difficult due to the uneven terrain. The Glen Nevis Campsite is handily located near the foot of the mountain.
It's just a short walk from the campsite to the start of the Mountain Track. Summer is always the best time of year to tackle the Ben, with sunshine and clear views on the way to the top. You are likely to see snow at all times of the year, but climbing Ben Nevis in the winter is only for experienced mountaineers.
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