Ben Nevis: Britain’s Highest Peak

Ben Nevis — famous for the title of Great Britain’s highest peak at 1,344m. Located in the north-west highlands ‘the Ben’, as it’s affectionately known, attracts 125k walkers every year. For many that makes a trip up this mountain an absolute must on any Scotland visit.

Near the town of Fort William Ben Nevis is one of Scotland’s nine mountains above 1,200m. If you’re looking for a serious mountain bagging holiday in the UK then head to the Grampian Mountain range. There you’ll enjoy stunning views and wildlife. But, you can tick off the top two highest mountains in Scotland: the Ben and his fellow, Ben Macdui.

The History of Ben Nevis

Millions of years ago poor old Ben was an active volcano which exploded and collapsed in on itself. What we see at the summit today is all that remains of the inner dome that imploded.

At the summit, keep an eye out for light-coloured granite in between the darker coloured rocks. The light-colour granite cooled in chambers far beneath the earth’s surface. The only reason it sits on top is because of the explosion. The dark rock is basaltic lava and this can only form on the top.

What’s in the name — Ben Nevis?

The name itself has two translations from the ancient Gaelic language.

1. ‘Mountain with its head in the clouds’, thanks to its iconic mist-shrouded peak
2. ‘Venomous mountain’.

Take your pick after the climb and let us know what you think.

How to climb Ben Nevis: two routes

COVID-19 update: If you’re planning a trip to the Ben remember to check Scotland’s social distancing rules. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have independent governments so each country can have very different rules.

Recently I learned that there’s not just one, but two routes up to the summit of Ben Nevis. First, there’s The Mountain Track (aka the Tourist or Pony Track). This is used by most walkers and is a pretty straightforward climb following a clearly defined path. (That doesn’t mean it’s not a hard day out — your legs will definitely feel it the day after!).

For more experienced hikers the Carn Mor Dearg Arête is a challenging alternative.

The Pony Track

The beginner route up the mountain should take between 7–9 hours but this can vary depending on your level of fitness and comfort with mountain climbing. We found it was possible to climb more quickly by leaving early and beating some of the crowds. As a result our summit bid took 6 hours. Despite being a popular route it is a steep climb to the summit and can be a tough hike, particularly if the weather takes a turn.

Be prepared: take water and snacks, plenty of warm gear (even if it’s glorious at the bottom it will be cooler up top) and don’t rush (unless your confident to do so).

The path begins at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre car park (which has about 80 car parking spaces). From here, cross the bridge over the River Nevis and follow the sign leading you uphill. This is where your path will begin zig-zagging up to the summit. Soon the snaking movement will become familiar as you creep higher up the mountain and the views expand further.

Much of the path is well laid out with stone steps offering direction and uphill momentum. As you climb you’ll begin to get above the treeline and out into open space. The first landmark appears when Loch Meall an t-Suidhe appears on a plateau just next to the path. This is known as the half-way lochan. Although the actual halfway mark is a little further up — where a waterfall (the upper Red Burn stream) intersects the path.

Continue climbing and notice the terrain become increasingly full of large rocks and boulders. Gone are the stone steps of the path and now you’re walking on natural gravel — large, loose rocks. Here poles can be of real help for anyone less steady on their feet or with weakened knees.

Above this is the boulder field. In good visibility, it’s easy to pick the route from cairn to cairn (a mound of stones from large to small). And the views are absolutely stunning! When the visibility is poor this is where you need to be cautious — stray too far off the path and you meet the gully’s or cliffs. Not something you want to meet by accident. Follow the other climbers and keep your eyes peeled for cairns. If you haven’t seen one in a while, stop and assess the situation. From this point on you may also encounter snow in the cooler months.

Just past the boulder field the ascent starts to flatten out and the summit is in sight. A large cairn marks the highest point. There’s also the remains of a 19th-century meteorological observatory. For almost 20 years it provided hourly meteorological data. Closed in 1904 it’s now used as an emergency shelter for climbers caught out when the weather turns.

Don’t hang around at the summit for too long — you’ll find your legs stiffen up as you cool in the high mountain air (and remember, you’ve still got the walk down). But do stop to enjoy the panoramic views which, on a good day, can offer you sights as far as Northern Ireland!

Carn Mor Dearg Arête

For the more experienced hiker, with plenty of scrambling experience, the Carn Mor Dearg Arête offers a challenging ridge climb.

Starting from the North Face car park near Tolundy follow the signs for the North Face trail. Choosing this route means you’ll encounter two Munros, the Carn Mor Dearg the Ben Nevis. You’ll pass the CIC Hut, a shelter for mountaineers, and enjoy stunning views of the ridgeline and Ben Nevis’ North Face.

This is a much longer, and more physically challenging hike that the Pony Trek and can take 10–11 hours to complete. So be sure make sure you’re comfortable with scrambling across large boulders and can handle heady heights as the route traverses some more exposed sections.

Other ways to experience Ben Nevis

• Rock Climbing: there are plenty of routes to choose from including the popular Ledge Route and Tower Ridge.
• Mountain Gondola: fancy seeing the views but not the climb? The UK’s only mountain gondola takes you along the north face of the Aonach Mor and offers views over Ben Nevis. Each gondola takes 6 people on this journey lasting about 12–15 minutes.

Looking for other adventures in the area?

If you fancy yourself something of a Harry Potter fan, the infamous Hogwarts Express passes over the Glenfinnan Viaduct twice a day and kicks up quite a steam. Read about my experience here.

Originally posted on Sage Adventures travel & wellness lifestyle blog: www.sageadventres.co.uk.