Climbing Ben Nevis: How To Summit The UK’s Highest Mountain

As the highest mountain in the UK, climbing Ben Nevis to stand atop its grand summit of 1,345 metres above sea level is high up many hikers’ to-do lists. However, the hike to conquer Scotland’s Ben Nevis is no easy feat, with a relentless and seemingly never-ending uphill trail to its often snowy peak. But, what makes the Ben Nevis hike in Scotland particularly user-friendly and super popular is the well-maintained mountain track that winds its way to the top.

In this guide, we’ll tell you a little about Ben Nevis Mountain and where to find it. We’ll then look at the Mountain Trail to summit Ben Nevis, plus give you a couple of other trail alternatives if you’re after a more hardcore hike. Afterwards, we’ll cover how to get to Ben Nevis, when the best time to hike is and where to stay. Lastly, we’ll delve into some other incredible hikes in the area and give you some ideas on what to pack and how to prepare.

Read our West Highland Hiking Itinerary for some excellent day hikes.

About Ben Nevis Mountain Range

Ben Nevis Mountain is part of a wider massif, consisting of four Munros above 1,200m. These include Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête, Aonach Beag and Aonach Mòr. As the highest mountain in the UK, Scotland’s Ben Nevis understandably attracts thousands of hikers each year. Indeed, some 130,000 adventurers are crowned as the highest person in the British Isles every year. And Dan and I were no different.

Still, despite the large number that scales this huge hulk each year, the vast majority will see the summit of Ben Nevis in the summer months. That’s because winter creates a very different landscape. The mountain is transformed into a winter playground of snowy peaks, deep gullies and epic ridgelines. As beautiful as this is, it’s strictly reserved for climbers with winter hiking know-how.

Where Is Ben Nevis?

Ben Nevis (Bheinn Nibheis) sits at the western end of the Grampian Mountain Range in the Scottish Highlands. The popular Highland town of Fort William lies in the shadow of the UK’s highest mountain, on the banks of Loch Linnhe. 

Ben Nevis Mountain Track

In this guide, we’ll describe the Ben Nevis Mountain Track. Truth be told, it wasn’t the route we’d planned on taking. We’d had our hearts set on the Carn Mor Dearg Arête route. But, injury dictated we’d choose a simpler route instead. Although, as we discovered, simpler doesn’t always equate to easier. On the contrary, the Ben Nevis Mountain Track is a continual ascent, with very little let-up. As the most walked route to the summit of the UK’s highest mountain, it’s a very commendable achievement for all that make it.

FYI – the Ben Nevis Mountain Track is sometimes known as the ‘tourist route’ or ‘pony track’.

Climbing Ben Nevis Overview

Climbing Ben Nevis involves a 16km hike with a rather meaty 1,320m elevation gain. It’s straight up and straight back down as you take in the delight of Loch Meall an t-Suidhe, the Red Burn River Waterfall and the surrounding Ben Nevis Mountain range.

Ben Nevis is in no way our favourite hike in the West Highlands of Scotland. That award goes to hikes like the Ring of Steall and Bidean Nam Bian. But still, it’s hard to look past reaching the summit of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain. To that end, we can’t recommend this hike highly enough. The rewards for your effort are more than justified. The views, should you be lucky enough, from the Ben Nevis summit are outstanding. Indeed, standing atop the cairn and for a brief moment being the highest person in the UK is a feeling which spurs every hiker to the top of this great mountain.

Despite the inevitable crowds on the mountain path, climbing to Ben Nevis is still a magnificent hiking experience. If anything, the easy-to-navigate trail will be a refreshing change to more challenging and technical routes you might take on in the West Highlands.

Ben Nevis Map & Hiking Preview

• Trail Type: Out & Back
• Distance: 16.3km
• Time: 5–7 hours
• Accumulated elevation gain: 1,320m
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Ben Nevis Visitor Centre Car Park
• Map: Wikiloc

Trail Description

As one of the most popular hikes in Scotland, if not the UK, the Ben Nevis Mountain Track can get pretty busy, pretty quickly. To that end, we recommend rocking up nice and early. Dan and I had our camp to pack up the morning we hiked and so it was closer to 9am when we arrived and were ready to set off. The car park was practically full and the trail teaming with intrepid hikers. Although fantastic to see so many people hiking, Dan and I much prefer a quieter trail. If you’re the same, try to arrive at the car park well before 8am.

Ben Nevis Hike

From the Ben Nevis Car Park, head to the Visitor Centre. Here, you’ll cross over the bridge to the left of the building. It crosses the River Nevis and continues on a trail to the right of the river as it begins to climb higher. 

Dan and I entered into the thick cloud that had been obscuring the view of Ben Nevis from the trailhead. But as we’d learned hiking in Scotland, often you can climb above this mist and that’s exactly what happened when climbing Ben Nevis. So, don’t always be put off by low cloud. As we came closer to reaching the top of this stone-stepped section, the mist began to clear. The cloud inversion was quite spectacular.

Loch Meall an t-Suidhe

Eventually, you’ll meet Loch Meall an t-Suidhe, also known as the halfway lochan. Though, as you’ll discover, that’s not quite true. Still, the views over Loch Meall an t-Suidhe are quite spectacular, as you follow the trail that climbs higher to the right of it. We spied a little tent on the shores of the loch and reckon you’d be hard-pushed to find a better wild camping spot for visiting Ben Nevis.

Crossing Red Burn (Allt Na n Urchaire)

After winding around Loch Meall an t-Suidhe, you’ll continue up the mountain in a southerly direction, soon reaching the Red Burn Waterfall. This is a pretty cascade trickling down the mountainside. It’s quite picturesque and a lovely attraction to break up the walk. After the Red Burn Waterfall is a series of endless switchbacks, often over scree, leading you ever closer to the summit of Ben Nevis.

Stick to the trail at all times (very easy to do so in good conditions). This helps to stop further erosion of the trail and means you don’t veer too far right towards the infamous Five Finger Gully. Sadly, this gully has been the site of many rescue operations due to climbers losing track of the trail in poor weather conditions and snow.

Ben Nevis Summit

The final summit push to conquer Ben Nevis can often involve snow. Although not much, Dan and I, along with all the other hikers, had a small but steep ascent to make across compact snow. It was slippery and a little gnarly. I chose not to think about returning back down this section. If it required a bum shuffle, a bum shuffle it would have to be. 

After the snow, there’s a straightforward trail across a rocky plateau to the summit. Be careful nearing the top as the trail passes rather closely to the Tower Gully edge on the left. If there’s snow around the edges, you should definitely not veer too close in case the snow is overhanging and creating false ground.

Ben Nevis Views

The views from the summit of Ben Nevis are far-reaching. Indeed, they make the effort of following the mountain path all worthwhile. The summit of Ben Nevis is a fairly vast plateau of rock. You’ll find the summit cairn and probably a queue of people waiting to climb on top for their chance to be the highest person in Britain, for a fleeting moment anyway. Dan and I were, of course, no different. We patiently joined the short queue of relieved and excited hikers, thrilled with the achievement. And quite rightly so.

Littered around the summit of Ben Nevis are many stone cairns and small windbreakers made with mountain rock. You’ll also spot the ruins of the old observatory that once was continuously crewed on top of Ben Nevis.

Now, it’s time for lunch with a view. To escape the crowds, head to the southern face of the summit for uninterrupted views of, well, most of the Highlands! After you’ve re-fuelled, it’s time for the much easier descent. You’ll be surprised how much quicker it is to descend the Ben Nevis Mountain Trail – you may even go down in half the time it took to climb up!

Then, it’s time for a well-earned rest. Or, the short trail to Steall Falls if you like to pack out your itinerary as much as we do. Surprisingly we managed a little speed hike to view this splendid waterfall in the afternoon sun. After all, when the weather is good in Scotland, you have to take advantage.

Other Ben Nevis Routes

There are a few different route options to take to hike to Ben Nevis. The main two options are the Mountain Trail (as described above) and The North Face Trail (Carn Mor Dearg Arête). The third less-known option is the Ledge Route.

Ben Nevis North Face (Carn Mor Dearg Arête)

The more challenging trail climbing Ben Nevis is via the North Face of the mountain along the Carn Mor Dearg Arête route (CMD). This 18.5km trail option, with a whopping 1,600m elevation gain, should only be walked by more experienced hikers. You can expect some tough scrambling along sections of this hike. But, it’s also a heck of a lot quieter than the Mountain Trail.

This spectacular trail climbs high up to Càrn Dearg Meadhonach and traverses the epic ridgeline to Càrn Mòr Dearg. From Càrn Mòr Dearg summit, the breathtaking curve of Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête is displayed, leading up to the huge bulk of Ben Nevis.

Admittedly, if it wasn’t for a knee injury that Dan was trying to manage carefully in order to complete our West Highlands hiking itinerary, this would have been our chosen ascent to Ben Nevis. It just looks far too awesome to miss. We will be back no doubt.

Ledge Route Ben Nevis

I’ve thrown in the Ledge Route as another alternative hiking option. It took me a while to differentiate between this and the Carn Mor Dearg Arête Route. Despite both routes scaling the north face of Ben Nevis, they are different trails. Like the Carn Mor Dearg Arête route, you’ll begin from The North Face Car Park and head up along the Allt a’ Mhuilinn River, all the way to the CIC hut. From here, the trail veers right and ascends a steep and open clifftop, before joining the usual Mountain Trail, and plenty of other hikers, on the final summit push.

Returning from the summit of Ben Nevis can be via the CMD route, for more incredible scrambling or by following the Mountain Trail back to Lochan Meall an t-Suidheand and then continuing straight on there to rejoin the North Face path back to the car park.

The Ledge Route involves some difficult scrambling and so should only be completed by those with good scrambling and mountain experience. Also, it’s not unusual for snow to be left in the gullies well into summer. If that is the case you will need specialist snow equipment, and the knowledge to use it. If you lack the experience to hike in the snow, please choose a different route, getting into difficulties on Ben Nevis due to lack of experience is all too commonplace.

It’s vitally important to have access to a GPS map on this route, to avoid straying onto parts of the route that are strictly for rock climbers only.

Ben Nevis Guided Walk

If you want to take on the challenge of climbing Ben Nevis and standing on the top of the UK’s highest mountain, but lack the experience to do so independently, then taking a guided walk is a great option to consider. Additionally, a guided walk to summit Ben Nevis is a great way to hike Ben Nevis in the winter, with an experienced guide to assist you all the way. You can click here for more information on Ben Nevis guided walks.

How to Get to Ben Nevis

Many people travel to hike Ben Nevis from various areas around Scotland, and even further afield. Below, we’ll cover a few of the more common route options.

Fort William to Ben Nevis

As the nearest town to Ben Nevis, climbing this fantastic mountain from Fort William is super straightforward. Basically, the car park at the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre is just a 5-minute drive away. Alternatively, you can walk to the trailhead directly from Fort William. This will likely take you about 30 minutes.

Glasgow to Ben Nevis

The drive time is around 3 hours and 110 miles (177km), following the A82 up to and through Glencoe before finishing in Fort William.

Edinburgh to Ben Nevis

The drive time from Edinburgh to Ben Nevis is 3.5 hours with a distance of around 150 miles (241km). Given the length of the hike climbing Ben Nevis, I wouldn’t recommend travelling to and from Edinburgh, or Glasgow for that matter, in a day. You might want to consider accommodation close to Ben Nevis.

Inverness to Ben Nevis

You can shoot straight down the banks of Loch Ness to reach Ben Nevis from Inverness. The drive will take you around 2 hours with a distance of 70 miles (112km).

Public transport is available to Fort William from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness. You can check the train timetables here.

As with much of the Scottish Highlands, the easiest way to get to Ben Nevis is with your own set of wheels. Of course, if you don’t have access to your own vehicle, then we recommend hiring something.

To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.

Nearest Airport to Ben Nevis

If travelling internationally, or from further south in the UK, where the drive up to Scotland seems a little bit far, then you’ll find the nearest airport to Ben Nevis and Fort William is Glasgow International Airport. Although, flying to Edinburgh is just as straightforward. From either of these city airports, you could consider the train up to Fort William, or hire a car, which would be much easier.

Ben Nevis Car Park

The car park at the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre is the most common choice for hikers. Here, you’ll find ample parking, which even includes spaces for coaches. This is a pay-and-display car park. We paid £6 ($7USD) to park for the day. But, there are toilets which are handy as you won’t find any on the trail. And, given how crowded this hike gets, you’re not likely to find many ‘private’ moments to go al fresco.

If you find the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre Car Park is full, you can try nearby Braveheart Car Park.

Ben Nevis Visitor Centre

Located at the car park, and the starting point for climbing Ben Nevis is the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre (sometimes called Glen Nevis Visitor Centre). This is a great place to pop into (by the way, entrance is free). Inside, you’ll find interesting short films and touchscreen information platforms.

More important, though, is the wealth of information available to ensure a safe hike up Ben Nevis. At the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre, you can find up-to-date resources on weather and trail conditions, as well as experienced staff to help with any questions or queries you might have.

If you have any questions in regards to climbing Ben Nevis, then you can always contact the Visitor Centre. Their details are as follows.

Email: info@highlifehighland.com

Phone: +441349 781401

When is the best Time to Climb Ben Nevis?

The best months for climbing Ben Nevis are during summer. These typically include May–September. But remember, it’s not unusual to still see snow at the summit of Ben Nevis within these months. Dan and I hiked at the end of June and although we had glorious weather, we still had to ascend, and then descend (not sure which was trickier) through compact snow near the top. 

The summer months also bring with them long hours of daylight and warmer weather. This means time is on your side and so the gruelling ascent can be broken up with plenty of breaks if you wish.

Additionally, summer brings with it more crowds, utilising the school holidays and small windows where the weather isn’t so wild. Although, in the Scottish Highlands those days can be few and far between. To beat the crowds, because they will come, try to set off as early as possible.

When Not to Climb Ben Nevis

For everyday hikers, please do not attempt to climb Ben Nevis in the snow or adverse weather conditions resulting in poor visibility. Specialist equipment, not to mention experience using it, is required for climbing Ben Nevis in the winter months. There have been too many stories of ill-prepared hikers and even Ben Nevis deaths from people setting off to scale Ben Nevis in shorts and trainers because the weather looked clear at the bottom but switched completely near the summit. Then, they’ve needed mountain rescue to help because they’d run into difficulty. In addition, even the most experienced hikers and mountaineers can encounter difficulties if the weather suddenly changes. 

Ben Nevis Weather

With all that being said, it’s vitally important to check the weather conditions before climbing Ben Nevis. As touched upon, mountain weather can and does change very quickly. You’ll want to be prepared for any changes or plan your hike to avoid them. But, as Dan and I experienced, sometimes you hit the jackpot with Scottish weather and have wall-to-wall sunshine.

For mountain weather information you can check the MET forecast here, or alternatively, the mountain forecast here.

Accommodation For Ben Nevis

As one of Scotland’s most popular holiday destinations, there’s no shortage of accommodation options for hiking Ben Nevis. Below, we’ll take a look at the best budget, mid-range and luxury hotels, before touching on some camping options.

Ben Nevis Hotels

• Budget – Ben Nevis Youth Hostel: the Ben Nevis Hostel (Glen Nevis Youth Hostel) has managed to maintain very reasonable room rates despite the ever-growing popularity of climbing Ben Nevis. Additionally, the Ben Nevis Youth Hostel commands an excellent position at the foothills of the mountain, even offering guests an alternative trailhead. You can opt for private or shared dorm rooms and a cooked breakfast is provided should you wish. A great way to fuel up before climbing Ben Nevis don’t you think?
• Mid-range – Glenlochy Nevis Bridge Apartments: for a little home away from home, the Glenlochy Nevis Bridge Apartments come highly rated. Offering guests excellent facilities, the accommodation is in a great location if you need any additional amenities in town. As a total bonus, the apartments have outstanding Wifi too.
• Luxury –  Inverlochy Castle Hotel: if you want to spend the night like a Scottish Laird, then you can’t look past Inverlochy Castle Hotel. This picturesque castle is nestled in beautiful Highland countryside, with an award-winning restaurant on site too.

Ben Nevis Camping

If you’re anything like Dan and I, then a spot of camping will feel as much a part of your Highlands adventures as the hiking does. To that end, we’ve rounded up a couple of the best campsites in the area.

Dan and I stayed at the Ben Nevis Holiday Park. This campground has fantastic views of the surrounding Highlands, including views of, you guessed it – Ben Nevis. In fact, it’s a very convenient location to stay at for climbing Ben Nevis. The facilities and amenities were excellent.

Alternatively, you can find Glen Nevis Caravan & Camping even closer to the trailhead. Also, if you have a camper, it’s possible to overnight park next to the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre. You can find the location here.

Otherwise, check out these other awesome campsites near Ben Nevis.

Wild Camping Scotland

As with most of Scotland, wild camping is permitted in unenclosed areas. However, campers need to follow a standard set of guidelines. These include respecting the countryside and staying safe. Read here for more information on wild camping in Scotland.

Facts About Ben Nevis

• Ben Nevis Observatory: there are remains of an old observatory at the summit of Ben Nevis. This was in service between 1883 and 1904.
• How many hikers??: an estimated 130,000 hikers take on the climb to Ben Nevis every year! At least two-thirds of these will walk the Ben Nevis Mountain Trail.
• Volcano history: the summit of Ben Nevis is the collapsed dome of an ancient volcano. Don’t worry, there’s no danger of any eruptions. Ben Nevis, or the volcano that was, is long since extinct. Its shape has been formed by glaciation.
• Ben Nevis meaning: the name Ben Nevis is thought to mean ‘venomous mountain’ in old Gaelic. Likely because of the harsh weather around the mountain summit.
• Intrepid climbers: the first ascent of Ben Nevis was recorded in 1774 by John Williams.
• The UK’s highest mountain accolade: in 1847, Ben Nevis was formerly awarded the status of the UK’s highest mountain.

FAQs

Can Beginners Climb Ben Nevis?

As long as you choose to hike the Mountain Trail, climbing Ben Nevis is certainly doable for beginners. But, you’ll need a fair level of fitness, stamina and some basic hiking gear. Oh, and of course, you’ll need to bring a sense of adventure too!

Can Dogs Climb Ben Nevis?

Absolutely. You can’t very well be climbing Ben Nevis without your favourite hiking buddy. But with that being said, due to how busy the trail to hike Ben Nevis gets, it’s important to keep your doggo on a lead so as not to impede your fellow hikers. Also, the higher sections of the trail can involve loose scree in parts, which your dog might find challenging and hard on the paws. It’s also tiring, but four legs are better than the two we have. But, only you know your dog’s ability.

Is Climbing Ben Nevis Safe?

Yes, as long as you’re prepared, climbing Ben Nevis can be quite safe and you needn’t worry about this hike, just enjoy it. Being prepared involves dressing and packing correctly, checking the weather, choosing the correct trail and knowing your own fitness levels and limitations.

How Hard Is It to Climb Ben Nevis?

The Mountain Trail to Ben Nevis is a straightforward path to the summit of the UK’s highest mountain. The trail isn’t technical, but, it’s demanding. So, we class climbing Ben Nevis as moderate difficulty.

How Long Does It Take to Climb Ben Nevis?

This very much depends on individual physical fitness and how much time you spend resting/enjoying the views. But, you can expect the hike to take anywhere between 5–9 hours.

How High Is Ben Nevis?

Ben Nevis stands at 1,345 metres above sea level and is the UK’s highest mountain. You can also find Britain’s highest waterfall in Scotland too – Eas a Chual Aluinn.

Other Things to Do in the Area

• Ben Nevis Distillery: you can’t well visit Scotland without a trip to a distillery. A quick wee dram is certainly called for after a mega hike like Ben Nevis. Why not call into the Ben Nevis Distillery for a little hiking downtime?
• Ben Nevis Cable Car: the Nevis Range Gondola is the only mountain gondola in the UK and transports visitors 650m up the face of Aonach Mòr, the 8th highest mountain in Britain. In summer weather, hikers can access beautiful walks to Sgurr Finnisg-aig and Meall Beag from the top gondola station.
• Glenfinnan Viaduct: for all you Harry Potter fans, you’ll find the famous train line of the Hogwarts Express is not too far from Ben Nevis and Fort William. The steam train passes over the Glenfinnan Viaduct once or twice a day, so pull up a seat and enjoy the views. You can find the viewpoint here.
• Great Glen Cycle Route: if you’re a fan of cycling, then you should check out the Great Glen Cycle Route. The trail runs from Fort William to Inverness and is certainly gaining in popularity.

Other Hikes Nearby

Of course, Ben Nevis might be the UK’s highest mountain, but it isn’t the only incredible hike to do in the area. We’ll take a look at some other incredible trails to consider whilst exploring Glen Nevis.

• Steall Falls: located a short distance to the south of Ben Nevis Mountain is the beautiful Steall Falls. Dan and I actually took on this short hike after completing the Ben Nevis Mountain Trail as the weather was so good. Because, you know, if the weather’s good in Scotland, you just have to crack on.
• Ring of Steall: easily one of the most jaw-dropping and challenging hikes in the Highlands. The Ring of Steall summits four Munros in one outrageously enjoyable full-day hike. In many ways, this hike is much better than the out-and-back to summit Ben Nevis.
• Bidean Nam Bian: one of our favourite Highland hikes! Bidean Nam Bian has incredible views of Glencoe, even as far as Ben Nevis on a clear day. To be expected being so close to the UK’s highest mountain I suppose.

Ben Nevis Challenges

It makes sense that the UK’s highest mountain would be incorporated into many a challenge, whether for charity or just personal achievement. These include the Three Peaks Challenge and the Ben Nevis Ultra.

Three Peaks Challenge

The famous Three Peaks Challenge in the UK involves climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales, all within a 24-hour period. They are the tallest peaks in their respective countries, not the three highest mountains in the UK. It’s very popular as a fundraising charity event. You can find more information here.

Ben Nevis Ultra

The Ben Nevis Ultra is one hardcore ultra marathon for truly the fittest and hardiest amongst us! The 52km course involves 4,000m of elevation gain (I feel tired just reading that!) If you’re interested in something truly superhuman, then click here for more information.

Five Hiking Essentials

These are our five hiking gear essentials for climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland! You should also pack lunch, at least 2–3L water, snacks and sunscreen.

To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.

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