Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain, is usually hiked via the Mountain Track, tho its dramatic North Face offers more adventures for scramblers and climbers.

Ben Nevis

Height	1345m
Prominence	1345m
Meaning	mountain of venom/with head in clouds
Lists	Munros (M1)
Location	Lochaber, Loch Linnhie to Loch Ericht
Grid Ref	NN167712
Lat/Lon	56.79676, -5.00429
Munro tops	Càrn Dearg (1221m) Càrn Dearg (1020m)

Ben Nevis is a vast mountain of two halves. Most people will first experience Ben Nevis viewed from the south or west in Glen Nevis, where it appears as a huge convex dome. Around the other, north-east side, Ben Nevis is a grand and complex mountain with massive cliffs.

The routes to Ben Nevis's summit are numerous. The obvious choice for most visitors is the Mountain Track, which heads up a gentle incline from Glen Nevis, twisting and turning as it climbs.

For the more adventurous hillwalker, Ben Nevis is connected to its eastern neighbour, Càrn Mòr Dearg via the fabulous Càrn Mòr Dearg arete (often referred to as the CMD arete) and this makes for a fine introduction to rock-scrambling in Scotland. This route can be stretched to include the Munro summits of Aonach Mòr and Aonach Beag, together referred to as the Lochaber 4000s.

Ledge Route is one of the easier routes up the North Face of Ben Nevis (a Grade 1 summer scramble), but there a many other routes up this face, with Tower Ridge gaining the reputation as the classic climb.

The John Muir Trust, who own the summit of Ben Nevis, and the Nevis Landscape Partnership look after the mountain, maintaining paths, conserving and enhancing the area. If you see litter when you're hiking up the Mountain Path, help look after the mountain and pick it up - there's the annual Real 3 Peaks Challenge organising litter pick on Ben Nevis (and Snowdon and Scafell Pike too).

The mountain sees more than its fair share of injuries and it is covered by the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, perhaps if you're hiking up the Mountain Track, deposit a few coins at the visitor centre in Glen Nevis.

Routes up Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis via the Mountain Track
	Hillwalking route up Ben Nevis via the Mountain Track, a zig-zagging path to the UK’s highest summit. Straightforward but never underestimate weather ! Peaks : 1 Munro Ascent : 1340m (4400ft) Distance : 16km (10m) Time : 6:15hr

Ben Nevis and CMD arete hiking route
	Hillwalking route up Ben Nevis via the Càrn Mòr Dearg arête, a superb scramble with stunning views of the North Face and two fine Munro summits. Peaks : 2 Munros Ascent : 1520m (4990ft) Distance : 16km (10m) Time : 6:30hr

Lochaber 4000s
	Hillwalking route up Ben Nevis, Càrn Mòr Dearg and the Aonachs in one epic day. High ridges, easy scrambling and vast Highland views await. Peaks : 4 Munros Ascent : 2220m (7280ft) Distance : 20km (12m) Time : 8:45hr

Ben Nevis, Lochaber 4000s and Grey Corries hiking route
	Hillwalking route over Ben Nevis, the Lochaber 4000s and Grey Corries, a long challenge of high plateaux and ridges, ideal Tranter Round training. Peaks : 8 Munros Ascent : 3200m (10500ft) Distance : 32km (20m) Time : 13:30hr