The path is wide, well made and clearly marked with wooden signposts down here. With nearly 120 years of climbing history, ground breaking routes and legendary stories of bravery on the cliffs throughout, the mountain is steeped in history. You will see Carn Beag Dearg rising up on your left and the CMD in the distance ahead, leading up to Ben Nevis. You should have a view out over the lochan (which is essentially a Scottish tarn) to your left as the path curves round the top of the gully and back on the ascent up Ben Nevis. On a clear day, you can enjoy views across the whole of the Scottish Highlands. September is possibly the best time to do Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in both Scotland and the British Isles. 2½ - 3½ hours. Distance to the Top: 9km (5.5 miles) Ascent: 1280m (4200ft) Rough … If you want to climb Ben Nevis, there are three main routes people take. We are expecting to start climbing to The summit at 2pm, will We be able to come back till dark... where is the best place to start the walk after parking the car is it ben nevis inn. It’s known as the CMD Arete, or even just the CMD for short, because let’s face it – it’s pretty hard for most of us to pronounce Scottish place names convincingly! The experience in each of the seasons will be quite different ! However, since we don’t want to do any rock climbing, avoid Number Five and make your way onto the ridgeline. Arrive the night before you attempt to complete the Climb Ben Nevis Challenge, and relax knowing that you won’t have far to go after the challenge is done. But that’s probably a bit nuts and you might not have time left before it gets dark. And it's a long slog, about 5-6 hours. Zoom in to see updated info. By far the most common route up Ben Nevis is the Mountain Track. If you lose your bearings on the summit, head from the trig to the stone pillar and head left along the edge of the gully. In July, 8am is a good time - 7am is better. Furthermore, in November the days are pretty short - much shorter in Scotland than they are in London - so it unlikely you will be able to complete the walk in daylight - so take a good torch and get some practice walking in the hills in the dark. weather conditions. Height Gained – 1300 metres, Distance – 8 km, Time –4-5 hours – ONE WAY ONLY. The main route up the UK’s highest peak is long, dull and monotonous. invites and other weird and wonderful stuff. We pushed through the psychological “wall" a couple of times and kept going by reminding each other of why we were doing it and what it meant to our supporters and the BHF. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. Pic 6 – Lochain Meall an t-Suidhe, “the halfway lochain”. Is this a good time of year to do it? However, if you’re interested in winter mountains, check out How to Stay Safe in the UK’s Winter Mountains or better still sign up to Climb Ben Nevis in Winter. How to Stay Safe in the UK’s Winter Mountains, Scrambling in the UK | A Quick Adventure Guide, How to See the Northern Lights in Iceland | A Guide, 14 Adventures to Fuel Your New Year's Resolutions, Dust off the Wanderlust: 11 New Adventures for 2021. At this point, there is a right hand turn that takes you on a good path back down to the North Face carpark. We’re your starting point, but from here it’s up to you to find out the details of the route and get yourself there and back safely. Ready to reach Ben Nevis? Map updates are paused. A glen is essentially a valley with a river running down it, so funnily enough the River Nevis runs below Ben Nevis. We also had a v experienced climbing group, fully equipped for any weather. This is what this article is about: helping you to choose a route, plan your trip, and reach the summit of Ben … Distance to the Top: 6.5 km (4 miles)Ascent: 1300m (4275ft)Rough Time to the Top: 4 hoursFlavour: Wholesome. Cross the road and then a wooden bridge over the River Nevis. Take the right kit, don't do it in plimsolls like I did, I'm sure you will be fine. Extra Layers (Warm Clothes) Waterproof/Windproof Jacket. Whatever you call it, this is the easiest route up Ben Nevis – but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Also be aware that it is a strenuous climb and decent (we thought that the decent was tougher on the legs), ensure that you've got a "tough" 10 year old! Climbing Ben Nevis is relatively easy if you take the tourist footpath in summer. I emailed the hotel I was staying at (The Lime Tree) and asked for a recommendation.. Descending Ben Nevis in summer generally takes around 2½ hours to 3½ hours. more. We started our climb at 9 am. It’s the same grade of scrambling as the CMD Arete and is technically a more direct route to the summit from the North Face. One for a nice day! All the time you’re still plodding relentlessly uphill. At this junction, head right and continue curving round and ever up the hill in front of you. Start from Glen Nevis Youth Hostel. I have climbed as early as Feb and as late as Oct and would say Sept is the best month. Very hard going, shale most of way, wear walking boots not trainers etc, make sure u take wet weather gear also, the weather can change in an instant. The first ascent of the Ben's first recorded route, … Good luck. The route up Ben Nevis is longer than the Mountain Path and can be made into a long horseshoe shaped walk if you want. And the winter ascents, during November to April. It is a short walk between the summits of CDM and CMD. Ben Nevis via the Ledge Route. Plus, the Ledge Route is considered a one way route by almost everyone. Climbing Ben Nevis when there is snow on the ground or the weather is less than ideal is an entirely different ball game and you should allow up to 8 hours (or more) for the ascent. September is possibly the best time to do Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis can be explored during winter or summer. I have climbed as early as Feb and as late as Oct and would say Sept is the best month. This will take you across the lower slopes of CBD and then up to the summit of Carn Dearg Meadhonach. Ben Nevis, although not as high as the mountains in the Himalayas does get snow on the top during the winter months. You really need local knowledge based on the forecast at the time. Obviously it will be cooler in September, just make sure you dress in layers. Suncream – Yep, i’m not joking. Park at the North Face carpark on the north side of Ben Nevis. For routes up Ben Nevis see h100 Ben Nevis via The Tourist Path from Achintee, Fort William It’s a little longer, but less steep. Ben Nevis, in Fort William, Scotland, is the highest mountain in the UK, standing tall at 1,345m. Most of the ice has melted by this point, the weather is calmer and you have much better visibility. Distance to the Top: 9km (5.5 miles)Ascent: 1280m (4200ft)Rough Time to the Top: 3 hours at leastFlavour: Sweet and Sour. You’re comparing it to scrambles and climbs. Everything you need to know to cheat in a pub quiz about Annapurna I - the deadliest mountain in the world, on the Annapurna massif in the Himalayas. Ben Nevis from Glen Nevis. You must be prepared to turn back if necessary and leave it for another day. It’s been estimated that over 150,000 people climb Ben Nevis every year, and most people take the recommended Tourist Path (also known as the Ben Nevis Mountain Track or Pony Track) and climb between the months of May and October. There is a nice big cairn (abseil point) at the end of the CMD. At first, we found the path easy, and steadily climbing we left the glen behind. There is a good balance between weather and congestion (yes the mountain can get busy). This is yet another scramble, this time climbing Ben Nevis via the Ledge Route on the North Face and up to Carn Dearg (1221) and along to the summit. Alternatively, if you’re having a very good day, you could complete a horseshoe by descending via the CMD Arete. No routes up Ben Nevis tick that box, so they decided the route needed some rebranding. To begin with, if you have fair skin you might want to consider bringing sun cream and sunglasses to avoid getting burned or dazzled by the sun. Ben Nevis is located in the Scottish Highlands, close to the town of Fort William. Startearly. Your best route of descent is probably back the way you came. The navigation is generally very easy and the weather conditions are just like Ben Nevis and Snowdon. There is a good balance between weather and congestion (yes the mountain can get busy). Go to the visitors’ centre for up to date information. It has a summit of 1,345 metres (4,413 ft) above sea level. The top trig point and observatory is just to the left of the last cairn. The CMD arete is a narrow, rocky ridge that curves down from Carn Mor Dearg and then up to Ben Nevis. Here’s the dangerous bit in poor weather: it’s very easy to wander off the edge of a cliff to your right. There are loads of climbing routes that top out on this cliff, so little paths might not always lead you in the direction you’re hoping! ! Do not rely on them as your sole form of navigation in the mountains. Pick up the good path beside the river (on the east side) and follow it for several kilometres into the bowl of the mountains, between Ben Nevis and the Carns. So factor this in when planning your trip. Going between June-September will severely reduce your risk of extreme weather conditions. You should be ok if the weather's good. When to Walk and How Long will it Take? We get that it’s hard work coming up with original names for mountains, but seriously guys? It is also possible to do the CMD from the ski centre carpark and cut across to the main path. Finally, the path approaches the plateau – you’re still going uphill, but by comparison it’s flat! Thousands of people climb the UK’s highest mountain every year on a number of different routes. You should be comfortable walking on loose boulders with a drop either side. Skip to about 3:35 in the video to get a feel for it! An alternative would be to descend down the Mountain Path until the lochan. Home schooling? The Novice Walker should not attempt to walk up Ben Nevis between November and May, or during bad or cloudy weather. Alternatively, you can continue below Carn Beag Dearg until a boggy path cuts off left. Possible if the North Face carpark is shut, but a bit out of your way really. This is the hill visible from the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre, often mistaken for Ben Nevis itself! So, is it easy to climb Ben Nevis? When we got to the top the weather was atrocious and I got quite cold so we put up an emergency shelter. If you want something a little more hands on and exciting than the Mountain Path, then the Carn Mor Dearg Arete might be the route for you. When is the best time to walk up Ben Nevis. The perfect time to enjoy the spectacular views from the peak! Get weekly inspiration, positive stories, exclusive community It goes without saying that it’s also the highest mountain in Scotland and therefore one of the mountains in the famous Three Peaks Challenge. It’s the best preparation in England for Ben Nevis, so if it’s your local mountain you’ve got an ideal practice ground ahead of climbing Ben Nevis. Head up to where the contouring path from Achintee House meets the one you’re on. I know it’s none of my business, but I can’t help wondering why your son isn’t in school mid-September? The maps we’ve embedded are only a rough outline too. The route used to climb Ben Nevis is the Mountain Track. Follow your bearing or, on a clear day, the line of cairns up to the summit. What training do you need to do to climb Ben Nevis? The average time taken to climb Ben Nevis is 7-9 hours, with the climb to the top taking around 4 hours, and the return 3 hours. The highest mountain in the UK is Ben Nevis, in Scotland, clocking in at 1345m above sea level. The best time to go is in the summer - July, when it's sunny.The midges are not usually too bad on Ben Nevis itself but they canbe horrific on the lower slopes, better add insect repellent tothat list!Start the walk at the Youth Hostel in Glen Nevis. Regardless of whether you’re taking on the Three Peaks Challenge, it’s great to have that I’m-the-king-of-the-castle feeling of standing ontop of the highest point in the area, surveying your kingdom below you… I mean, the view. Either take the Mountain Path and turn at the lochan (as described in the CMD Route) or take it the whole way down into Glen Nevis. Climbing Ben Nevis: Finding a Guide. Hi there, that's hard for me to answer as the only time I've climbed it has been in August. A big day out, but one you’ll certainly remember. We’ll provide you with two nights of accommodation with breakfast included at a hostel in the heart of the Grampians. It’s far safer to take a bearing (there’s a reason the bearings are even printed on the Ben Nevis map). Although can you really call it a rhyme if it’s the same word? From here, walk south until you join up with the Mountain Path and follow it up to the summit of Ben Nevis. The weather conditions can include strong winds, freezing temperatures and thick snow. There's a lot to choose from, so we've listed some of the best hikes in Scotland, from the West Highland Way to Ben Nevis. Your scramble route tops out on Carn Dearg (meaning “Red Cairn” in Gaellic). 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