At a height of 1345m, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain. Affectionately known as “The Ben” by local people, it sits within the Ben Nevis and Glencoe National Scenic Area, with large parts of the Ben and Glen Nevis designated as SSSI.
With the first recorded ascent by botanist James Robertson in 1771, today, due to its iconic status and proximity to the Highland town of Fort William, Ben Nevis attracts more than 150 000 people to climb the summit every year.
Climbing Ben Nevis
As well as its height, Ben Nevis presents a challenge to Three Peaks participants due to navigation risks, including high cliffs off the edge of the summit plateau, and steep and dangerous gulleys that are close to the main track. Take care with your navigation and be sure to stick to the main trail. For further information and advice on the climb please see the Nevis Landscape Partnership website.
The total distance to the summit and return is 16km (10 miles) and normally takes 6 – 8 hours to complete.
The route
The Mountain Track is the most commonly used route up Ben Nevis and starts from the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre car park in Glen Nevis. An alternative path runs from the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel which joins the Visitor Centre Path after less than 1 Km. While there are other routes up the Ben from the north, they all require high levels of technical ability, including climbing, scrambling and navigation, and should not be attempted without these skills. Even the commonly used Mountain Track is a demanding route.
The unrelenting climb starts close to sea level and is taking you to the highest point in the UK, so make sure you have an appropriate level of fitness, as well as appropriate clothing, footwear, and food and water supplies. The weather on the summit can be as much as 10 degrees cooler than at the base, and there are only a few days in the year when the Ben is seen without its “Hat”. Visibility on the summit plateau can often be poor, with dangerous gulleys and cliffs around, so it is recommended that you have a compass and map with you and know how to use them
The Ben with its “Hat”
The Ben Nevis Visitor Centre has a car park and toilets, as well as providing information and resources to support your climb of The Ben. A mountain weather forecast for the day can be accessed in the centre, as well as helpful staff who can offer advice.
There is a charge for using the car park, which has space for approximately 80 cars and 4 coaches.
Alternatively, a bus service runs from Fort William town centre to Glen Nevis, which will drop you at the Visitor Centre or Youth Hostel.
During the spring and summer, Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis get extremely busy with visitors. If you want to park in the VC car park, we recommend you arrive early. If the car park is full, please do not park along road verges or in passing places as this causes disruption for local residents and other visitors. The least impactful method of visiting the Ben is to park in town and use the bus service.
The summit of Ben Nevis is a delicate environment, visited by an extremely high number of climbers each year. There are no bins or toilets on Ben Nevis, so please ensure you have provisions to take ALL of your litter and waste home and Leave No Trace on the mountain.
More information can be found in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code on how you can create as little impact on the Scottish landscape as possible. Mountaineering Scotland provides additional advice on toileting in the mountains. Due to the impact from a high number of visitors, we ask that you leave no human waste on the Ben and follow the advice on packing out.