Can a novice climb Ben Nevis?

While some trails (The North Face) require specialist knowledge and mountaineering experience, other trails (The Mountain Track) provide more accessible routes to the top. We wouldn't recommend novices take on the harder tracks, but they certainly are able to make it the stunning views atop Ben Nevis.



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Novice walkers – 6+ hours Hikers attempting Ben Nevis who perhaps don't go on big walks particularly often. By no means an athlete, but reasonably fit enough to scale the peak at their own pace with plenty of room for breaks along the way.

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Climbing Ben Nevis is the equivalent of climbing about 6,725 steps or nearly 700 flights of stairs, so you need to be relatively fit and have the appropriate clothing. It is also worth noting that some people believe coming down is just as hard as going up. The biggest factor that affects the difficulty is the weather.

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If you are not very active or are very unfit, we would recommend asking yourself if you're able to do an 8+ hour roundtrip hike safely before setting out. If the answer's yes, then please just ensure you follow all the advice at the end of this post on important things to do and know before you climb Ben Nevis.

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Yes. That's the short answer. I had a relatively straightforward (albeit it tiring) hike with my 7 year old to the summit of Ben Nevis. Of course, there are plenty of variables and things to consider.

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Toilet issues Please be discreet with your need to go to the toilet. If at all possible try not leaving excreta on the mountain. There are public toilets at the Glen Nevis visitor centre.

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How long does the walk take? An average time to the summit and back is 7 – 8 hours. Walkers fit enough to try to climb The Three Peaks in 24 hours need to take 5 hours or less. The winner of The Ben Race each September gets to the summit and back in around 90 minutes.

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Of the 3 both me and the wife found scafell the easiest. Nav would be harder than snowdon if it came in but i really enjoyed it.

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Climbing Ben Nevis is free. There is, however, a charge to use the car park at the Glen Nevis Visitor Center, currently, £ 4 per car and £ 10 per minibus / motorhome / coach, per day.

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Be safe on Ben Nevis ! During the winter the mountain is cloaked in snow and ice and in these conditions only mountaineers equipped with ice axes and crampons should attempt the ascent. Winter conditions can occur from October to May.

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Attempting to climb Ben Nevis without adequate protection, including waterproofs and warm clothing, could result in hypothermia and possibly death.

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You will have incredible views of the north face of Ben Nevis the whole way. Although it is only a Grade 1 scramble, the ridgeline is very exposed. Skip to about 3:35 in the video to get a feel for it! You should be comfortable walking on loose boulders with a drop either side.

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Experience this 9.9-mile out-and-back trail near Fort William, Highlands. Generally considered a challenging route. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

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