Can you walk Ben Nevis without a guide?

The simple answer is; “it depends”. Which I realise, is not simple at all. The answers which you see on the discussions about if you need a guide for Ben Nevis, range from “absolutely; never go without one!” to “I did it crawling on my back in an hour and half, hungover, you'll be fine”.



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You need to be reasonably fit before you consider making the ascent, and we wouldn't recommend a Ben Nevis walk for beginners. However, there is a path up Ben Nevis, and you won't need to do any scrambling.

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The ordinary route up Ben Nevis, the 'Mountain Path' (also known as the 'Pony Track' and, misleadingly, the 'Tourist Path') is a technically easy path as these things go. Someone with a reasonable level of walking fitness should be able to ascend in 4-5 hours and descend in a further 2-3 hours.

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Ben Nevis is purportedly the hardest mountain (and highest peak) of the Three Peaks Challenge. That's why people tend to do it first if they're taking the 24 hour challenge.

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The Gondola transports visitors from 100m to 650m up the mountain and takes approximately 15 minutes each way. The Doppelmayr Gondola system comprises of 80 six seat closed cabins running on a continuous 4.6km steel cable weighing 40 tonnes.

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How fit do you have to be to do Ben Nevis? Ben Nevis might not be Everest, but it's no joke. Don't forget, this is the highest point of the entire British Isles. You'll need good cardio fitness to keep walking uphill for 6+ hours, and strong legs, core, and upper body to carry your stuff.

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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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Can a 60 year old climb Ben Nevis? Take your time and he'll do ok. Go up the tourist path with him. There's room for two abreast on the lower section where someone could stay on his outside.

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

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The gondola is accessible to visitors with disabilities, with a wheelchair ramp to allow chairs up to 60cm wide onto the Gondola. Facilities and Services: Nevis Range has a range of facilities and services that are designed to be accessible to visitors with disabilities.

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How many people attempt to climb Ben Nevis every year? Every year, over 150,000 people from all over the world, make their attempt to climb to the top and summit this majestic mountain. With the summit being 1,345m above sea level, it's a climb that will test your abilities, strength and endurance.

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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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The system spans 2.3km of the hillside from the base station at 100m to the top station at 650m. Does the Gondola take me up Ben Nevis? You'll see Ben Nevis from our Mountain – the Gondola is located on Aonach Mor, Scotland's eighth highest mountain.

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