Is climbing Ben Nevis an achievement?

Climbing to the top of Ben Nevis is a fantastic achievement – stamina and determination are a must on this challenging trek, but the stunning views of the highlands will be with you from start to finish and will provide a fantastic backdrop to this popular UK trekking challenge!



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What grade is Ben Nevis? Based on the hiking trail rating system, the Mountain Path mostly consists of Class 1 hiking, which means that without snow, it will deliver straightforward hiking, usually on a well-maintained and well-marked trail. You will gain elevation, but you won't require technical equipment to do it.

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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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This mountain has its own living breathing environment, which should never be taken for granted. Since 1849 there have been over 100 fatalities that have been recorded. The number of fatalities could be higher than those that are known, as there may be lone climbers that were never reported as lost on the mountain.

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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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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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The first thing to know is that there are two routes up and down Ben Nevis – the Mountain Track (or Tourist Track) and the Carn Mor Dearg Arête which is typically tackled by more experienced climbers. The Mountain Track is doable as a beginner if you have generally good fitness and go prepared for the conditions.

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

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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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The North Face of the mountain offers the greatest challenges of all. The Ledge route is a non-climbing route, but it still has some sections of grade 1 scrambles. You may encounter pockets of snow even in early summer, so it's best to have some knowledge of using ice axes and crampons.

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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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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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If you've ever watched an Everest summit documentary you'll have been made aware of 'Altitude Sickness'. Here in the UK altitude sickness isn't really 'a thing' because the UK's highest mountain (Ben Nevis, Scotland) is 1,340 meters high.

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You can drink from the streams but the water is not tested and there is no guarantee of its purity. Just remember that some days there are over 1000 people on the mountain and there are no toilet facilities. To be safe take bottled water, at least 2 litres per person on a sunny day.

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I would not ever recommend doing Ben Nevin alone. You may think that as there is a good path to the summit, then you will not get lost but unless you have very good map reading skills and the ability to use a compass competently, the risk is there during bad weather.

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The classic ridges of Ben Nevis are Castle ridge, Tower ridge, North East Buttress and Observatory Ridge. Although all of these routes are classed as rock climbing, there is a large proportion of the ground which is considered scrambling and only a very short section of climbing.

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Take a warm hat and waterproof gloves (spare gloves are also recommended) even on the dry sunny days. Remember the air is much colder on top and it feels even colder if it is wet and windy.

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