Ben Nevis is famous for being Britain's highest mountain, but notorious for being Britain's highest rubbish dump.
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The dramatic effect of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, is emphasised by the fact that it begins its rise from sea-level on the shores of Loch Linnhe, to tower 4,406ft (1,344m) above the town of Fort William, providing an almost paternal presence.
Ben Nevis' peak is over 4,000ft above sea level.It is the tallest mountain across the British Isles, beating the next tallest, Ben Macdui, by around 100ft. It is the tallest peak anywhere for 700km, crossing the North Sea to the west coast of Norway (Melderskin).
Every year over 100,000 people reach the summit, which stands at 1,345m (4,413ft) tall. Climbing Ben Nevis provides incredible views across the surrounding countryside as you tower high above the lochs and Munro's (mountains in Scotland with a height of over 3,000 feet).
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.
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.
There are no toilets on the mountain, the only access you have to toilets is at the Ben Nevis Visitors center. The opening hours of these change during the year so it is worth checking with them if you have any questions.
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.
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!
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.
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.
How many miles is the ascent? The walk to the top of Ben Nevis is around four miles (about eight and a half to get up and back down). We'd always recommend taking the same route for your descent.
How hard is it to walk Ben Nevis? Most beginner to intermediate hikers would classify Ben Nevis as hard. It's certainly not something to take on without any preparation, but it's completely doable as an amazing challenge!