Climbing Ben Nevis: Everything You Need to Know
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Wondering how difficult it is to climb Ben Nevis? It is easy to be given a false sense of security from the (globally) modest 1,345 metre height.
I must admit, before climbing it myself, I thought of it more as a hill than a mountain.
However, the hike is harder than you think. You start close to sea level and climb 1,200 metres up and down.
I had lots of questions before attempting the hike and struggled to find the answers. Having now hiked several of the routes up Ben Nevis I have put together this guide to help you plan your trip.
How High Is Ben Nevis?
Ben Nevis is 1,345 metres or 4,413 feet high.
Is There a Fee for Climbing Ben Nevis?
Climbing Ben Nevis is free. However, you have to pay for parking.
Is Ben Nevis Difficult to Climb?
There is no easy way to climb Ben Nevis, but some routes are less challenging than others.
The quickest and easiest route is called the Mountain or Pony Track. It starts at the Ben Nevis Visitors’ Centre or the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel.
It takes 7 hours, and you climb 1,200 metres up and down. For safety you should carry a backpack with a few kilograms of gear which means that you must be in reasonable shape.
Having said that, my 70-year-old mum climbed Ben Nevis last year using this route. She is fit for her age and is used to walking in the mountains, but this route should be suitable for most people with average fitness.
Any of the other routes should only be contemplated by fit and experienced hikers. Some routes require a guide.
My favourite route is the ridge route over CMD Arete (described below).
Can Beginners Climb Ben Nevis?
Beginners can climb Ben Nevis using the Mountain Track. You need a reasonable level of fitness and should be able to carry a backpack weighing 3-4 kg.
It is important to attempt the summit on a day where good weather is forecast. However, come prepared for cold weather, wind and rain regardless of the weather forecast.
Read the section below on what to bring with you on the hike. I was surprised how ill-prepared many hikers were on the Mountain Track.
They were badly dressed and had no backpacks with extra clothes, food and water. If the weather had turned they would have easily got into difficulty. If in doubt get a local guide.
How Long Does It Take to Summit Ben Nevis?
How long it takes depends on the route you choose, but most routes take 7-9 hours.
The Mountain Track is the shortest route and takes around 7 hours.
For each route detailed below I have included how long it should take to summit.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Climb Ben Nevis?
The best time to climb Ben Nevis is during the summer months. Generally, that is from May to the end of September. The rest of the year, you might have snow.
Climbing Ben Nevis in April can be a bit hit and miss. Some years the snow disappear early, other years it doesn’t.
Always assess the conditions at the time and ask the locals for advice. If the purpose of your trip is to climb Ben Nevis then it is better to go later in the year.
Can I Climb Ben Nevis During Winter?
Yes, you can climb Ben Nevis during winter but it is safer to join an organised hike.
Weather conditions can change quickly and drifting snow might cover the path.
What Is the Weather Typically Like on Ben Nevis?
The only thing that is typical about the weather on Ben Nevis is that it changes quickly.
Pick the day with the best weather forecast, but come prepared for rain, wind and cold weather.
It is not unusual to need another two layers on the summit to stay warm. It is nearly always windy so bring a windproof jacket.
I was surprised how little clothing many of the other hikers had. This might be fine as long as the weather stays pleasant, but it can be dangerous if the weather deteriorates. Every year around 70-80 people need rescuing from Ben Nevis.
Read my section below on what to pack to make sure that you are well prepared.
Do I Need a Guide to Climb Ben Nevis?
This was the first question I had. I grew up hiking in the mountains in Norway. When reading about Ben Nevis I was still unsure whether my husband and I could do this without a guide.
From May to September people who are fit and used to walking in the mountains can do the Mountain Track and CMD Arete routes without a guide. Less experienced hikers should use the Mountain Track.
For the Ledge and North Face routes you should join one of the guided hikes. Ben Nevis’ north face is extremely steep and both routes involve grade 2 or 3 scrambling. It is also difficult to find the path in places.
Join a guided hike if:
- You have no mountain experience
- You want the comfort of having everything arranged
- You are travelling alone
You should also hire a guide during the winter months, from October to April. A climb during winter is much more challenging.
In April you can do the climb without a guide as long as there is no snow.
Book a guided climb of Ben Nevis
What Guided Hikes Are Available?
There are a wide range of guided hikes available for Ben Nevis. Guided hikes are a good idea for the Ledge route, the Tower Ridge on the north face of Ben Nevis and if hiking during winter.
For anyone who wants to join a guided hike, the top options are:
Ben Nevis Hiking Routes
There are several hiking routes up Ben Nevis
- Beginners should choose the Mountain Track (#1 below)
- Experienced hikers wanting to hike without a guide should do CMD Arete (#2)
- For an unforgettable adventure hire a guide and do the Tower Ridge (#4)
Anyone planning this hike without a guide should buy the Cicerone Guide to Ben Nevis and Glencoe. It contains maps and a detailed description of all the routes.
1. Mountain Track
Difficulty: Medium
Time: 7 hours
Distance: 14.5km / 9 miles (up and down)
The Mountain Track is often called the Pony Track or the Tourist Path. It is the quickest and easiest way up Ben Nevis.
This is the route most people wanting to climb the mountain should take. Having said that don’t underestimate how tiring it is. You have to climb up and down 1,200 metres.
From the visitors’ centre or Glen Nevis youth hostel it is straightforward to find the Ben Nevis trail head. It is an easy-to-follow path until you are nearly at the summit.
As you get close to the top the path disappears in the stones and shale.
On the way up this is not much of a problem but on the way down it can be harder to find where the main path starts. It is usually best just to look for the direction where most of the hikers are coming.
2. Ben Nevis via CMD Arete (Carn Mor Dearg Arete)
Difficulty: High
Time: 8+ hours
Distance: 16.5km / 10.5 miles Waterproof trousers
This is my favourite of the Ben Nevis hiking routes. However, to attempt this route you should be an experienced hiker and not be afraid of heights. A decent section of the route is along a ridge with steep drops on both sides.
Starting from the north face car park the first part of the walk is through the woods. When exiting the forest you get panoramic views of the north face of Ben Nevis.
It can be difficult to find where you take off the path and go up onto the ridge. Either use one of the hiking apps, such as maps.me, or use the what3words location of engulfing.suffer.bowls for the general area to take off.
Follow the ridge along. It is then a steep scramble up to the summit of Ben Nevis.
You can either take the same route back or take the Mountain Track. Keep right down where the path splits to Lochan.
It is a long and tiring route. I am in good shape and an experienced hiker, but it still took me more than 8 hours.
3. Ledge Route
Difficulty: High
Time: 5.5 hours (up only)
Distance: 7km / 4.5 miles (up only)
Despite being an experienced hiker, I would not do this route without joining a guided hike. It can be difficult to find the path.
The start of the Ben Nevis Ledge route is the same as for the CMD Arete route. However, don’t hike up onto the ridge but instead continue on the path which leads to a hut where you cross a stream.
From here it is a scramble. There is a gully that often contains snow until late in the summer. It requires extra equipment, such as crampons and ice axe, or a diversion which can be tricky to find.
The last time I climbed Ben Nevis I tried to find this path for my descent. The Cicerone guide said it should be easy to find but I couldn’t find it.
It is a spectacular route but make sure you have a detailed map and know the diversion for the gully.
4. North Face
Difficulty: High
Hire a guide for the routes up the north face. Routes approaching the mountain from this side all involve climbing, specialist equipment and you need to know the route.
The most spectacular route up Ben Nevis’ north face is over Tower Ridge which involves grade 3 scrambling.
To do any of the routes up this side of the mountain you need to be fit and not afraid of heights.
How Easy Is It to Find Your Way?
The Mountain Track is straightforward. The other routes start off as well-defined paths but at Ben Nevis’ north face you need to know where to walk.
A guide book like Cicerone is worth buying and try downloading a hiking map to your phone. I normally use the app called maps.me. You can download a map in advance and it uses the GPS on your phone to track where you are.
An “old fashioned” paper map and compass are worth considering too.
Buy the Cicerone Guide to Walking Ben Nevis and Glencoe
What Do I Need to Bring?
The below pack list is for hiking during the summer. During the winter you need substantially more warm clothes.
Since you will be walking up hill you should not wear too much when you start. You will soon start to feel warm.
Although the mountain is not that high plan to have an extra two layers of clothing for the summit.
What to wear:
- Hiking trousers
- Sweat wicking t-shirt or long-sleeved shirt
- Hiking boots: I use Salomon trail running shoes when hiking in Scotland. They are lightweight, waterproof and have good grip but take up a lot less room in my suitcase than standard hiking boots.
What to pack:
- Daypack: I use Osprey Talon 33L
- Thin down jacket or fleece
- Gore-Tex jacket
- Gloves
- Hat
- Waterproof trousers
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle: a minimum of 2L
- Lunch: bring more than you would normally eat for lunch
- Snacks: chocolate, nuts etc
Do I Need Any Special Equipment?
You do not need any specialist equipment for the Mountain Track or CMD Arete routes. However, you need good quality outdoor clothing.
Can I Drink the Water?
The water in the mountain streams is safe to drink but think carefully about which stream you drink from.
Some flow down steep cliffs which are generally safe to drink from. However, others are slow-flowing and since sheep graze in the area I would recommend avoiding these.
Can I Bring My Dog?
Yes, you can bring your dog. For the benefit of other hikers and grazing sheep keep it on a lead.
One point to keep in mind is that towards the summit there are a lot of stones and scree which might be hard on your dog’s paws.
Can I Climb Ben Nevis in Trainers?
Whether you can climb Ben Nevis in trainers depends on the route. On the Mountain Track you can use trainers as long as they have good grip. The path is full of stones and scree so you can easily slip on the way down.
For the other routes you need hiking boots.
I use Salomon trail running shoes for hikes like this. They are more light weight than hiking boots but are waterproof and have very good grip.
Are There Toilets on Ben Nevis?
After the visitors’ centre there are no toilets. The only option is to hide behind a rock but don’t leave any toilet paper behind.
Is It Safe to Climb Ben Nevis Alone?
Growing up in Norway one of the rules you learn about hiking in the mountains is to never go on your own. Should something happen you want the people you are with to be able to get help.
I normally never recommend hiking on your own. Having said that, during the summer months there are lots of people on the Mountain Track.
I would therefore be comfortable doing this route alone at this time of year but note that I am an experienced hiker.
How Hard Is Ben Nevis Compared to Snowdon?
Having climbed both Ben Nevis and Snowdon I would say that Ben Nevis is much more challenging than Snowdon.
On Snowdon there is a wide, well-trodden path to the top and it is not particularly steep.
Maybe I am being unfair but Snowdon felt like more like climbing a hill and Ben Nevis like climbing a mountain.
If you are wondering which one to attempt I would say that if you are unsure about your fitness you should attempt Snowdon first. If you struggle with Snowdon, Ben Nevis is not for you.
For the best mountain scenery, do Ben Nevis. It has several routes with fantastic mountain views which are more spectacular than those on Snowdon.
How to Get to Ben Nevis?
Where Is the Ben Nevis Car Park?
Which Ben Nevis parking area to choose depends on the route you are planning to do.
For the Mountain Track (#1 above) use one of the two options below:
- Visitors’ centre car park: the most popular car park and it fills up early on a day with nice weather. The car park has room for 80 cars. It is pay and display and costs £2 per hour or £8 for the whole day.
- Braveheart car park: normally used by people walking Glen Nevis because it is 1km (0.6 miles) from the start of the Ben Nevis trailhead at the Ben Nevis visitors’ centre. It only has room for 30 cars. It is pay and display and costs £1 per hour or £4 for the whole day.
For the routes up Ben Nevis’ north face (#2-4 above):
- North face car park: there is one car park on this side of the mountain close to Torlundy. Arrive early (before 8.30) to get a space. It is pay and display parking and costs £1 per hour and £3 for the whole day.
Is It Possible to Climb Ben Nevis in a Day Trip From Nearby Towns?
Yes, absolutely. Fort William is the closest town, but you can climb Ben Nevis as a day trip from GlenCoe, Arisaig, Morar and Mallaig.
Although you can take the ferry from Skye to Mallaig, the ferries don’t operate late enough in the evening for you to do Ben Nevis as a day trip.
What Is the Nearest Town to Ben Nevis?
The nearest town to Ben Nevis is Fort William.
How to Get to Ben Nevis From Fort William?
The easiest way to get from Fort William to Ben Nevis is by car. It is about 5 minutes by car from the town centre to the Ben Nevis visitors’ centre.
There are no trains from Fort William to Ben Nevis, but you can take a bus.
There are two buses:
N42: From May to early October N42 goes from Fort William to the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel which is at the start of the Mountain Track. There are 6 departures a day. Check the latest bus schedule to plan your hike.
N41: Operates all year round from Monday to Saturday. There is no service on Sundays. However, the schedule is fairly limited with one bus to Glen Nevis Youth Hostel in the morning and one return in the evening.
There are several departures to and from Torlundy which is close to the North Face car park.
The bus schedule is split into weekdays and weekends.
What Is the Closest Airport to Ben Nevis?
The closest airport to Ben Nevis is Inverness which is a 2 hour drive from Fort William. Glasgow airport is not much further at a 2.5 hour drive from Fort William.
Inverness mainly services domestic flights. Glasgow is a larger airport with more international flights.
Edinburgh to Ben Nevis
The only direct way to Ben Nevis from Edinburgh is by car. The drive is 3.5 hours.
If travelling by bus or train you must either travel via Glasgow or Inverness.
To Fort William the quickest route takes around 5 hours, but most take 6 hours. Ben Nevis is an interesting stop if travelling to Skye from Edinburgh.
Glasgow to Ben Nevis
First you have to travel to Fort William. The drive from Glasgow city centre to Fort William is less than 3 hours and Fort William is on the way to Skye from Glasgow.
Direct trains take 3 hours and 45 minutes. There are three buses (914, 915 and 916) that go to Fort William in less than 3.5 hours.
The main difference between the buses is that the 915 stops at Glasgow Airport.
Buses are operated by Citilink.
Inverness to Ben Nevis
Inverness is the closest airport to Ben Nevis. It is 2 hours by car or bus (919) from Inverness to Fort William. Buses are operated by Citilink.
There are no trains from Inverness to Fort William.
London to Ben Nevis
From London you can take the overnight train to Fort William. The downside is that it is expensive. It is much cheaper to fly to Glasgow or Inverness and hire a car.
How to travel from Inverness or Glasgow to Ben Nevis is detailed above.
Final Thoughts
The best time of year to climb Ben Nevis is during the summer months from May to September.
You need to be reasonably fit and used to walking in the mountains. Anyone who fits this description can do the Mountain Track or the CMD Arete without a guide.
Come prepared for all types of weather and you will have a fantastic time.
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