Ben Nevis via the Mountain Track

On the Mountain Track below Red Burn

In Fort William, just north of the Lochaber Leisure Centre, there is a small roundabout.

Take the turning into Glen Nevis and head up here for around a mile or so to Glen Nevis Visitor Centre and car-park .

If busy and parking is a problem, there is the Braveheart car-park on the opposite side of the road.

There are alternative places to start, either from the the Ben Nevis Inn at Achintee or by the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel a further mile or so up Glen Nevis.

Approaching Ben Nevis's summit

From the car-park, follow the banks of the River Nevis north to a bridge. Cross this and follow a path around some sheep-sheilings up to Achinetee and the Ben Nevis Inn .

On a well constructed path, aim uphill south-eastwards. The path crosses a wall via a stile, then meets up with the path coming up from the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel .

The path gets steeper as is zig-zags through some woodland and crosses a couple of aluminium bridges. The path then turns north-east into a coire, does another zig-zag and climbs above the 'Halfway Lochan'.

Coming to a junction in the path , turn right and reach 'Red Burn' .

The path now becomes more bouldery and less constructed. But it's very obvious and climbs uphill in a series of big turns. Higher up, the ground begins to level out and some large cairns appear - these have been built to aid navigation and keep people away from the huge drops on your left.

Follow the cairns to the summit , careful to keep away from the top of Gardyloo Gully. The summit has the remains of the Observatory, a shelter and a trig point and can be a very busy place !

Busy day on Ben Nevis's summit

Return by the same route. In mist, careful compass work is needed to avoid Gardyloo Gully - from the summit trig point walk on a bearing of for 231^o for 150m, then aim 282^o.