Ben Nevis

Height	1344.53m
Prominence	1345m
Meaning	mountain of venom/with head in clouds
Lists	Munro, 1
Location	Lochaber, Loch Linnhie to Loch Ericht
Grid Ref	NN167712
Lat/Lon	56.79676, -5.00429

Ben Nevis is a vast mountain of two halves. Most people will first experience Ben Nevis viewed from the south or west in Glen Nevis, where it appears as a huge convex dome. Around the other, north-east side, Ben Nevis is a grand and complex mountain with massive cliffs.

The routes to Ben Nevis's summit are numerous. The obvious choice for most visitors is the Mountain Track, which heads up a gentle incline from Glen Nevis, twisting and turning as it climbs.

For the more adventurous hillwalker, Ben Nevis is connected to its eastern neighbour, Carn Mor Dearg via the fabulous Carn Mor Dearg arete (often referred to as the CMD arete) and this makes for a fine introduction to rock-scrambling in Scotland. This route can be stretched to include the Munro summits of Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag, together referred to as the Lochaber 4000s.

Ledge Route is one of the easier routes up the North Face of Ben Nevis (a Grade 1 summer scramble), but there a many other routes up this face, with Tower Ridge gaining the reputation as the classic climb.

The John Muir Trust, who own the summit of Ben Nevis, and the Nevis Landscape Partnership look after the mountain, maintaining paths, conserving and enhancing the area. If you see litter when you're hiking up the Mountain Path, help look after the mountain and pick it up - there's the annual Real 3 Peaks Challenge organising litter pick on Ben Nevis (and Snowdon and Scafell Pike too).

The mountain sees more than its fair share of injuries and it is covered by the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, perhaps if you're hiking up the Mountain Track, deposit a few coins at the visitor centre in Glen Nevis.

Routes up Ben Nevis

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Ben Nevis via the Mountain Track
	The Mountain Track is the most popular hillwalking route up Ben Nevis. Although it's a gentle climb up a wide zig-zagging path to the summit, never underestimate weather conditions ! Peaks : 1 Munro Ascent : 1340m (4400ft) Distance : 16km (10m) Time : 6:15hr

Ben Nevis and CMD arete hiking route
	Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis are linked via the narrow and curved Carn Mor Dearg arete. This magnificent route not only gives a awesome view of Ben Nevis's North Face but also makes for a fine introduction to rock-scrambling in Scotland. Peaks : 2 Munros Ascent : 1520m (4990ft) Distance : 16km (10m) Time : 6:30hr

Ben Nevis and Lochaber 4000s hiking route
	Together Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg, Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag are referred to as the Lochaber 4000s and bagging them in one day makes for a long and varied route hiking on vast plateaux, scrambling along narrow ridges while taking in vast views. Peaks : 4 Munros Ascent : 2220m (7280ft) Distance : 20km (12m) Time : 8:45hr

Ben Nevis, Lochaber 4000s and Grey Corries hiking route
	Combining Ben Nevis, the Lochaber 4000s and the Grey Corries into one route makes for a long fairly challenging route hiking on vast plateaux and narrow ridges while taking in vast views. Ideal preparation (and recci) for a Tranter Round or longer Ramsay Round ! Peaks : 8 Munros Ascent : 3200m (10500ft) Distance : 32km (20m) Time : 13:30hr

Nearby hills and mountains

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