Even if it doesn’t rain the wind chill is relentless and your jacket will keep you warm if you have no other layers to put on. There is a very real danger present with this route. The trail of the route is sign posted as you start the hike . As I have mentioned, Ben Nevis is an incredibly busy mountain, especially in the ‘summer months’. It’s very risky. It’s a climb you’ll be roped for pretty much the whole way – with steep drops and sharp cliffs, i’d want to be! Climbing Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest mountain is an accomplishment that will leave you craving higher peaks, more mountains or maybe you’ll hang your boots up for good. I have never climbed a mountain before but going to do Ben Nevis in September in memory of my grandfather and in aid of Alzheimer's Society. The Ben Nevis walk lets you know what you are in for from the beginning. A. News    I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on what kind of shoes to wear, what kit I need to take and basically what it's like up there. The weather tends to be quite mild around this time, with brief rain showers and longer sunny spells. Heading back down you can either go back the way you came or head back down the tourist track, which is recommended. x.type = 'password'; Take at least 2 litres of water with you!! Photo Gallery    There are of course, no toilets on the mountain so what do you do? This was our second climb up Ben Nevis, and thanks to unbelievably clear weather, it was far better than our first climb, which was shrouded in mist and a chill wind. My little. The observatory still remains on the top of Ben Nevis today, but only the shell, the old walls offering shelter from the cold whipping winds and perfect lunch spots. September 13, 2018 travel Climbing Ben Nevis – Conquering More Than A Mountain Stepping out of the car, the butterflies in my stomach were dancing the quickstep. This can be packed away into your backpack for later but trust me, you will definitely thank me for this at some point on the mountain. Does that mean you need a guide to do the Ben Nevis walk? I also saw a number of small dogs having trouble negotiating the large rocks and one very miserable looking 7-year old child who had clearly been dragged up there by his parents and didn't like the cold and wind one bit. Trail Difficulty: Tough – Expert If you are carrying wet wipes in preparation, take a plastic bag with you too. Getting to the summit of Ben Nevis is no easy task, each track up the mountain offers its own challenges. Mark and Scott are going to take on Ben Nevis, the highest of the three peaks at 1345 metres (4413 ft), has one main path. Time to Expect: 10 – 12 hours But still pretty high. Heading back down you can either go back the way you came or head back down the tourist track, which is recommended. We’ll provide you with two nights of accommodation with breakfast included at a hostel in the heart of the Grampians. Try to cover your poop with stones –. See Help > FAQs - Logging On for details on how to enable cookies in your browser. The summit is the collapsed top of the once incredibly active volcano and is still important to geologists today using the rock and materials to learn about the Scottish weather and ancient climate. Getting into the wilderness is becoming an attractive holiday escape. However, I find Scotland’s weather is best in May and September. Travel guide and advices. The trail is well-marked, well trodden and quite frankly, hard to miss with the numerous other people snaking their way up the mountain side. Trust me when I say, there’s nothing worse than running out of food. Secondly where would I find a good training program for this? Updating you on the cloud pattern, temperature, chance of rain, visibility and so much more. type feeling up there? Am I likely to get that horrible 'hold on to the ground - your going to fall!' Sometimes nature does call on the trail and not always in the nicest of ways. I carry all of this in my little day pack with me, not only when I climbed Ben Nevis, but also up. By Ben Jones Friday, 18th September 2020, 6:10 am Scrambling along the top of the cliffs, this is an involved traverse which is not to be underestimated. Be prepared for an exhausting decent as well. Jeans are not fast drying and will make you incredibly cold if the rain sets in when you’re half way up Ben Nevis. If you fancy climbing Ben Nevis differently and tackling it with some rock climbing and scrambling, make sure you take an experienced group with you. You might think this is a lot to pack in a backpack for a day hike, but trust me, it’s worth it. Most were properly clothed and shod, but a sizable minority were in very light clothing and inappropriate footwear and I think they would have been in trouble if the weather had closed in. There are of course, no toilets on the mountain so what do you do? Finally, if you're looking for a view from the top you might be lucky, but I'm told that the summit is rarely free of mist or cloud. It’s the perfect size to hold snacks and extra clothes, as well as my camera gear! Walks    Take those used wet wipes back down the mountain, these do not decompose into the ground. Or you could take a walk up into the valley to the north of Ben Nevis to get a good view of the massive north face cliffs and ridges. I took all of this and even had room for DSLR camera as well. Every year there is a trail running race to the top of the mountain and back down and competitors will complete this in under 2 hours! This is often due to lack of preparation, knowledge and accidents. } Climbing Ben Nevis will be an experience that you will never be able to forget. Will I need to take anything with me to aid the climb? Plus I think we should stop somewhere for dinner. It was a glorious morning, and I was excited to see that the famous Scottish mist was on full display for us. The Ben Nevis Race is a gruelling feat of endurance in which participants compete to be the first to make it up and down the mountain in the quickest time possible. And a Map for Ben Nevis – definitely the OS Explorer Ben Nevis. For help logging on, see Help > FAQs > Logging On. These cairns are incredibly useful – especially when the fog moves in – to keep you on the track, away from steep cliff drops not too far away from the trail. 07 September 2020; Loch Ness Motorhomes 07 September 2020; In and out car park 04 September 2020; Climbing Ben Nevis with a group 31 August 2020 The reason for this high quality ice is the frequent 'freeze - thaw' activity which can take place throughout the winter. : This is not a route to take if you are faint hearted, to be tackled alone or the inexperienced. Know you have the ability to navigate accurately in mist and cloud under difficult conditions. Climbing Ben Nevis is best done in the Scottish summer which is ‘roughly’ from May – September. Have you ever heard the saying ‘expect the unexpected’ well that pretty much sums it up the weather forecast for Scotland on any given day. Let’s talk about poop. } else { You might feel ready but feeling and actually being ready are two completely different things. Sometimes nature does call on the trail and not always in the nicest of ways. The plan is to commence Ben Nevis at around 1.00am leaving 6 hours. You can start the ascent from the Glen Nevis Mountain Centre or the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, both trails will eventually meet each other before continuing to snake up the mountain. : Do not attempt this if you are inexperienced, ill-equipped or going solo. Read an overview of the climate. The best advice I have ever been given was ‘pack enough snacks to turn a day into a weekend’. Distance Walking: 11 Miles/ 17.5km. I can’t remember who said this now but they are so right and I never run out of food on an adventure! Ben Nevis Mountain Track hike details. Ben Nevis is a beautiful mountain. ‘Tower Ridge’ is a majority Grade 3 climb with a level of scrambling involved. Surrounded by gorgeous colours from the plants growing on the mountain side, the lush greens of the mountain grass and bogs. Others go missing. The beer in the Ben Nevis Inn at the foot of the tourist track is good! Q. Hi, 11 of us are climbing Ben Nevis in late September for charity but we are all novices. The Ben Nevis Race is a gruelling feat of endurance in which participants compete to be the first to make it up and down the mountain in the quickest time possible. Answer 1 of 13: Hi.. Let’s keep it that way and. has travelled with me through several countries and up numerous mountains. Rolling and pitching, producing a feeling of half excitement, half terror. – to keep you on the track, away from steep cliff drops not too far away from the trail. Thank you in advance. Ben Nevis attracts thousands of people to its peak every year and not only keen hikers. The green sweeping hills, sharp mountains, lush forests and wilderness landscapes attract people from all over the world. Or you could take a walk up into the valley to the north of Ben Nevis to get a good view of the massive north face cliffs and ridges. There’s nothing worse than walking along the trail to get a nice view-point and have to dodge human poo. My and my fiance and another lovley couple had checked the weather the day before and it was to be clear skies, hardly any cloud and temp to be about -11 at the top. Just after a small bridge, the path turns sharply into the valley containing the Red Burn, climbing more steeply to Lochain Meall an t-Suidhe. I have contacted the visitor centre and investigated booking a guide but this seems to be a very expensive option. All rights reserved. Places to Stay    Product Reviews/Gear Tests    Away from the hoards of tourist reading this route option sounds ideal, especially when you’re used to hiking mountains with no one else around and enjoying nature’s silence. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the UK’s highest mountain at 1,345 m/ 4,411 ft high.. Not quite as high as the mighty Mt Everest in Nepal at 8,848 m/ 29,029 ft. Even the keenest of mountaineers (including me) will find this a challenge. The top of the Ben is cold about 4 degrees it is madness to go up ill prepaired, but the feeling of getting to the top is fantastic, you have reached the top of the highest mountain in the uk, enjoy. In the summer months there is a much less chance of snow, rain and fog that you will get in the early autumn and of course, winter months. Or at least someone who has done it before. Climbing all the way to the top of Ben Nevis is challenging enough for most of us, but every September, around 600 athletes take it one step further. Ben Nevis is new to me and after consulting with other walkers I am reliably informed that its hard work. There are several routes up the mountain, offering a track for every skill set, so it’s no surprise this mountain attracts climbers, mountaineers and adventurers throughout. If you are an amateur walker, it is strongly recommended that you only attempt to reach the summit of Ben Nevis during the summer months. go4awalk.com Help    Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. I would recommend a compass which is ideal for Navigation and expeditions, you’ll find a few on amazon for pretty cheap – around £15 +. Only attempt this if you’re in a group of experienced climbers or those on a guided trip. It is the largest peak to complete and tackling the hardest peak with fresh legs is recommended. ° How much it cost to download the 59 walks that climb all 214 Wainwrights? Climbing Ben Nevis via The Mountain Track The Mountain Track to the summit of Ben Nevis, also known as the Tourist Route, is the most popular route of ascent. we did Scafell in Oct 2017) and our levels of fitness are a little above average. Down-filled outer layer for when temperatures drop, do not rely on your cellphone as reception can disappear at high levels and in remote locations. Even more so when wet wipes have been left scattered around the area. Everything in this guide to climbing Ben Nevis is designed to keep you safe. And if you are traveling solo definitely get a guide. – and expect difficult climbing in places. The condition of the trail occasionally surprises you with  man-made stairs, other times underfoot it would be a slight scramble up rocks and rough under footing. Don’t drop orange peels and banana skins. When should I climb Ben Nevis? Its summit, which is 1345 metres high, more often than not even has patches of snow in the summer, due to its elevation. – You want trousers that are breathable, comfortable and fast drying. The condition of the trail occasionally surprises you with  man-made stairs, other times underfoot it would be a slight scramble up rocks and rough under footing. Scrambling along the top of the cliffs, this is an involved traverse which is not to be underestimated. Check this the night before and the morning before setting off for the summit. If you love mountains, countryside and the beauty of hiking trails, don’t leave your own trail behind. It will take us over three hours to drive there, somewhere between 5 and 7 hours to climb it, and then three hours to drive back home. We are using the tourist path. Am I likely to get that horrible 'hold on to the ground - your going to fall!' When we run group walking and private guide services, we often leave enough time for a 8-10 hour excursion. var x = document.getElementById('password'); The mountain path ascent will generally take between 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours, with a further 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours descent. Walking Gear Guides    Ben Nevis or as known in Gaelic, the ‘mountain of heaven’ is the UK’s highest mountain. While many people will summit with success and without any problems or injuries others will struggle and may not summit. Unless you are extremely an experienced mountain climber, Alpine climber and winter mountaineer. Pic 6 – Lochain Meall an t-Suidhe, “the halfway lochain”. We are more used to walking in gentler countryside but have some experience of the UK mountains (e.g. This track was originally called the Pony Trak, as it was built in the 19th century for the ponies to carry supplies up to the meteorological observatory on the summit, which is now in ruins. Climbing Ben Nevis via the Tower Bridge has nice bite-sized chunks making for a tough but good climb. They came back with Atlas Mountaineering. Walk Search    To close this message click anywhere outside this window, • Questions & Answers about Walking & Hiking. We set off at 7am and went up the 'tourist route'. Hiking distance: 10.5 miles Hiking duration: 6 – 8 hours Altitude: 1,345 meters Elevation gain: 1,145 Difficulty: moderate When to hike: From May to September. Does that mean you need a guide to do the Ben Nevis walk? Even in summer, Ben Nevis can be very cold, wet, windy and covered in snow; and remember, it will get colder and windier the higher you climb. Support them in their epic challenge. Don’t poop on –, If you need to go, get way off the track. The 10 most recent questions about Mountains and Hills . Camping    Ben Nevis is a mountain, the UK's highest, and as such is exposed to the absolute worst conditions the weather can throw at it including bone-chilling winds, sub-zero temperatures, heavy rain, snow and blizzards - sometimes all at once, therefore it is essential that anyone climbing it takes suitable precautions and dresses appropriately. The ‘The Mountain Track’: Or otherwise known as the ‘tourist trail’. Particularly so since you are all novices. The path is very well trodden, and apart from in very poor weather hard to miss. Most of the time the Ben is hidden in deep cloud. A. I climbed this with 4 friends in early September this year. « Free example walks, See/Show Password When climbing Ben Nevis I only brought a handful of rubbish – mainly plastic bags – back down with me. at least a basic one with some blister plasters. 21st September 2019 LIGHT UP BEN NEVIS. Unlike Snowdon and Scafell Pike, the path to Ben Nevis starts close to sea level, meaning a much greater vertical ascent. There are guided tours which will take those with little experience up this route, i would recommend checking out Steve Fallon. Trail Difficulty: Rock Climbing: Difficult – Experienced Expect the weather to change quickly, often for the worst. PS - we camped at Glen Nevis - midges weren't too bad as the weather had been so dry. Once reaching the top of Carn Mor Dearg you’ll have incredible views of the cliffs which are not be overshadowed by the mighty Ben Nevis ahead. if (x.type === 'password') { That is approximately 791 male adults standing on top of one another. You can start the ascent from the Glen Nevis Mountain Centre or the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, both trails will eventually meet each other before continuing to snake up the mountain. Remember the average temperature on the summit is minus one! In winter, Ben Nevis can present opportunities for mountaineering and climbing of the highest quality. Always check the weather conditions before attempting to climb Ben Nevis. Post author: admin; Post published: 13 September 2019; Post category: Charity; Ben Nevis, stands at 1,345 metres (4,411 ft) above sea level, it is at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of … Ben Nevis can often be impassable due to snow. The path was well marked and cairns at the top kept us to the route, but I was aware that gullies on either side on the final mile or so led to sheer drops and looked positively evil in the mist as you went carefully past them. We were up and down in 5 hours. Distance Walking: 17km / 10.75 miles. Mark and Scott are going to take on Ben Nevis, the highest of the three peaks at 1345 metres (4413 ft), has one main path. Support them in their epic challenge. Here are the basic safety tips rounded up to remember before you climb Ben Nevis: Climbing Ben Nevis is a huge accomplishment. Travel guide and advices. What do you recommend? I want to hear your stories! a standard t-shirt will suffice as long as you have the gear to keep you warm/dry on top. Simply known as the 'Ben' it is situated in the Lochaber region of Scotland just outside Fort William. The walk (it was all walking, with no climbing or scrambling needed) was unrelenting and steep, and I had to keep stopping to catch my breath. There will be two of us and we would prefer to walk with a group. Trail Difficulty: Moderate to Hard Ben Nevis by the Mountain Path. Time to Expect: 7 – 9 hours Scotland is (unfortunately) not favored when it comes to predictable weather, this is even more important to remember when it comes to taking on Scottish mountains. Climb Ben Nevis and light up the highest mountain in the United Kingdom You can climb Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis attracts an estimated 125,000 complete and a further 100,000 partial ascents per year, most of which are made by walkers using the well-constructed Mountain Track from Glen Nevis on the south side of the mountain. You shouldn't do it alone or (IMHO) if you're likely to run out of daylight. Coatbridge mum climbing Ben Nevis in aid of motor neurone disease charity ... 31, plan to soar to the summit of Ben Nevis on September 12 to raise … With a peak of 1,345m high, Ben Nevis is the highest and most iconic mountain in the UK. 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