After reaching the end of the zig zag section and into the long rocky step section of the mountain, we felt much warmer and no longer feared for our lives (dramatic, right?!). The Harvey maps recommended above include an enlargement of the summit of Ben Nevis, along with the bad visibility descent route – i.e. What an incredible, eventful, briefly frightening and life changing experience. At the top of Ben Nevis is a rocky plateau of about 100 acres, a trig point denotes the highest point, while there is also a ruined observatory (now a shelter for those caught out by the weather). Aviemore Though we couldn’t see very far in front of us, on a clear day you can see for miles and miles around. In Scottish Gaelic, Beinn means mountain and Nibheis means malicious. To this day, the ruins of the observatory can be viewed upon reaching the summet. That’s not to say it’s a walk in the park, as it’s still a fairly rock path in places, but there’s no exposure along the … In the event that you require external assistance in an emergency, you should call 999 or 112 and ask for Police, Mountain Rescue. Other than this, other essentials include food and drink, and a headlamp with spare batteries. Alpine in stature, imposing and elegant in appearance, the four great ridges of the Ben are superb experiences to climb. The average low temperature on Ben Nevis in August is 2.8°C and the high is 6.4°C. Temperature of water and air, precipitation, amount of days with rain and advice on the best time to visit Ben Nevis. Though we were able to handle the situation by spending only 5 minutes on the summit gently jogging down the first half during the descent, it could have been a lot worse. August 2016 . Great family achievement in climbing the BEN! I needed an an adventure, yet a productive one. The name of the mountain track itself provides interest in that many people refer to it as the tourist route. This lochain is known as “the halfway lochain” (Pic. This is a running blog, and here I am talking about climbing mountains. ... I’m not here to badger you readers for money but instead telling you why I am climbing Ben Nevis at night. It had been a difficult and slippery task going up and it was quickly dawning on us all that if you add downward momentum to ice, snow and rocks it adds a different dimension to the next 3 hours or so! Please stick to the route of the path and don’t be tempted to take shortcuts. Published: Apr 25, 2019More by James. 1), while close by, iconic mountains of the Mamores and Glen Coe dominate (Pic. – Take at least 2 litres of water with you! Most hiking ascents of Ben Nevis start from either the Achintee Inn or theVisitor’s Centre, both in Glen Nevis. Never the less, the Mountain Path made for a beautiful and challenging first time up Ben Nevis. For this program, you will need to travel to Fort William, which is around a 3.5 hours drive from Edinburgh (Scotland) and around 2.5 hours from Glasgow(Scotland). However, high winds, heavy rain, snow, and poor visibility can and do occur during any month on the year on Ben Nevis, so always pay attention to a reliable mountain weather forecast such as those produced by the Met Office or the Mountain Weather Information Service. Another early climb was undertaken by John Williams in 1774 and he provided the first account of the mountain’s geological structure. According to Wikipedia, ”evidence near the summit shows light-coloured granite (which had cooled in subterranean chambers several kilometres beneath the surface) lies among dark basaltic lavas (that form only on the surface). James Robertson, an 18th century botanist, was in the Scottish highlands on a mission to collect specimens for Edinburgh’s College Museum. My brother and I arrived at the Glen Nevis visitor centre at about 10:00 AM, paid for parking and headed towards the start of the Mountain Path. The ascent raises your heart rate, pushes you to your physical limits, challenges your balance and agility, tones your leg muscles, burns plenty of calories and engages the upper arms and core. Ben Nevis attracts walkers and climbers from around the world, and with good reason. Get to the mountain as early as you possibly can for the climb. The walk up Ben Nevis begins at more or less sea level, finishing over a vertical kilometre higher. Highland The summit lies approximately 150 m northeast of here, and is unmistakable with its raised trig point, emergency shelter, and remains of the weather observatory. From here, the famous zig zags begin, with the path climbing steadily up the western flank of the mountain, right to the edge of the summit plateau at the top of the zig zags at a height of 1200 m. (Note the circular shelter and abrupt flattening). This not only maintains morale, but it keeps group members together and avoids faster group members having to stop (and possibly get cold) whilst waiting for slower group members to catch up. Ben Nevis with kids My friend and I are planning to climb Ben Nevis in August, along with our three children (aged 12, 13 and 15). A mountain climb is a power workout for us runners. Staying down in Glen Coe we got up at 6am to get ready and drove up to Glen Nevis. Around 7 hours is a realistic target time to climb from Glen Nevis to the summit and return. Not wanting to contract a case of hypothermia, we warmed up by getting our blood pumping with a light jog down the mountain. 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There are photo opportunities at every second up the mountain so make sure your phone/camera is charged and ready to snap at a moments notice. The average time taken to climb Ben Nevis is 7-9 hours, with the climb to the top taking around 4 hours, and the return 3 hours. After crossing the bridge over the River Nevis, you will start to climb steeply using the steps conveniently provided. How Long does it take to climb Ben Nevis? If you are getting out of breath whilst talking, you are probably walking too fast! If you are in this kind of mindset, you probably want to get on top of the UK and climb Ben Nevis. I’ve just got back from climbing Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the UK. As you do! The last thing nobody told us about climbing Ben Nevis was… that it's even harder coming down!!! Such a strange time. The 1345m ascent was spread over just the right length for a decent average slope with a good amount of flatter stretches to balance. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the United Kingdom, at 1344.527 m / 4413 ft - it gained about a metre during a 2016 official survey. Please don’t make the same mistake! It is good practice to walk at the speed of the slowest member of the group. If you are on your own, carry a personal “survival bag”, a small First Aid kit, and a fully charged mobile phone. It’s the highest mountain in the British Isles. The first recorded ascent of Ben Nevis was in 1771, 4. His entry read: ‘I ascended Ben Nevis which is reckoned the highest mountain in Britain. It is strongly recommended that your first ascent of Ben Nevis be attempted during the summer months (approximately May to September). Most importantly enjoy your time on the mountain and have a great day. Despite the weather forecast looking bleak with rain, fog and wind on the horizon, things were holding up and we were dry. Ben Nevis - is the tallest mountain in the UK at 4,409ft! As you can tell by the picture, we were happy to be standing on the highest natural point within the UK despite the wind, fog and rain! The climb generally takes anywhere between 7 and 9 hours. If you are climbing Ben Nevis under your own steam, please pay attention to your safety at all times and never be afraid to turn back if conditions dictate. That’s a long way. A. I have just come back from climbing Ben Nevis, it is not a tourist path it is a mountain path, at times very hard, especially the steps on the way back down, my total time was 7 hours, 4 hours to get up, my companion stained a muscle coming down so we took it very easy on the decent. Above here, the path turns sharply right, continuing until the Red Burn is crossed. Having others you like and respect climb the mountain with you will make it an incredibly rewarding, fulfilling and wholesome experience you will remember for the rest of your lives. We crossed the metal bridge over the river Nevis and started to climb the conveniently provided rock steps for 10-15 minutes. Walking poles are also highly recommended, helping to relieve pressure on the knees, particularly in descent. Weather in Ben Nevis in September 2020. Published: Dec 10, 2020, Meike van Krimpen | More By This Author The mountain used to be an active volcano, until it erupted and collapsed on itself, millions of years ago. These are vitally important, particularly if the path is buried under snow, and it is worth familiarising yourself with these prior to your ascent. During the final 30 minutes of the descent, the rain picked up once more and we received another battering of Scottish rain before reaching the solace of the car. The summit of Ben Nevis is located at a height of 1,345 … Some emergency kit should be carried in case you or a member of your party suffers an injury which, in the worst case scenario, may immobilise you. Absolute fail. From skiing, ice-climbing and running, the mountain hosts many sporting events and is used for a variety of sporting purposes. It is perfectly normal for there to be snow on the summit plateau of Ben Nevis until well into the summer (Pic. Not having proper waterproof clothing meant we quickly became soaked from the rough Scottish weather, started to shiver and worried we might be in serious trouble at the summit when conditions turned particularly bad. An extra warm layer or two available within the group, a spare hat or two, and perhaps an extra couple of pairs of gloves will be very welcome if you find yourselves having to stay put for any length of time. The Ben Nevis distillery is a single malt whisky distillery at the foot of the mountain. Enjoy. The Climbing. After a bit of online research, the ‘Mountain Path’ appeared to be the longest option described as the most straightforward. Extra Layers (Warm Clothes) Waterproof/Windproof Jacket. Having just returned from Scotland after the Ben Nevis trip, I can confidently say that climbing Ben Nevis was the most fun I have had in months. PRICE FREEZE - Book at 2020 Prices and £100-£300 Travel Voucher for Every Traveller ». Friday 25th September was the day I decided to climb Ben Nevis for the first time! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The key word here is responsible, and we can all do our bit to help minimise our impact on Scotland’s wild places. Thousands of people climb Ben Nevis every year and, like it or not, all those pairs of boots have an impact on the mountain environment – even yours and mine! Many people find walking down as tiring as going up, so be honest with yourself and the rest of your party, and make sure you have enough “left in the tank” to complete your journey without assistance. However, for a walking route suitable for a first Ben Nevis ascent the mountain track is the route of choice. Pic 6 – Lochain Meall an t-Suidhe, “the halfway lochain”. 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. Let's face it, it's a very busy mountain with all the problems that causes. “Hiker and Biker, James has summited Ben Nevis more times than you can count!”, More By This Author This is crucial if attempting the mountain without a guide, but even if you are going with a guide, it does no harm to check the mountain weather forecast yourself so you have a good idea of what to expect on the day. The path is very well trodden, and apart from in very poor weather hard to miss. There are ruins of a meterorological survey on the summit, 6. The rocks and pebbles in this section make it hard to get a solid footing so we were sure to be careful about where we were stepping. Jo from our Office team modelling some Summer hiking gear. This helps to maintain footfall on the path and avoids eroding other parts of the mountain. The last thing you want is to be stuck 1,300 metres above sea level with the sun beating down on you with no means of protecting your skin. Continue Reading. Whichever starting point is chosen, all lead on to the pony track which climbs steadily along the lower flanks of the hill Meall an t-Suidhe. It is not quite halfway, but the path does become easier for a time here, providing some welcome respite for the legs. Return to the glen is made by reversing this route. Conditions will be very different between these two extremes, so flexibility is key. 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. In 2018, BASE jumper Tim Howell jumped off of Ben Nevis which was covered by BBC Scotland. You’ll thank yourself when the wind is hammering the rain into you and you’re able to stay dry. Ideally, climb some lower hills to get used to both being out in the mountains and the effects of several hours of continuous walking up- and downhill. After crossing a conveniently placed bridge, traversing a trail of steps and hopping over stones in the stream of a waterfall, you’ll come to a long zig zag section. If you’re going to climb Ben Nevis, make sure you have fun! Suncream – Yep, i’m not joking. In this article, I detail my experience and give top tips for making the most out of a Ben Nevis climb. This site is owned and operated by Craig Barden. In addition to these items, if you are part of a larger party, a group shelter, large enough to accommodate all members of the party, should be carried. After the initial steepness, the path does even out to a more moderate slog. Caeden Thomson, who has cerebral palsy, has raised more than £8,000 after trekking to the top of Ben Nevis … I love climbing mountains because: I know what you’re thinking. There’s a distillery at the foot of the mountain. After studying various forecasts for several days we decided to go for Monday 24th August to make our attempt on the summit of the UK's largest mountain. The mountain is now all that remains of the imploded inner dome of the volcano. It was a busy day for climbing so my brother and I found we were overtaking many others during this stage as we like to go at a decent pace. After forgetting our waterproof coats (rookie mistake, I know) the wind started battering our rain soaked skin and we began shivering pretty bad. runnersfirst.co.uk is a participant in the Amazon  Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. On the other hand, if your goal is to climb the mountain for training and you’re not feeling any bodily resistance from the climb you should probably speed up. 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