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Home   Glossary

Ben Nevis

Munro
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
1344 m (4409 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NN16697127
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
1 of 283 Munros
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
2
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
Possibly - Cloudy hill
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  41   Ben Nevis, Fort William & Glen Coe
Only £6.29  (£11.69 Laminated) from  

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  Description
Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, forms a horse-shoe shape ridge with Carn Mor Dearg, the massive Nevis dwarfing the latter (9th highest).

The two mountains are connected by a narrow ridge with a rocky crest, the Carn Mor Dearg (CMD) arete.The easiest ascent of "The Ben" is from Glen Nevis, via Meall an t-Suidhe to the W following the old road which was constructed to service the hotel and observatory, now both ruins near the summit. This route reveals little of the magnificence of Nevis, and there is an alternative route for hill-walkers who can cope with scrambling, via Carn Mor Dearg and the CMD arete.

An ascent is also possible via the head wall of Coire Leis to join the southern end of the CMD arete. Both these routes approach the summit of Ben Nevis from the E. The N face of the Ben should be left to mountaineers with rock climbing experience.

Hazards you may encounter on Ben Nevis include
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Stony/rocky Slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Crags near summit.
 Scrambling (minor), easy hand and footholds.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
Picture Gallery for Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis from Sgurr a'Mhaim

© Craig Mitchell
Image by Craig Mitchell

Ben Nevis from the Caledonian Canal at Corpach.

© Roger Vander Steen
Image by Roger Vander Steen

Climbers nearing the summit in top conditions on "The Ben". 24/3/07

© Peter Chisholm
Image by Peter Chisholm

Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis, a classic scramble for those with a good head for exposure.

© Claire Wales
Image by Claire Wales
View All 55 Images for Ben Nevis

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format) 		Nevis Range
by Accuweather 		West Highlands
by Met Office 		Ben Nevis
by Metcheck
Ben Nevis Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

  Where to Stay
Results by distance from Ben Nevis
6.2 km
Farr Cottage Lodge and Activity Centre
Corpach, Fort William
6.7 km
Stobhan
Fassifern Road, Fort William
7.4 km
Ashburn Guest House
Achintore Road, Fort William
8.7 km
Seangan Croft Self Catering
Seangan Bridge Banavie Fort William Scotland
11.7 km
Spean Bridge Hotel
Spean Bridge, Inverness-shire
12.1 km
Inverour Guest House
Roybridge Road, Spean Bridge
14.3 km
Dunhafen Bed and Breakfast
Glenspean Park, Roy Bridge, Inverness-Shire
15.4 km
STRATHASSYNT GUEST HOUSE
Loanfern, Ballachulish, NR. Glencoe, Highlands.
16.3 km
Birchbrae Luxury Self Catering Lodges
Birchbrae, Onich, Fort William
21.0 km
Old School House, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
21.0 km
Torr an Daimh, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
32.4 km
Ardgarry Farm
Faichem, Invergarry, Inverness-shire
32.5 km
Invergarry Lodge
Mandally Road, Invergarry
For information on camping visit
ScottishCamping.com who also produce
a map of scottish camp grounds.

The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Ben Nevis.

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

  Routes that include Ben Nevis
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 1778 m 16.68 km 6.5 hrs Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg  This is a more difficult ascent with some exposure and scrambling, but it avoids most of the crowds and gives a taste of real mountaineering. Navigate with care, this is a dangerous mountain for the unwary.  
2 1370 m 14.83 km 5.5 hrs Ben Nevis  This is the "Tourist Route" which thousands climb each year, it is fairly strenuous. It can, however, be a serious ascent as the "path" disappears on the higher boulder slopes and navigational errors can and do lead to disaster.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Ben Nevis

  Baggers Gallery for Ben Nevis

Solo on top of Nevis and luvin' it, Dec '09

© Simon Small
Image by Simon Small

Jason, Brett & Steve. Work colleagues up from Kent on the way down from the summit in June 2007. Part of the 3 peaks challenge.

© John Andrew
Image by John Andrew

Claire and Marty on top of Ben Nevis - very wet!

© Claire Wales
Image by Claire Wales

My daughter never fails to amaze me with her determination

© Martin Briggs
Image by Martin Briggs
View All 66 Baggers Images for Ben Nevis
The logging section stores any entries for Ben Nevis in your own log. From here you can
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  Logging
Your Route Log
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Recently Climbed By
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If a member has uploaded a tracklog as part of their personal route log and opted to share it then it will be presented here.

You can view a members route overlayed on an online map or download the KMZ file for use in Google Earth.

 Shared Members Track Logs
 
Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis
by David McSporran
Ben Nevis
by Neil Cuthbert
Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis
by Brian Doolan
Ben Nevis
by Claire Wales
Ben Nevis
by Jan Konstmann
Ben Nevis
by Alan Parker

Post a few words about Ben Nevis or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Showing the most recent 5 of 23 comments. Would you like to view all 23?
Keith Waugh
wrote on
July 21, 2009
Prior to this trip in June 09, I last "did" Ben Nevis in May'89, going via Carn Mor Dearg and the amazing Arete. It was a hard slog up the final boulder slope to the top of Ben Nevis. Fantastic views of the North Face for those of us who are not mountaineers. This time, June'09, it was also a glorious day with no wind, just warm sunshine. Really calm on top and a fabulous place to be. Must go more often!! There is something strangely magical about the top of Ben Nevis.
Pamela Davidson
wrote on
June 1, 2009
We walked on a magnificent day on Sunday the 31st May - still knee deep in snow at the summit despite the unbelievably hot sun! I agree with previous comments with regards to the sheer amount of people that are unprepared for climbing, we passed by children with 3/4 length jeans and trainers, football fans with cans of lager teenagers wearing swiming shorts and plimsoles! i was totally amazed at their lack of respect for this kind of terrain. what also disgusted me is the amount of litter left along the trail of the mountain, If you carry it up, CARRY IT DOWN. An unbelievably beautiful climb.
Felix Gruijters
wrote on
April 22, 2009
We walked up in gorgeous weather on 17 April. We decided to take the tourist route up and than continue along the ridge to CMD. As the snow was soft I was pleased to descend to the ridge rather than to climb up from the ridge. The disadvantage of this approach to CMD is that you are with your back to Ben Nevis and have to turn round regularly to admire the view. The advantage is that the climb is easier. From CMD we went down the west ridge taking us into the valley between Ben Nevis and the two Aonach hills. We camped just under Aonach More and woke up with the inverted cloud cover below us.
Lee Paterson
wrote on
September 27, 2008
It never ceases to amaze me how unprepared some people dress for the scottish mountains. Jeans, t-shirts, trainers even dress shoes! the cloud base was 650 mtrs, it was raining, visibility was about 20 mtrs on the summit. So, lets dress for the high street!! These idiots spare no thought for the poor sods in mountain rescue, who might end up having to leave their warm homes, or even beds to come to their aid. The hills are for all, but come on, dress for the environment. For your own sake!
Paul Barker
wrote on
May 4, 2008
On April 27th 2008 myself (Paul) and Dave came, we saw and we conquered Ben Nevis. The day was clear, bright and sunny with hardly any cloud cover. The going was quite hard, even from the start, but we got to the ice and snow and that where the real difficulties started. The climb in snow and ice without crampons is relentless and very hard on the knees. I was very tempted to turn back on a number of occasions, but was spurred on by my friend and the teasing summit looming up at me. We also slid down the snow pack on the way down. brilliant, but challenging day.
 
 

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