Ben Nevis Guided walks - Highest Mountain in the UK

Mountain Path | CMD Arête

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the UK at 1345m (4,411ft). Located above the town of Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, this is a must-climb summit for those visiting the UK but also those on their Munro Bagging journey! It offers a superb challenge for everyone reaching this fine summit with various routes, from walking to scrambling to climbing!

On a blue sky day, the views are phenomenal, with layers & layers of mountains that make up the Scottish Highlands and those further a field on the west coast islands. It offers the best views of its neighbours, ‘The Mamores’, famous for the Ring of Steall, the ‘Grey Corries’ & ‘The Aonach’s’, where the Nevis Range Ski Centre lies.

What does Ben Nevis mean?

Ben Nevis, often known by climbers simply as ‘The Ben’, is shown on maps in its Gaelic form as ‘Beinn Nibheas’ alongside the anglicized Ben Nevis. Ben or Beinn in Gaelic means mountain; this much is clear. Nevis or Nibheas, however, is shrouded in mystery as to its true origin. Gaelic suggestions of evil or venomous mountain link to the river at its foot, but predating Gaelic, a European root word of ‘neb’ meaning cloud or water also pops up in the mix. Given Scotland’s reputation for rain and Fort William receiving its fair share, it would be no surprise that the highest mountain in the UK that catches the clouds of the Atlantic would have some basis in this!

So pack your waterproofs, and keep your fingers crossed that you won’t need them & join us on a guided walk up this famous mountain that will lead you to new heights!

Check out our guided walks on this fantastic mountain below.

the mountain path Walk

On this walk, we follow the normal Mountain Path in our effort to reach its summit. This starts in Glen Nevis and traverses around the hillside, climbing to the affectionately known 'Halfway Lochan'. Sadly not quite halfway, but providing a lovely breather, this beautiful lochan is hidden from view from the glen. From here, we continue past the Red Burn and on to the Zig Zags. This takes us virtually all the way to the summit. With a bit of luck, we'll be able to enjoy the fantastic views and see where the old observatory is located next to the summit before making our descent back to the valley.

As with many west coast Munros, we start low in the glens and finish high, making the day longer than you may expect.

How long does it take to walk Ben Nevis

The main path up Ben Nevis, known as the Mountain Track or Tourist Path, is the most popular route for climbers. It offers a well-defined path, making it suitable for those with limited experience. On average, it takes around 4 to 5 hours to ascend and approximately 2 to 4 hours to descend, depending on individual fitness levels and weather conditions. While the main path is relatively straightforward, it's important to be well-prepared, carry appropriate gear, and check weather conditions before embarking on the ascent.

Fitness: The day is a long walk. Good hill fitness will be required.

Duration: 6 - 9 hours

Location: Ben Nevis Visitor Centre

Meet time: 8:45am to leave at 9am approx.

CMD ARêTE (Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête)

The vast majority of people that summit Ben Nevis do so via the mountain path as described above. However, this alternative option is an excellent day in the mountains if you are up for the challenge. The ridge has an airy feel approaching Ben Nevis from its neighbouring Munro Càrn Mòr Dearg, with a completely different starting point to the mountain path. This, in itself, offers you entirely different views of Ben Nevis. The North Face comes into view once through an initial forest section, showing an altogether other side of Ben Nevis. A beautiful view that often people don’t even realise exists. A wall of seemingly endless crags & gullies, full of summer and winter climbing routes, split by famous ridges such as Castle Ridge & Tower Ridge. We get to enjoy this unique view of the North Face as well as CMD arête. This is the back wall between the two Munros which we’ll see ahead of us as we ascend onto Càrn Mòr Dearg, the first Munro of the day.

After making our way over the first Munro, it’s time to enjoy this stunning ridge taking in the extraordinary situation as we curve our way around to Ben Nevis. From here, we ascend to the summit of Ben Nevis, the second summit of the day and the highest mountain in the UK. Descending, we’ll follow the main path part way down the lovely halfway lochan before turning right back towards our start point of The North Face car park.

How long does CMD Arête take?

The CMD Arête route offers an excellent alternative for a more challenging and adventurous ascent. This walk is considered more demanding than the main path, and the estimated time for the CMD Arête route is approximately 9 to 11 hours. While this route requires a higher level of fitness, it rewards us with a unique and unforgettable experience of Ben Nevis from a different perspective.

This certainly is a long day but well worth the effort for a different side of Ben Nevis and a pleasant intro into ridge walking.

CMD Arête - Is it for me?

This route is a tough walk not only for the length of the day but also for the ridge itself. The ridge can feel airy & intimidating with scrambly sections along the ridge. This may test your head for heights & you may need to use your hands for balance as we move along it. We are on hand to coach you through sections as and where necessary for you.

Because of the nature of the ridge, we will ask to speak to you or for you to answer some questions about your previous mountain experience prior to joining this walk if we haven’t met you before. If you are unsure if this is suitable for you and your experience level, please get in contact with us via the contact page.

Group Size: Max 4 people

Fitness: The day is a long walk and an airy ridge. Good hill fitness & head for heights will be required.

Duration: 9-11 hours

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