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

Getting safely off the summit

Posted on August 16, 2019

Getting safely off the summit

Getting off the Ben in mist, even down the Mountain Track can be tricky.

The map below shows the recommended route off the summit that should ensure you don’t find your way down Gardyloo Gully.

Download file for GPS

You’ll need to:

Take a GRID bearing of 231° and follow it for 150m
Take a GRID bearing of 282° and follow it – you should meet the track (if not be on it already)

NOTE – this is for information only and you should not rely on this information. If you have the required skill, you should be able to take these bearings yourself by using the map once you’re on the summit but it’s handy to note them down as well. The rear of the Harvey BMC mountain map has details on this and some compass skill reminders.

Magnetic Bearings – Magnetic north was 3° west of grid north in 2007 decreasing by 1° every 6 years – so currently nearer 2° – so as the declination is West you can use the old “Grid to Mag, Add”, but it doesn’t work if the declination is to the East! So Currently the above bearings will be 233° and 284° respectively in 2011.

Welcome to Walk up Ben Nevis

Walk up Ben Nevis is an on-line guidebook for anyone wanting to walk or climb up Ben Nevis – the highest mountain in Great Britain (and obviously, Scotland). Ben Nevis is one of the best walks in the Highlands of Scotland, though it does suffer from being rather popular. We have all the walking routes up Ben Nevis, and will outline all the routes to the summit and is designed to be used by anyone who fancies climbing up “The Ben” or if you’re setting out on the Three Peaks Challenge along with Snowdon or Scafell Pike. The Ben Nevis Interactive Map Page has an interactive map that shows all the walking routes as well as any facilities near by. There’s a page for each walk that shows the route and has a downloadable gpx file. You can add your Accommodation for Ben Nevis, or any relevant local business via our Business Listing Page – currently FOR FREE!

Main Walking Routes up Ben Nevis

Route Name	Starting Point	Parking Post Code	Distance	Ascent	Walking Time
Ben Nevis via The Mountain Track	Glen Nevis Visitor Centre	PH33 6ST	17km	1370m	8 hours
Ben Nevis via CMD Arete Glen Nevis	Glen Nevis Visitor Centre	PH33 6ST	19.8km	1800m	8 hours+
Ben Nevis via CMD Arete – North Face Car Park	North Face Car Park	PH33 6SW for the turning at Torlundy!	18km	1500m	8 hours+
Ben Nevis Via Carn Dearg South	Lower Steall Falls Car Park	PH33 6SY – though this only gets you up the glen!	4.4km*	1200m	4hrs**
Ledge Route	North Face Car Park	PH33 6SW for the turning at Torlundy!	8km*	1300m	5-6 hours**
Ben Nevis via CMD East Ridge	Upper Steall Falls Car Park	PH33 6SY – though this only gets you up the glen!	9.5km*	1430m	4 hours**

*Distance is for one way only

**Time is for one way only, and variable. Very fit walkers can walk up and down Ben Nevis in 4 hours and will know their own timings and speed. If in doubt, assume the longest duration for your ascent and add the longest for your descent, depending on route. Add a good half hour or more for the summit stop as well.

Getting safely off the summit