The Mountain Track up Ben Nevis

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The Mountain Track up Ben Nevis

By Dave Roberts   

on January 3, 2021   No ratings yet.

Posted in Hard Walk, Walks in Scotland

The Mountain Track up Ben Nevis

Further Details

Route Summary:

This is a tough walk that used to be called the ‘Tourist Path’ – but was renamed The Mountain Track as people thought it sounded easy. It isn’t.

Start and Finish:

Distance: 16.6 km

Ascent: 1355 m

Time: 6-7 hrs

Timings are approximate and depend on the individual. Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Facilities:

Parking, cafe, toilets.

Hazards:

Navigation on summit in mist

Public Transport:

Parking: 

Glen Nevis Visitor Centre

Post Code for Sat Nav: PH33 6ST

Ben Nevis Guidebooks: 

Ben Nevis Maps: 

The Mountain Track up Ben Nevis Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

Download file for GPS

The Mountain Track up Ben Nevis

The Mountain Track up Ben Nevis used to be called, rather derogatorily the Tourist Track. However, this made it sound far too easy, and the powers that be decided that renaming it the Mountain Track would make is sound like a much more serious proposition. Well it may be a reasonably straightforward trip compared to many mountains, but it’s still a huge lump of a mountain that can never be taken lightly. Couple that with the potential of snow on the summits most months, as well as a notoriously difficult summit to navigate from in mist, and you can begin to understand why they changed the name! You can start from one of three places, but this route details the walk from The Visitor centre via the Ben Nevis Inn (which is a good starting point and an even better ending point!). You can alternatively start from the Youth Hostel in Glen Nevis.

The Mountain Track up Ben Nevis Full Route

This is a challenging route in all conditions and the Mountain Track up Ben Nevis shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s basically a 1300m slog to the summit, with little reward until it starts levelling out towards the summit plateau and the views open up. It’s much more pleasant in descent for that reason!

1 – The first section is deceptive. Setting off from the car park, cross the bridge and head on uphill towards the Nevis Inn where the path starts properly. It angles along the hillside towards Lochan Meall an t-Suidh, and is a good 500m of climbing. Thankfully, it’s good path all the way. Once it contours left, you know you’ve nearly reached the end of this section.

2 – Once you reach Lochan Meall an t-Suidh, the path veers right and soon begins on the relentless Zig zags – and the Mountain Track then go on and on and on!! They set off at around 500m and the angle doesn’t relent much until you’re well over 1100m up.

The Mountain Track up Ben Nevis

3 – The Zig Zags on the Mountain Track up Ben Nevis eventually relent, but there’s still a couple of hundred metres climbing left to do. Some bits can be less than obvious in mist, and down right hard work in the snow.

Mountain Track up Ben Nevis

4  – The Summit of Ben Nevis! Finally, you’ve reached the highest point in the UK. There’s a trig point here, as well as a shelter and the remains of the Ben Nevis weather observatory. The images below show you how much snow can be there at the end of May, with the snow free images providing an indication of how deep it can be. Quite shocking when you see these images side by side!

5  – Getting off the summit of Ben Nevis in mist, even down the Mountain Track can be tricky. We’ve put a page together – How to get safely off the Summit of Ben Nevis – with all the information you need.

Mountain Track up Ben Nevis

6 – Hopefully, once you’re off  Ben Nevis’ summit, the path you ascended on should be found and you’ll have a fair old yomp back down to Fort William.

 

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

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Recommended Ben Nevis Maps: 

Gear you may need

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.

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