Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
9am-5pm Apr-Oct, shorter hours in winter)
is situated 1.5 miles up the glen, and provides
information on walking, weather forecasts, and specific advice on climbing Ben Nevis.
From the car park at the far end of the road along Glen Nevis, there is an excellent
1.5-mile walk through the spectacular Nevis Gorge to
Steall Meadows
, a verdant valley
dominated by a 100m-high bridal-veil waterfall. You can reach the foot of the falls by
crossing the river on a wobbly, three-cable wire bridge - one cable for your feet and one
for each hand - a real test of balance!
CLIMBING BEN NEVIS
As the highest peak in the British Isles, Ben Nevis (1344m) attracts many would-be ascensionists who would not
normally think of climbing a Scottish mountain - a staggering (often literally) 100,000 people reach the summit
each year.
Although anyone who is reasonably fit should have no problem climbing Ben Nevis on a fine summer's day, an
ascent should not be undertaken lightly. Every year people have to be rescued from the mountain. You will need
proper walking boots (the path is rough and stony, and there may be soft, wet snowfields on the summit), warm
clothing, waterproofs, a map and compass, and plenty of food and water. And don't forget to check the weather
forecast (see
www.bennevisweather.co.uk
).
Here are a few facts to mull over before you go racing up the tourist track: the summit plateau is bounded by
700m-high cliffs and has a sub-Arctic climate; at the summit it can snow on any day of the year; the summit is
wrapped in cloud nine days out of 10; in thick cloud, visibility at the summit can be 10m or less; and in such con-
ditions the only safe way off the mountain requires careful use of a map and compass to avoid walking over those
700m cliffs.
The tourist track (the easiest route to the top) was originally called the Pony Track. It was built in the 19th cen-
tury for the pack ponies that carried supplies to a meteorological observatory on the summit (now in ruins), which
was manned continuously from 1883 to 1904.
There are three possible starting points for the tourist track ascent - Achintee Farm; the footbridge at Glen
Nevis SYHA; and, if you have a car, the car park at Glen Nevis tourist office. The path climbs gradually to the
shoulder at Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe (known as the Halfway Lochan), then zigzags steeply up beside the Red
Burn to the summit plateau. The highest point is marked by a trig point on top of a huge cairn beside the ruins of
the old observatory; the plateau is scattered with countless smaller cairns, stones arranged in the shape of people's
names and, sadly, a fair bit of litter.
The total distance to the summit and back is 8 miles; allow at least four or five hours to reach the top, and an-
other 2½ to three hours for the descent. Afterwards, as you celebrate in the pub with a pint, consider the fact that
the record time for the annual Ben Nevis Hill Race is just under 1½ hours - up
and
down. Then have another pint.
