CLIMB BEN NEVIS IN WINTER IN A GUIDED WALKING GROUP

1 day - Hard grade
Guide/Client Ratio; Max 1:6

AIM

Join an open group on a scheduled date to find out how to climb Ben Nevis in winter. A guided day out on Ben Nevis for those wishing to rise to the challenge of attempting the summit of the Scotland's highest mountain. Have an adventure whilst dusting off, or indeed picking up, some winter skills!

OUTLINE

Whilst this day is designed as a guided day out rather than a skills course, there will be plenty of options to brush up on your movement skills as you have almost all of Ben Nevis' 1,345m height above sea level to climb and get some great input along the way. Whilst winter skills experience is advantageous, no winter experience is necessary and we can cover you everything you need to know on the day to get you up and down safely.

CONTENT

Armed with the latest forecasts and packed for winter, we will set out for a day on the mighty Ben Nevis by the mountain track. Typically a full 8hr day in summer, it only gets tougher in winter and with potentially more hostile weather it is not one to be underestimated.

Leaving our starting point at the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre car park in Glen Nevis near Fort William, we cross the River Nevis and head off up the rough mountain track getting the legs working from the start. A few bridges later the path will eventually start to flatten out as we approach the optimistically named halfway lochan or more correctly Loch Meall an t-Suidhe. Still not quite half way though, and a bit more effort is required to get you to the Red Burn, closer to the true halfway point.

The good path of the plateau starts to disintegrate again and typically this is around where the snow level starts so the path may start to disappear completely under the snow. From here we head up the steep section known as the zig zags for obvious reasons for what feels like a long time before reaching out next plateau, still not quite there though. One final short rise known as MacLeans Steep and onto the flat featureless top of the Ben.

The summit plateau whilst flat isn't all plain sailing in 'white out' conditions where expert navigational skills are required to safely reach the top avoiding the 600m cliffs leading to some of the classic climbs on the North Face such as Tower Ridge which you may see climbers on in good conditions. Upon reaching the summit of Ben Nevis you can learn about the history of the old hotel and observatory ruins that are visible, snapping that all important instagram shot of the summit cairn before retracing our steps back down the mountain for tea and medals!

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Confirmed scheduled dates

PREREQUISITES

Experience of high-top full-day summer mountain walking
A high level of hill fitness and ability to cope with a day out in possibly inclement conditions
Suitable winter kit (see our kit list)

kIT HIRE

Should you not yet possess, or simply don't fancy travelling with the pointy spiky kit and a bulky helmet, we can provide the kit for a nominal fee which you can add at the time of booking.

A map of the start and of local accommodation providers

Start point will be the car park for the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre as indicated by the UA logo.
Accommodation providers are listed solely for your convenience and we receive no financial gain from any bookings made.