Ben Nevis

Summary for Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is an munro in Scotand and is located in the area Loch Linnhe to Loch Ericht as defined by SMC. (and lies in region known as Nevis )

Height	Grid Ref.	Pronunciation	Meaning
1344 metres / 4409 feet	NN166712	Ben Nevis	Possibly - Cloudy hill
Location		Access
Loch Linnhe to Loch Ericht		John Muir Trust, tel: 0131 55401144

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Details for Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is the highest peak in the British Isles and together with the not so famous Carn Mor Dearg forms a great horseshoe which faces north-westerly to the west coast rising dramatically from sea-level from the shores of Loch Linnhe. . It's probably best seen from polldubh cottage where you get a glimse of it's rugged southern slopes. To view the magnificence Corn n Ciste cliffs which are hidden from the average walker the best place is from Corpach accross Loch Linnhe. Ben Nevis also has the reputation for being cloud covered for much as 300 days a year so for a clear day success is more likely in April / May / June.

The 'Ben' as it's affectionately known is quite an isolated mountain with its southern & western slopes dropping at an angle of 35 degres into Glen Nevis some 1200m producing the longest continuous slope in the UK. The eastern & northern sides both drop interrupted for 700m forming some of the highest cliffs (700m) in the UK only a thin ridge sweeping eastwards then northwards onto Carn Mor Dearg offers any access on these flanks to the walker. The eastern & northern flanks of Ben Nevis does however boast some of the best scrambles, rock climbs & ice climbs in the British Isles.

Usual access onto the summit is from Glen Nevis from where a pony track zig-zags up-to the summit point. This approach is very busy and also hides all the graduer of the mountain it does however get you to the summit quickly. Alternatively access to the summit can be had by again from Glen Nevis by following the Mountain Track as far as Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe and then forking left away from the crowds this will then take you to Ben Nevis via the Carn Mor Dearg Arete which is quite a serious walk.

On a fine clear day the view ranges from Ben Lomond the most southern munro, The Torridon Hills in the north west, Lochnagar in The Cairngorms and Barra Head in the Outer Hebrides. On exceptionally clear days, Ireland can just be seen which is almost 200 kilometres (125 miles) away.

The number of registered munro-madness users who have climbed Ben Nevis is Fifty-Three