Ben Nevis
Beinn Nibheis
The highest mountain in the United Kingdom at 1,345 m. The route from Fort William can be completed in a day, and its north face is a mecca for ice climbers.
Beinn Nibheis lies east of Fort William and at 1,345 m is the highest peak in the British Isles. The most common route to the summit is the Mountain Track, also known as the Tourist Path, which starts from the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. The round trip covers about 17 km with roughly 1,300 m of ascent and takes 7–9 hours. The path is clear but rocky, and the summit is often shrouded in cloud, which covers it about three-quarters of the year. Temperatures there are more than 10°C lower than at the base, and it can snow even in summer. At the top you will find the remains of an old weather observatory and a memorial. The north face cliffs rise up to 600 m and are a classic destination for British ice climbing and mountaineering. Visitors with moderate fitness can instead walk up Glen Nevis to An Steall Bàn, a round trip of about 3 km with superb scenery, or take the Nevis Range gondola to the 650 m viewpoint on the nearby peak Aonach Mòr for a view of Beinn Nibheis. For the summit, bring a waterproof jacket, insulating layers, a map or offline navigation, and plenty of food and water. Check the mountain weather forecast, and it is not recommended to hike alone in foggy conditions.
Opening hours
Open all day; Nevis Range gondola approx. 09:30–17:00 (varies by season)
Nearby sights
- Glen Nevis & Steall Falls
- Nevis Range Mountain Gondola
- Ben Nevis Distillery
- Old Inverlochy Castle
- Kinlochleven & Grey Mare's Tail
- Neptune's Staircase
- The Jacobite Steam Train
- West Highland Museum