Ben Nevis Climbing Tour

We join the tour in Fort William, beautifully located along the shores of Loch Linnhe, beneath the imposing backdrop of Ben Nevis. Arriving in time to enjoy an afternoon and evening in Fort William we’ll have a chance to relax and freshen up before a briefing on the itinerary for the coming days ahead.

Overnight Hostel (H+)

Britain’s highest peak at 1,344m, Ben Nevis lies close to the shores of the beautifully scenic Glen Nevis, whose classic splendour offers us one of the most stunning glens in the Highlands. Surrounded by fertile slopes of bracken and heather, the glen has provided a suitably impressive backdrop to such films as Braveheart and Rob Roy and presents us with the starting point of our hike up towards the craggy summit of Ben Nevis. The route up to the top is challenging and even in the summer it is not unknown for the summit to be covered in snow, so make sure that you treat this mountain with the respect it deserves. The rewards however are worth the efforts, with views out across the Isles of Skye and Mull, Glencoe and the Cairngorms in the distance. The path to the summit follows a switchback trail that leads up to the southern edges of a long ridge, following the path of an old Victorian pony trail that supplied the observatory that once stood on the top. Lying at the western edge of the Grampians, the western and southern slopes of the mountain present us with the longest and steepest slope in Britain, rising some 1200 metres from the valley floor in just 2 kilometres, resulting in an impressive bulk of towering granite. From the start of the hike at Achintee, on the eastern side of the glen, we follow a steep path up to the saddle by Lochan Meall (570m), from where we ascend the remaining 700 metres along a stony meandering track that leads up the western flanks of the mountain. The summit plateau is home to the remains of the 19th century observatory, along with a memorial dedicated to the dead of the Second World War and on a good day it is reputed that the views extend for nearly 200km over the surrounding landscapes, as far as Country Antrim in Northern Ireland. Total walking time: approx 7-9 hrs.

Overnight Hostel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

The morning we have an organised walk in the area to further enjoy the beauty of the Highlands or alternatively there are a number of optional activities available to make the most of these stunning landscapes. If you wish to kayak please contact www.rockhopperscotland.co.uk prior to your departure to ensure availability. Our tour ends in Fort William.

Included meals: Breakfast