Ben Nevis Trip Planning

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barnyg

Member
Hi Guys,

I'm planning a trip to the Scottish highlands sometime soon with a mate. I have a very long summer with free time to fill and i love walking (we've been to the lake district on walking holidays as a family every year since before i was born). The plan would be to climb Ben Nevis as well as hopefully a few other peaks around the area over the course of a few days. I know i don't yet own a z4 but i know a fair few members here are from Scotland and a few have documented 'road trips' around Scotland which have been great to read and follow. I hope you don't mind me asking like this.

I would love to be able to climb Ben Nevis as an obvious milestone being the tallest peak in the UK but having researched this i am aware of the inherent dangers due to unpredictable weather, specifically snow. Any advice on the best way to plan something like this including good peaks and potential driving routes from surrey up to the highlands along with options for accommodation for a couple of nights would be greatly appreciated.

It would be great to do this but i would like to do this safely so would rather call it off or change to the lakes if need be.

Thanks in advance,

Barny
 
Can't help in regards to climbing, i expect your on the wrong forum for that.

However when we go up for the down hill mountain biking championship we always stop at the lochy caravan park which is cheap and chearful.

Good luck and have fun :)
 
I've just been to Scotland (again) at the foot of ben nevis , got back last week.

We stayed in the Springwell Cottage and it was perfect. Just on the edge of town so quiet but still local. About 10 min cycle to the caledonian canal, neptune staircase, the distillery and the starting point for the Ben Nevis trail. Also very close to the Nevis Range cycle park where (as has been stated) the UCI world downhill is held. Had a go on a few bit of that on the Friday before the race. Mental.

My mate was pretty unprepared, but bought a map in the tourist information and made it to the top of Ben Nevis in good time. However I would advise to do some research as your correct, it can be very dangerous and he is an idiot.

Failing that, the owner of the cottage's son is part of the mountain rescue and always had hints and tips every morning for us of places to go.

If your planning on driving, the section of the A82 across the highlands rates as one of my favourite roads....drive within your limits as there are some big drops and I have never been and it and failed to see a car in a field on its side.... you have been warned!
 
Hi barnyg,

I stay in Spean Bridge which is about 10 miles from Ben Nevis. All of the advice above is good. There are loads of places to stay here and depends on what comfort / spend you want. Have a look and let me know what you fancy and I can give you a local perspective!

The Ben although the highest mountain in the Uk is actually an easy walk if you are reasonably fit and follow the tourist path. You just need some basic gear (backpack with waterproof gear, sensible shoes, warm clothing even at the height of Summer, some food, water and a mobile phone) and the correct attitude in that if the weather starts to close in then turn back and don't keep going just because. If you have more experience there are loads more routes which can offer a scramble or climb although if you are not confident then sticking to the path is the way to go. It is clearly marked and where it fades at the top due to just being scree you just follow the cairns.

I quite often run this route and it can take anywhere from three hours to run to six hours to walk up and down depending on your fitness. The pro runners do it in 1.5 hours but they are charging. There are loads of other places for a walk as well. At Aonach Mhor (mountain biking / skiing at different times of year) there are a huge number of forestry tracks with good vantage points and up Glen Nevis is beautiful as well.

The best bit is the roads! The A82 is good but the road to Mallaig, the Kinglochlevan ring and the road to Newtonmore through Roy Bridge all are great and are about 40miles from Fort William (80 round). If you want to go further then the road to Skye and is worth the drive.

Anyway as with all domestic hols a lot depends on the weather! :roll:


Here endeth the Scottish tourist board advertisement. :D
 
Thanks for the replies guys! Would definitely be of the attitude to turn back if weather was too bad and although not the fittest person, my walking experience over the years means a 10 hour walk is fairly easily achieved. As with any exercise its often the start which can be hard but once you're into it and warmed up your can keep going for an incredibly long time. I'll look into it fully before I commit to anything. I think the main cost may come with the petrol to get there; what started out as a cheap spontaneous trip for a few days may have been a bit of an underestimate!

Barny
 
Good thread barny. :thumbsup:

We are heading up that way in the Zed in late August. Hoping to get to sky for a few nights. Good tourist info for us southerners. I recall, from cycling past a number of times in my youth, that the Ben is rather more imposing than the tiny Granite Tors of Bodmin and Dartmoor where we do are walking. :oops:
 
That sounds great! I am used to slightly larger fells and peaks than that closer to the 1000m mark in the Lake District but no doubt the highlands will be something else entirely. If this does go ahead i'll put an update on here.
 
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