Ben Nevis from Corpach on the shores of Loch Eil, Lochaber, Scotland (Shutterstock)
Looking for some Great British adventure inspiration? You're in the right place. Here you'll get an independent, ad-free lowdown on Britain's top 50 adventure locations - the online yin to the paper yang of our Joyously Busy Great British Adventure Map.
Why Go To Ben Nevis & Glen Nevis?
Ben Nevis may be famous, but it hasn't let that go to its head. Just some of many things you can do there that you can't do anywhere else...
Hike up Britain's highest mountain, also one of Europe's prime climbing locations
Begin or, preferably, end one of Britain's great walking routes, the West Highland Way
Base yourself at Fort William, self-styled 'outdoor capital of the UK' and arguably the closest place in Britain to so many great adventures (including many of the Top 50)
Want to find out more? Read on for great photos, articles, videos, top tips and other content to fire up your adventure appetite. Got a question? Ask away.
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Everyone should get to the top of Ben Nevis once in their lives. It's a proper mountain, with heavy snow and winds frequently experienced even in summer. Aside from the tourist path (no leisurely stroll), there's a ridge walk (Carn Mor Dearg) and for climbers a plethora of vertical options up the north face. This guide from Visit Scotland is well worth a read if you're planning a trip up the Ben.
The Ledge Route on Ben Nevis
Glen Nevis, the neighbouring valley, is nae bad too...
The River Nevis in Glen Nevis, Lochaber, Scotland (Shutterstock)
The essential journey in these parts, other than reaching the top of Britain's highest mountain, is the West Highland Way, which goes from Glasgow to Fort William, through such stunning scenery as Loch Lomond and Glen Coe.
Below is a little winter sports inspiration from the Ben, or you can see what's going on on Ben Nevis thanks to this webcam.
It's not all about The Ben, though. The Mamores, an east-west ridge lying between Glen Nevis in the north and Loch Leven to the south, provide one of Britain's best ridge walks / scrambles, and there are Munros and other fine peaks in almost every direction and within close range of Fort William.
Getting To Ben Nevis & Glen Nevis, Maps & Guides
Getting there: Arrive by car from Fort William (0.5 hr) or Glasgow (2.5 hrs). The best way to reach Fort William from the south, although not cheap, is the Caledonian Sleeper. Wake up to the views of wild Rannoch Moor.
Travel times from where you are: See Ben Nevis & Glen Nevis on Google Maps.
Maps: Find the right Ordnance Survey maps and / or get a month's free subscription to their excellent OS Maps app.
Guidebooks: The Ben (and Glen) are covered in both Lonely Planet's and Rough Guide's Highlands and Islands guidebooks.
Walking route guidance: WalkingHighlands.
Tourist board: Visit Scotland.
Even More Ben Nevis & Glen Nevis Adventure Inspiration
Another shot of Ben Nevis from Loch Eil because.. why not? (VisitScotland)
Ben Nevis is owned and managed by the John Muir Trust. Another organisation to know about is the Nevis Landscape Partnership - below are two rather good films from them all about the Ben, its geology and its botany.
Filmed by Dave MacLeod in 2014 when he joined a team of mountaineers, geologists & botanists on the unexplored parts of Ben Nevis.
The follow-up, focusing on the human history of the area from the first families who lived at Steall to the current British Fell-running Champion Finlay Wild.
Not to be taken as literal inspiration for modern-day adventures, someone drove a car over Ben Nevis in 1911...
.... and on the summit an observatory was continuously staffed between 1883 and 1904. Now, that's a job they should bring back.
What Next?
Click here to see 49 other Great British adventure locations and tell us about your adventures, plans and suggestions for these pages.
Britain's Best Outdoorsy Bits... Mapped!
Liking what you see, but fancy keeping it old school with an actual paper map? Our Joyously Busy Great British Adventure Map features all of Britain's best outdoorsy bits (including the Top 50), plus some enjoyably random and vaguely useful stuff too. Available either as a 2-sided fold-out map or a framed wall map (office furniture and fake plants not included).
