We Underestimated The UK’s Highest Mountain – Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis was not what we expected!
We travelled to Fort William, Scotland to tackle the UK’s highest mountain and honestly, we thought that it’d be a walk in the park but that we not the case.
The weather was one of the biggest challenges as we battled through wind and rain to make our way to the top of Ben Nevis and with hopes of camping on the United Kingdom’s highest mountain…
Let’s just say that things didn’t quite go to plan…
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Chapters
0:00 – Let’s Gooooo!
1:36 – The First Rain
3:32 – We Found The Loch
7:13 – The Final Push
10:16 – We Made It!
12:50 – The Hike Back Down Begins
15:45 – Outro
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Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, stands at 1,345 meters (4,413 feet) above sea level. Located in the Scottish Highlands, near the town of Fort William, it is a prominent feature of the Grampian Mountain range. The name “Ben Nevis” is derived from the Scottish Gaelic “Beinn Nibheis,” which is often interpreted as “Mountain of Heaven” or “Venomous Mountain,” reflecting both its majestic presence and its challenging conditions.
Geography and Landscape
Ben Nevis is characterised by its rugged landscape and steep cliffs, particularly on the north face, which is popular among climbers for its challenging routes. This face includes the towering “North Face” cliffs, some of the highest in Britain, offering rock and ice climbing opportunities. In contrast, the southern and western slopes, which are part of the main ascent route, are more gradual and grassy.
The summit of Ben Nevis is a broad plateau, often shrouded in mist, and contains the remnants of an old observatory that was manned continuously from 1883 to 1904 to record meteorological data. The summit can experience harsh weather conditions, with snow often persisting well into the summer months. Despite its relatively modest height compared to mountains globally, the unpredictable weather, steep drops, and complex terrain make Ben Nevis a serious challenge for hikers and climbers.
Hiking and Climbing
The most common route to the summit is the “Pony Track” or “Tourist Path,” which begins near the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre in Glen Nevis. This route is the most accessible but still demands a good level of fitness, as it involves a steep ascent and can take several hours to complete. More experienced climbers often take on the North Face, which offers some of the most difficult climbs in the UK, including winter ice climbing routes.
Ben Nevis is also a key feature of the “Three Peaks Challenge,” where participants aim to climb the highest peaks in Scotland, England, and Wales (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon) within 24 hours. The mountain sees around 100,000 ascents annually, making it a popular destination for adventurers from around the world.
Safety and Conservation
Given the mountain’s popularity and challenging conditions, safety is a major concern. Hikers are advised to be well-prepared, with suitable clothing, navigation equipment, and knowledge of the weather. The John Muir Trust, which owns part of the Ben Nevis estate, plays a key role in conservation efforts, maintaining paths and protecting the fragile environment.
In summary, Ben Nevis is not just a mountain but a symbol of Scotland’s natural beauty and a testament to the endurance of those who seek to conquer its heights. Whether for the challenge, the stunning views, or the sense of achievement, Ben Nevis continues to attract and inspire visitors from all over the globe.
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#bennevis #travelscotland #budgettravel
28 Comments
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Hi guy's . be careful have a lovely day . Love you guy's 😘❤😘
The weather was so unkind to to ❤
Well done! You did not quit!
It is definitely a slog. I have made 3 summits, the first one I underestimated it with food and struggled. The 3rd time I weather watched for WEEKS so that I knew i would have a view, was well worth the wait 🙂
Mistake 1: you didn't check the mountain weather.
Mistake 2: you didn't layer up quickly enough. You shouldn't have allowed yourselves to get so cold.
Mistake 3: you didn't go by the Carn Mor Dearg route which is much more challenging and scrambly
Mistake 4: encouraging people to carry the least amount of stuff possible. Too many people go up Britain's highest mountain without being equipped for climbing a mountain.
"I don't want to complain but I want to complain." 🤣 There are a lot of people who have complained their way up and down Nevis, you're free to do so as well! The cold is brutal and often painful, so layering up (and with the right materials) is a literal lifesaver.
You completed it and managed to smile – mostly! Good job 🏔
O yes we back on the road again i love it
Great video! Making me want to climb again 😂
Greetings from Malang, Indonezia 🇮🇩
Don't you guys miss durians & pecel ? 😁😁
Always take gloves and a couple of hats, extra chocolate, salami, chocolate and emergency chocolate.
This is normal summer weather in the mountains in Scotland.
If the sun shines it’s rare.
The bored person should try the north face, or the CMG arete, perhaps the Ledge route. Even supposed experienced walkers/climbers get caught out in Scottish hills. The wind coupled with the rain, and the generally unpredictable weather, make Scottish hills dangerous places for the ill prepared and unwary.
hundreds of people up the ben every day.no toilets and your drinking right from the stream not even a filter taking a chance m8
That's because she went up the tourist route of Ben Nevis that she said it was boring. There is also the Carn Mòr Dearg route and those who climb the North Face who do mountain climbing.
Been to the summit twice; the first time I climbed it I was lucky to get the clear view at the summit, funny thing is, the grass was frosty in the morning in October, yet the second time I climbed it to the summit in 2006 from 3 quarters the way up it was like that only completely snowed in and that was during June or July summer time. It just shows you it's your luck.
Nonetheless, congrats to both of you for reaching the summit, there have apparently been many fatalities of people climbing it, and no wonder, probably standing too close to the edge or whatever else.
Not sure why anyone is expecting scrambling on the path that’s literally called “the tourist path”. Sophie seemed experienced, so why didn’t she look at the various routes up The Ben that would have offered a more thrilling experience. Strange
Boring is NOT a word id use to describe Scotland with its beautiful views. She’s a pure clown who used that word.
Climed Ben Nevis many times,the disappointing thing is only once for about ten minutes did the cloud clearl but when it did I could see as far as Mallaig. PS the Golden Eagles are majestic. PS I'd recommend it to anyone
Enjoyed the video !
Nothing boring about Ben Nevis it's a great achievement to reach the summit and something to be proud of !! It's a truly unique place that is like no where else in Britain !!
we were totally unprepared for the Ben. shorts, t shirt and a bottle of water each. the weather was 75 degrees in fort William but up on the summit it was like winter. my feet were in bits when I got down. 2.5 hours up and 1.5 hours down.
Everyone with a GoPro is making these awful videos
Do it for fun…. & when it stops being fun do not be afraid to give up & try again on a better day. That is the best way to enjoy the Scottish mountains.
Stuff the macho "we will complete this at any cost" as that is dangerous.
I've camped on the top of Ben Nevis (CMD route), I've regularly played on the Cairngorm plateau in February (& in whiteout) & plenty of times we've said "this is crap, lets turn back" & that is nothing to be ashamed of. Because of that we can enjoy it again next year.
I'll tell you the macho that really saddens me (that way too regularly happens every year)…. University Mountaineering clubs driving up 400miles from down South & having come that far they are not going to be put off regardless of what the weather is doing. WRONG!…. you need to go with the weather & not fight it….. check out the number who came up & the numbers who went home. We want these numbers to match but WAY too often they don't.
A quick "thought experiment" for people going into these conditions:-
When you stop walking you feel cold. Not every hilltop has mobile coverage. Very few mountains have a refuge on them. Assume you badly twist your ankle and cannot walk. Hunker down & wait for your partner to go & get help…. assume 1.5 hours for them to walk out, assume 1 hour for Mountain rescue to assemble & 2 hours for them to walk back in to get to you… have you got enough kit with you to protect yourself from the conditions for 4.5 hours of not moving & not be dead from hypothermia before they get to you?…. (not a problem with a bothy/bivvy bag, extra sweater, suitable hat & gloves).
In the mountains I'd always recommend the philosophical outlook not the macho one. Take Bear Grylls & Ray Mears… drop them both into the middle of a windswept barren wilderness & Bear will show you the fastest, most dynamic, most macho way to get out of there in the quickest time possible… whereas Ray would say "mmmm, seems nice here. I think I may stay for a bit first"….. when it comes to dib dib dib who is the best prepared.
Every year folk die on the Scottish mountains because they don't respect them .not knocking the young couple they did well .
1:55 In all honesty found her interview a bit boring..
Should have deleted it…
This time next year she won't be bored, the ferris wheel and go-kart trak will be at the summit. 😂
In good weather this mountain is little more than a stroll in the park, that little kids and grannies can trot up. I experienced such a day at Easter around 40 years ago. Unfortunately such good weather isn't common in Scotland.
Hi guys! I almost gave up during the climb, but training your mind makes all the difference.
These 2 crazy guys that morning they made me dive into a frozen lake, which was another way to train your mind. 😄
Take care. Lorenzo 🇮🇹
Not a place to treat lightly, because if you come to grief, somebody will have to come and get you.
Completely unprepared for the task ahead. Wrong clothing, footwear and equipment.
That's what gets people dead.
Hopefully you learned from this, and won't repeat in future.
You don't just put yourselves at risk with this stupidity.
Everyone underestimates this mountain because of the tourist path.
Love from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰🙂❤️ please come back ❤🎉😢