Ben Nevis, Scotland: The Highland Master

Ben Nevis is the „Big Grey.“ It is a mountain of stone, water, and ancient history. While it’s the shortest on this list (1345m), it starts near sea level, meaning you feel every single meter of that climb.

The Route: The Mountain Track (The Pony Track)

• Starting Point: Glen Nevis Visitor Centre (near Fort William).
• Distance: 17km round trip.
• Elevation Gain: 1352m
• Time: 7 to 9 hours.

The Deep Dive

The hike starts with a steady, punishing climb up a well-maintained gravel path. You’ll cross the Red Burn stream—this is a good place to catch your breath. The scenery is classic Scotland: emerald green hills and rushing water.

The „Z-Walks“ begin after the halfway lochan. This is a series of endless switchbacks across a boulder field. This is where most people get tired. The air gets colder, and the vegetation disappears. The summit is a massive, flat plateau of shattered rocks. You’ll find the ruins of an old meteorological observatory and several stone „cairns.“

Hiker’s Pro-Tips:

• Navigation is Life: Ben Nevis is famous for „The Ben Mist.“ Visibility can drop to $5\text{m}$ in seconds. The summit plateau is surrounded by „Five Finger Gullies“—cliffs that drop hundreds of meters. You must know how to follow a compass bearing to find the descent path safely.
• The North Face Secret: If you are an experienced hiker who wants a challenge, look up the CMD Arête route. It’s a razor-sharp ridge walk that connects a neighboring peak to Ben Nevis. It’s far more scenic and difficult than the standard track.
• The Weather Rule: If it’s 15° in Fort William, it is likely 0° on the summit with 50mph winds. Take a hat, gloves, and a full waterproof shell even in July.