Group Walk up Ben Nevis from Fort William
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Fort William, Scotland
- 7 to 9 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Take on the UK's highest mountain and experience the best of the Scottish countryside on this 8-hour Ben Nevis hike from Fort William. Follow a guide along rugged trails to the peak of Ben Nevis, and gain insight into the wildlife and geology for which the mountain is famous. Along the way, admire spectacular views over the surrounding lakes, forests, peaks and valleys. Enjoy the feeling of achievement at the top, then perhaps finish your day with a refreshing pint back at base!
- 8-hour group hike up Ben Nevis from Fort William
- Admire panoramic views over the surrounding countryside
- Gain insight into Scotland’s rich flora and fauna
- Hike along winding trails to the top of Ben Nevis with a guide
- Perhaps end your day with a well-earned beer back at base
What's Included
- Experienced mountain leader
- Lunch
- Transport between your accommodation and the start/finish point
- Personal accident insurance
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Ben Nevis Visitor CentreVisitor Centre, Glen Nevis, Fort William PH33 6ST, UK
Departure Point: Ben Nevis Visitor Centre PH33 6ST Dates: Wednesdays and Sundays from May through September
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.8:30 am
Itinerary
1
Ben Nevis
8 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Abacus Mountain Guides
8 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Service animals allowed
- Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
POHSI_W
Sally is the best hiking guide I have ever seen. She's friendly, welcoming and always taking care of everyone. Although my muscles are still sore, I am very happy and recommend this trip.
Reviews
4.9
based on 111 reviews
Robert_V, Aug 2024
The amazing views for Glen Nevis and the Lochaber are at different points on the hike. Keith, the tour guide, was great at advising us when to put on warmer gear.
POHSI_W, Jul 2024
Sally is the best hiking guide I have ever seen. She's friendly, welcoming and always taking care of everyone. Although my muscles are still sore, I am very happy and recommend this trip.
Tania_H, Jun 2024
We had a fantastic guide Angus who was informative and patient. Also great on the tour we got to meet. I t took us 10 hours to complete but what an adventure totally worth it and also using a guide especially if you’re not familiar with these mountains.
Rebecca_L, Aug 2023
Brilliant guide and a lovely group of likeminded people! 10/10 recommend to book this. Guide answered lots of various questions along the way along with little stop offs to point out things about the mountain and it’s geology and history.
Annemay_S, Aug 2023
A lovely hike, and a great guide made for a great day up the Ben. Andy was lovely and though I knew no one beforehand, the people in the group were up for a chat and proved to be nice company for the long and steep road ahead.
Dave_C, Aug 2023
Great atmosphere, Dave and Fraser very courteous, professional and knowledgeable. They kept everyone focused with the right amount of control and communication. Pity they couldn’t arrange the weather at the top.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Evelyn_P, Jul 2023
Achieving Ben Nevis was definitely an amazing experience for me had a fantastic day so loved it and my guide Sally was fantastic
Jacqui_O, Jul 2023
Our guide Sally was fantastic. Friendly helpful and encouraging. Had a great experience.Highly recommend!!
Zoey_G, Jul 2023
Getting to the top was far worth every hidden bridge was so much higher than expected but worth every step!
edwin_k, Jun 2023
Something I've wanted to do for a while. Thanks to Abacus and Fraser for facilitating.
All round good experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you!
Nansi_W, Jun 2023
Our group walk was led by Euan. There were 5 of us with him. We left at 8am from the Ben Nevis Inn and we were back by just before 4pm so the timings were very accurate. Euan led the walk really well and made sure we had enough rest breaks and also that we weren't at the top too long with the risk of getting too cold.
The scenery was stunning and there was also a really nice camaraderie with other walking groups. The path itself was clear and not too steep - it's just the length that means your leg muscles tell you all about it the next day! A bucket list item ticked off and an amazing day out!
Linda_M, Jun 2023
So lucky with the weather - good knowledgeable guide who didn't talk too much which is good. Excellent day out
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thanks Linda, brilliant!
Chantal_D, Aug 2022
Went with my guide Sally, very informative, good safety check and monitoring of my pace and ability throughout the walk. Great knowledge of local land upkeep and habitat made a difficult challenge easier proud to say I made the summit of Ben Nevis.
Amy_T, Jul 2022
We drank fresh mountain water which tastes amazing and the stunning views were breathtaking with helpful information shared by tour guides.
Gian_P, Jul 2022
The hike up Ben Nevis was absolutely wonderful. The weather was perfect and Sally, our fantastic tour guide, made sure that we all got up and down safe and sound. She told us fascinating facts and stories about Britain's highest mountain. It was also really fun and interesting to talk with the other people of the group hike.
Christopher_L, Jul 2022
Sally was an incredible tour guide. We had a fantastic day on the mountain, I highly recommend it to anyone who loves the hiking in nature.
Haley_H, May 2022
Our guide Mike and his trainee guide Fraser were amazing.
Really efficient, helpful and pleasant.
The group I went up with were also lovely people and having people to chat to definitely helped my motivation to get to the top.
Mike had spare gloves and waterproof coats etc for those who didn't.
Overall it was a great day, the weather was just right. Lots of lovely sunshine coming down.
Just a brilliant day with the best guides.
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Thank you. It was lovely to spend the day with you.
rachel_c, Aug 2021
Well organised, professional guides - flexible - allowing the group to go at their own pace and plenty of breaks.
Irving_J, Aug 2021
Unfortunately, exceptionally hot weather meant I dropped out of this walk before halfway due to my age and carrying excess baggage but the guide was very understanding. Fortunately my partner was able to carry on and gleaned many tips which helped us when she and I climbed the mountain together in milder weather the very next day! A great experience in the end!
Iwa, Jul 2021
Scott, the guide, was very friendly and informative. Group was too slow for me but no one fault.
Was good walk.
Response from Host, Aug 2021
Thanks for your review, much appreciated.
NicholasM_C, Jun 2021
Gary, the team leader, was extremely informative and friendly and was very sympathetic to our limitations! His focus was mature and he never rushed us at any time. He obviously enjoys his job and is really enthusiadtic
Ray_D, May 2021
Although hundreds of people doing the walk without a guide I felt safer knowing someone was about knowing the mountain route
Hugh_A, May 2021
Spectacular views all the way even at the summit. Craig my guide was brilliant, very knowledgeable and kept me going even though I felt at times as though the legs had given up. Highly recommended and if you are as fortunate as I was to such a great guide you've won before you've even started. Thanks for a great and and brilliant experience.
Maureen_S, Sep 2020
The communications from the start of booking to completion of the walk was very good. The walk was unable to go ahead on the original date due to a yellow weather warning. We were delighted that through communication and negotiation the event organiser was able to rearrange the walk to accommodate our availability. The guide we were assigned to support us on the walk was first class. Would definitely recommend.
Helen_S, Aug 2020
Achieving the walk with such a friendly guide was great! We met on time and she was very knowledgable about the area and mountain so I learnt a lot too. Thank you!
Vincent_C, Aug 2019
Overall speaking, it's a great day to do the summit on a whole-day hike. The ever changing weather itself is the major challenge. It is a bit disappointing that the summit peak is entirely covered by thick fog. I would say, the guide is not entirely necessary, anyone who has experience in hiking should be able to do the summit on their own, following the well-established trail.
BackpackerAnton, Aug 2018
Amazing experience! Totally worth the money! Beautiful views during the hike! Makes you feel alive;)
And cheers to our guide Rachel who beside being a very nice guide really saved us with her extra gear (gloves, vest , hat and hot juice at the top) - we could not have done it without her!:)
AnandLeo, Dec 2017
I am 72 years of age when walking the Ben Nevis. I often go on mountain walks averaging about 2000ft ascent and 11 miles long. They are strenuous walks. Ben Nevis is twice the height. However, I have heard that a car has been driven up the Ben Nevis that gave me the illusion that there is a passable track on foot.
The weather forecast for the day was not good, with heavy rain and showers forecast in the afternoon. I was kitted in rainproof clothes that was ideal for the day. It was a September day, and the weather was fine in the morning. I met the guide Rich at the starting point near the Ben Nevis Inn. There was only one other walker in our party, he was younger than me. The walk up to the wooden bridge was easy. The view was only to the west and south over the Glen Nevis valley. There are few hills further to the west and south. Farther away around the horizon there were blue mountains shrouded in stratus clouds. Beyond about 200 m elevation, the mountain track or the tourist path we followed is rugged rocky climb. I was able to keep a steady pace without a sign of exhaustion. However, I had limited strength to lift myself up when clambering up a high rise, and mentioned to the guide that there is a tendency to fall back. The walking pole was a help, yet the guide Rich said he is behind me. On this stretch of the track on the south face of the Meall an t-Suidhe we met few men laying stones to improve the path. After the rocky climb, we reached an easy saddle about halfway of the walk.
The guide Rich was pleased with my ability to scramble up the rocky ascent. The camera bag swinging from the front and the pain its strap induced on the neck was a distracting impediment.
To the north, there is the conspicuous Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe. I took many photographs on the way. After crossing the saddle, we headed along the long ascending path on the western face of the Carn Dearg where we also cross the Red Burn a small river, prominent feature of tourist path landscape. At the end of this long stretch, is the beginning of the zigzag path. I felt the air bit chilly but my jacket was fine for the walk, bearing in mind that jackets can make excessively hot and sweaty on mountain walks. As we continued up the zigzag track, even though the scree path was easy to walk on, I was unable to ascend continually at steady pace. I chose to stop at every corner that also served as a moment to take photos of the path. The pace of the walk was, sprint start that quickly slows down for a brief respite. According to the guide, we were neither fast nor slow and he was happy with our pace. After the zigzag, we conquered an ascent straight up, and reached the Ben Nevis summit plateau covered in boulders. The guide showed us two gullies on the north face. On the summit, there are ruins of a hotel, remnant room of the old observatory, and the Trig Point built on a pedestal at an altitude of 1344 m. We took 4.5 hours to ascend. The summit was misty as seen on the photos. Visibility was good for the eye, however not for the camera. Mist was pronounce around the summit, there was no view of scenery around the summit. After a short stop for lunch, we started a brisk descent. On the lower part of the zigzag path, we met the forecast rain. It did not last long and I was able to continue taking photos. On the descent over the rugged rocky track, I felt a pain in the calves that was not a usual symptom. The usual pain in the feet was pronounce. Rocks can be slippery. The legs were teetering on the verge of instability. The walking pole is more helpful in the descent and virtually indispensable for me. We descended in 3.5 hours. Unusually, I did not feel any pain or discomfort after we returned to the base or on the following day. With regard to the story of car driven up the Ben Nevis, there is no evidence of this. However, there is a film clip on YouTube of a Ford model T driven down the snowy Ben Nevis in the 1911.
Leona B, Oct 2017
This is not really my thing and the day was miserable in terms of weather so the experience for me wasn't pleasant but Sarah our tour person and guide got us safely up and back even when we were the last ones and took a bit longer than everyone else. Thank you so much!!!
Jamie A, Jul 2017
Great walk so glad I did this and what a day for it, could not have planned for better weather. Views were amazing took lots of photos. Guide was really fun and told me lots of interesting stuff about the mountains.
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