Summit Ben Nevis Challenge Weekend

Meeting Time: from 5pm
You can arrive any time from 5pm - the Large Outdoors host will be at the accommodation to welcome you. Dinner will be served around 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.

Meeting Location:
Corran Bunkhouse
South Corran
Onich
Fort William
PH33 6SE

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Parking: Free parking is available at Corran Bunkhouse.

Public Transport: The Citylink coach from Glasgow or Glasgow Airport to Fort William stops a few minutes walk away from Corran Bunkhouse. This is by far the easiest way to arrive by public transport. Nearest Train Station: Fort William (approx. 8.8 miles away), with services to/from Glasgow.

Please Note: The start point for the Ben Nevis walk is a 20-minute drive away, so you would need to car share with someone if you intend to travel to the accommodation by public transport. (We do set up WhatsApp groups for participants to say hello in advance of the trip - many people use this to request a car share.)

You’ll stay at Corran Bunkhouse for two nights during our Ben Nevis Weekend Challenge. This independent hostel is a favourite of hikers in the area, owing to its comfortable rooms, great social areas, and access to the best routes in the local area - including to the top of Ben Nevis!

Accommodation Address:
Corran Bunkhouse
South Corran
Onich
Fort William
PH33 6SE

Room Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin Room

At this hostel there are Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - some with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared). There are also Twin Rooms (en-suite bathrooms with two single beds), which sleep up to two participants booking together.

Included:

• 2 nights’ accommodation at Corran Bunkhouse.

• A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you and deal with the logistics for your experience.

• A Large Outdoors guide to lead you on your Ben Nevis summit walk (Day 2).

• Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on both evenings.

• A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).

• A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2’s walk.

• Teas (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.

• Bedding and a towel - but don’t forget your own toiletries.

• The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

• Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

Not Included:

• Travel to and from the meeting location.

• Travel from the accommodation to the Ben Nevis walk start point and back - this is a 20-minute drive away - we don't include transport and participants normally car share.

• Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.

• Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

• Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.

• Any food or drinks you choose to purchase at any restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

• Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.

The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.

Centred around Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, the Western Highlands of Scotland are a region of high peaks and deep valleys, bordered in the west by the Atlantic.

There are several major mountain ranges, including the Mamores and the Grey Corries, and the great valleys of Glen Coe and Glen Spean, which cut through the region running east to west.

The area is hugely popular with walkers, climbers, mountain bikers and kayakers, and hosts the towns of Fort William and Oban, as well as many beautiful villages.

The world-famous long distance trail of the West Highland Way cuts through the region, running from Glasgow to Fort William.

Yes - summiting Ben Nevis is a proper challenge. This is a long day (most groups complete this walk in 8-10 hours) with 11 miles (17.7km) to cover, as well as 1,353m (4,435ft) of ascent. It’s important we walk at a good pace to complete the challenge within daylight hours.

You should ensure you have a good level of fitness before embarking on the challenge, comfortable with walking long distances with a good level of ascent and descent. The more training you do, the more enjoyable you’ll find the challenge.

In terms of Large Outdoors experience levels, we grade this walk as Active Plus - see Large Outdoors experience levels here.

The guide determines the pace, based on the group as a whole. They will do their very best to accommodate the speed of the group they are leading, whilst providing the encouragement needed to complete the challenge. The pace might be a little slower or faster than you’re used to but your guide will advise you of the pace required to complete the challenge safely within the designated time. Most groups complete the walk in 8-10 hours.

There is a cut-off time and point that your guide will work towards in terms of setting the pace. If you miss this cut-off then you will be unable to continue with the challenge and asked to turn back - this is for safety and the fairness of the group experience, in line with our Terms & Conditions.

Your guide reserves the right to ask you to drop out of the walk at a safe point if they are concerned about your ability to complete within the time limit and/or to meet the cut-off point in good time. This is for safety and the fairness of the group experience, in line with our Terms & Conditions.

If at any point you feel that you cannot keep up and/or will not be able to complete the challenge, it’s vital you let your guide know as soon as possible. Your safety and that of the group is their paramount concern, so the sooner they know the sooner they can assist.

As per the Compulsory Kit List, it is important that you have money and a mobile phone with you if for any reason you are unable to complete the challenge and need to leave the group - you may need to arrange a taxi or public transport back to your accommodation/for onward travel.

Please see our General (Walking) Kit List, which applies to our Ben Nevis challenge walks.

The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed. Failure to attend with all of these items may mean you are unable to take part, as per our Terms & Conditions.

There are toilets at the start/finish point but please note these are independently operated, so we can’t guarantee opening times and/or availability. There are no toilets on the route or at the summit.

There are no opportunities for water refills or food along the route, so you should bring sufficient water (at least 2-3 litres per person) and plenty of food for the day.

Always remember: your Large Outdoors guide is there to help you! If you experience any difficulties please let them know as soon as possible.

If you think you are developing a blister, let your guide know and they’ll take a little time to make sure you get a plaster on it and try to advise you on stopping your boots rubbing.

The best way to deal with blisters is always prevention: a good pair of socks (or two - spare socks are a luxury worth having on a big challenge walk!) and a pair of boots that are already worn-in. This challenge is not the place to break-in a new pair of boots, so make sure you take them out for several good training walks before the big day.

All of our Ben Nevis Challenges are guided and undertaken as a group. This is part of the experience and we hope you have a fantastic time.

We strongly recommend that you stay with the group and your guide throughout the challenge.

If you choose to leave the group, our guide will advise you that you are leaving the Ben Nevis Challenge organised by Large Outdoors and we will therefore not be responsible for your wellbeing going forward.

As good practice, your guide may ask you to contact them by text message when you have returned to your car/accommodation. However, your guide cannot be your ‘emergency contact’, so you must notify a trusted third-party of your intentions so they can contact the emergency services if you do not report in at an advised time.

As per our Compulsory Kit List, we ask you to ensure you have a mobile phone and money with you.

Parking at the meeting point is pay-and-display, so you’ll need cash/card to pay for vehicle parking.

If for any reason you are unable to complete the challenge and need to leave the group, you may need to arrange a taxi or public transport back to your accommodation/for onward travel. Taking a mix of cash and a card is advised.

If, for any reason, you leave the group, we ask that you contact your guide by text message when you have returned to your car/accommodation as a courtesy.

Plus, it’s always a good idea to have a mobile phone with you when you’re exploring the outdoors, just in case of emergency. There’s usually a signal for parts of this walk, although it can be patchy in places.

Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

We do not provide any transport for this experience. The start point for the Ben Nevis walk is a 20-minute drive from the accommodation we stay in - we don't include transport and participants normally car share.

Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.

Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.