Group of hikers standing on grassy hillside with mountains in the background, holding trekking poles.
Hikers climbing a rocky mountain path with a green valley view in the background under cloudy skies.
Group of hikers celebrating on rocky terrain holding a 'Large Outdoors' banner, wearing colorful jackets and beanies.
Group of hikers trekking up a snowy mountain path with scenic views of distant hills and a lake under a clear blue sky.
Group of hikers walking on a mountainous trail with scenic views of valleys and hills.
Group of hikers on a mountain trail with trekking poles, surrounded by grassy landscape and distant hills under a cloudy sky.
Hikers ascending a rocky mountain trail with a scenic view of rolling hills and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.
Group of hikers posing on a rocky mountain summit on a foggy day.
Group of hikers climbing a rocky mountain trail with a scenic landscape in the background, including mountains, a lake, and a cloudy sky.
Scenic mountain landscape with rocky slopes, rolling hills, and lush green valleys under a partly cloudy sky.
Group of hikers with backpacks and a dog walking on a rocky mountain trail under a clear blue sky.
Group of hikers posing by a signpost for Ben Nevis and Visitor Centre in a forested area.

Ben Nevis Challenge – Guided Day Walk

Standing at an impressive 1,345m (4,413ft), hiking to the summit of Ben Nevis (Beinn Nibheis) is a challenging, awesome, and unforgettable experience.

Please Note: We’re no longer offering the Ben Nevis Challenge as an open event. However, you can still arrange a private trip through our Hire a Guide service – perfect for small groups or as a memorable charity challenge.

🔗 Hire a Guide: https://www.largeoutdoors.com/hire-a-guide
🔗 Charity Challenges: https://www.largeoutdoors.com/charity-challenge

 

Challenge yourself to reach the UK’s highest peak!

If you’re up for a challenge then walking to the top of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis (Beinn Nibheis), is a pretty good one to undertake. Ben Nevis, standing at 1,345m (4,413ft)), is on the west coast of Scotland, right in the heart of the Highlands. The views from the summit of ‘Big Ben’ are spectacular, from the hundreds of other summits visible from the top, right over to the Atlantic and the western isles.

Whether you’re considering taking on Ben Nevis as a bucket-list adventure; tackling the peak as a charity or corporate challenge walk; want to mark a milestone birthday; or just fancy an epic outdoorsy experience - Large Outdoors can provide a friendly, qualified guide and a group of fellow Ben Nevis-baggers to help you do just that!

Suggested Itinerary - Ben Nevis Challenge Walk

Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!

Your Large Outdoors guide will meet you at 8am, at the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre at the foot of Ben Nevis.

We start the approximately 11 mile (17.7km) long walk by striking out across the River Nevis, and quickly start the uphill journey. Gradually, we make our way up the rocky but clear trail that skirts the slopes of Meall an t-Suidhe. Views ahead will be of the spectacular wooded Glen Nevis, and before long we’ll be half-way, marked by the famous ‘half-way lochan’ of Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe.

Beyond this point, the trail begins to zig-zag upwards, leaving much of the vegetation behind as we rise up to the summit plateau along the rocky path. Just at the point that your muscles are starting to make themselves known you’ll be boosted by glimpses of the summit and then, ta-dah, there it is, in all its glory!

On a clear day or through tantalising breaks in the clouds the views from the summit of Ben Nevis are jaw dropping. From the sight of the islands of the Hebrides and the ocean and across to the surrounding mountain peaks, the moment is quite humbling and deserves to be marked by sitting there eating a sarnie or two.

What’s more, you can gaze down the 700 metre North Face, one of the highest cliffs in the UK. The summit area was once the home to Britain’s highest building, a weather observatory that was built and manned by the Victorians – you can still see the ruins to this day.

After taking time to celebrate on the summit, we’ll begin the return journey, which will be down the same route. By this point you’ll be a bit giddy having done the hard uphill work. However, with steep descents still in the offing, and tiring limbs, you’ll be glad of the encouraging words from the Large Outdoors guide and distractions provided by the group’s discussions - which invariably veer towards what plate of food is going to be devoured that evening!

Most groups complete this walk in 8-10 hours.

Essential Information

  • Meeting Time: 8am (to start walking at 8:15am)

    Meeting Location:
    Ben Nevis Visitor Centre
    Glen Nevis
    Fort William
    PH33 6PF

    Parking: There is parking available at Ben Nevis Visitor Centre, even when Centre itself is closed. Per vehicle charge of £8 applies (cash/card).

    Public Transport: Unfortunately, the meeting location and time for this Large Outdoors experience is not accessible by public transport. Ben Nevis Visitor Centre is located 2 miles from the nearest Train Station at Fort William, with services to/from Glasgow.

  • Included:

    • A Large Outdoors guide to lead you on your Summit Ben Nevis Challenge.

    • 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 or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

    Not included:

    • Travel to and from the meeting location.

    • Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, 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 General (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.