Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg Via CMD arete - Sept 2004

Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg Information

Ben Nevis , the highest mountain in the UK and unfortunately makes it the most abused by the feet of hundreds of walkers everyday.  A horrible tourist path was constructed to prevent this and everyone is made trek up this most boring path.  This can be avoided by including Carn Mor Dearg in your trip making it one of the ultimate classics by the ascending Ben Nevis via the Carn Mor Dearg arête.  Although Carn Mor Dearg is a massive hill itself (9th highest) standing next to “The Ben” this is never really taken into account.  The good thing about this route is you see something the tourist path walkers don’t see… The north face of “The Ben” what a site! Everyone seems to be rubbishing the summit of Nevis I thought it was amazing I have never seen such a large rocky plateau although fair enough the ruins are a bit of an eyesore.  The arête itself is a large sweeping horse shoe which in my opinion puts the Aonach Eagach to shame (many will probably disagree but ach well) staying on the rocky part of the ridge is fantastic with great exposure and scrambling.  Overall a fantastic walk (if you take the arête path) and goes down as one of the classics for me.

Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg Route

Start off by parking at Glen Nevis Youth Hostel parking is limited and if you miss out you will need to go to the main visitor centre adding about 2km to the walk.  Cross the bridge and take to the tourists path.  After about 20 minutes you will join up with the main path from the Visitor Centre and continue up the hill.  After about 40 minutes of a slog leave the sandals jeans and trainers (seriously) behind and split from the main tourist’s path at half way Lochan.  Follow this path round the base of the face of “The Ben”.  Carn Mor Dearg will become obvious when you reach the end of the lochan.  At any time you feel fit to do so drop down and cross the small burn and take to the extremely steep slopes of Carn Dearg Meadhonach.  This part of the walk is horrible there is a path somewhere otherwise its heather bashing and it is a mighty mighty slog.  Once you reach up onto the ridge you will see its all worth it.  There’s a fantastic walk along the ridge to Carn Mor Dearg with amazing views of the Aonachs and the Grey Corries which I didn’t realise were so grey!  Here the views of the arête become clear and is a great site.  Tower ridge on the face of Nevis sits to your right as well and looks lethal.  Crossing over the arête comes next there are two possible ways you can chicken out and take the path below the rocks or you can go straight over the outcrops which is fantastic and quite hairy at points.  When you reach the end of the arête the boulder field leading to the summit of Nevis becomes clear.  This is a tiring bit of the walk scrambling over the large boulders.  About 30 minutes or so takes you onto the summit plateau of Nevis looking very much like a scrap yard.  Rejoin old friends and fifty tour groups you met on the tourist’s path and take in the views.  Views on my day were… woofa that’s all I can say I could see for miles and miles.  To get back to the car take the tourist path down, this path is absolutely horrible it murders your feet and is so zig zaggy takes you double the amount of time it would on a normal hill.  Also due to path erosion you are forced to take huge detours further adding to the distance you need to walk.  The path takes you back to half way lochan where you join your original path back to the car at the youth hostel or Visitor Centre.

Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg Images / Photos / Pictures

Since most people coming to this site come from searching on google for "pictures of Ben Nevis" here's a whole bunch of them don't say I'm not good to you. the best three are shown below ( WARNING this page may take a while to load)