Difficulty of Ben Nevis for older person
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 1:22 pm
Hi everyone! I realise this is a bit of a strange question, and the answer is most likely 'are you crazy?', but: my dad is a physically fit and keen walking 56 year old, but he's been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers. We're planning a holiday to Scotland and he's DESPERATE to climb Ben Nevis - he drops hints about it all of time. He's definitely fit enough, but the problem is he is struggling with hand-eye co-ordination. We went to Iceland earlier in the year and he was okay with all of our walking, but he really can't go near steep edges just in case. So, could anyone advise me as to whether there are steep edges along the Ben Nevis path, or is it wide the whole way? (We'd be going very soon, or after next Spring if he's still able, to avoid the worst of the weather).
And, if the answer is 'yes you are definitely crazy', does anyone have any tips for good but safe climbs we could go on? Especially ones that would give him a real sense of achievement? Ideally not too remote, as we're travelling up from Essex and don't have the longest amount of time for the holiday. But now it sounds like I'm trying to get someone else to plan our holiday... Anyway, thanks so much for anyone who's read this whole post!
And, if the answer is 'yes you are definitely crazy', does anyone have any tips for good but safe climbs we could go on? Especially ones that would give him a real sense of achievement? Ideally not too remote, as we're travelling up from Essex and don't have the longest amount of time for the holiday. But now it sounds like I'm trying to get someone else to plan our holiday... Anyway, thanks so much for anyone who's read this whole post!