Stunning Carn Mor Dearg, CMD Arete and Ben Nevis

[mountain thyme]

excellent... its the best way to get to the Ben

[rockhopper]

Stunning right enough Bod - would agree with MT on this being the best way to approach Ben Nevis. Does look familiar and wasn't it busy up there ! - cheers

[pigeon]

Brilliant Bod,some great pics If i ever do the CMD again i'll use this route,when we done it it was up the tourist track and then the path from half way lochan to the CIC hut.The climb from here to Carn Mor Dearg is a bit of an ordeal to say the leas up steep grass slopes,no doing that again that's for sure

[ScottishLeaf]

Me and my brother are looking to do The Ben for charity in July, we were thinking of doing this route as something different, from the usual "tourist/charity walk up Ben Nevis."

He's never done a Munro before, but he is fit and has done some Corbetts. I've done 14 Munros in the Southern Highlands, is it do-able for relative newbies? I notice you had two newbies as well... did they manage OK, or would you recommend roping in a more experienced friend?

[Bod]

Me and my brother are looking to do The Ben for charity in July, we were thinking of doing this route as something different, from the usual "tourist/charity walk up Ben Nevis."

He's never done a Munro before, but he is fit and has done some Corbetts. I've done 14 Munros in the Southern Highlands, is it do-able for relative newbies? I notice you had two newbies as well... did they manage OK, or would you recommend roping in a more experienced friend?

Hi ScottishLeaf, always good to rope in an experienced friend. I have been doing that all my life and still do at times, but no reason why you wouldn't be okay on your own. Do it on a good day though and be prepared as you ought to be for any mountain. You say your brother has climbed some Corbetts and you have good few munros which is many more hills than Gary and Carrie (the newbies) have and they managed fine, although I was very much leading the day. Go for it, but take care, good luck

[PeteR]

Always good to see a report of CMD and the arete. Some great photos there too and you had a great day for it (which always helps ). Looks like you had a great family trip

CMD and the arete still ranks as one of my best days on the hills in the short time I've been doing this hill walking mallarky Glen Nevis is also one of my favourite places in Scotland (the world!) too. Many, many memories of holidays in Scotland as a kid with the "old man" Such a priviledge to be able to enjoy it more regulalrly now

Seeing it on a day like you had just makes we want to get back there again

[Bod]

Absolutely Pete, you do just want to go back and do it all over again
Perhaps in mild winter conditions would be great next time. Thanks everybody for all the great comments and feedback, you can never know too much

[lomondwalkers]

Superb Bod!!!! Hoping to do this route before summer is out, and this has well and truly whetted the appetite!!! Is it just me, or does Tower Ridge look like an Andrex puppy in your photo????

[jonny616]

Your pics of the arete are great. Best i've seen

[celt12345]

nice one bod,i was up there on the same day,staying at the glen nevis site.it was my mates first hill walk and he loved it.that was my second time on the arete and both times the weather has been amazing.its an awsome place

[Bod]

Superb Bod!!!! Hoping to do this route before summer is out, and this has well and truly whetted the appetite!!! Is it just me, or does Tower Ridge look like an Andrex puppy in your photo????

I do see the Andrex puppy in tower ridge

[ScottishLeaf]

Me and my brother are looking to do The Ben for charity in July, we were thinking of doing this route as something different, from the usual "tourist/charity walk up Ben Nevis."

He's never done a Munro before, but he is fit and has done some Corbetts. I've done 14 Munros in the Southern Highlands, is it do-able for relative newbies? I notice you had two newbies as well... did they manage OK, or would you recommend roping in a more experienced friend?

Hi ScottishLeaf, always good to rope in an experienced friend. I have been doing that all my life and still do at times, but no reason why you wouldn't be okay on your own. Do it on a good day though and be prepared as you ought to be for any mountain. You say your brother has climbed some Corbetts and you have good few munros which is many more hills than Gary and Carrie (the newbies) have and they managed fine, although I was very much leading the day. Go for it, but take care, good luck

Cool, sounds like good advice. A weekend in July is being booked up!

[dooterbang]

Superb day out with the family

The arete is fantastic, glad you enjoyed it so much...and i agree about a revisit in mild winter conditions.

I actually did the arete but missed the summit of CMD by 10M...a good excuse to do it again.

Was nice meeting you too.

ps - that Mountainstar has a penchant for top shelf mags

[Gary1904]

Cheers for directing me to your report, those photos were awesome !! a million times better than what I experienced on Nevis, the route you took looks more like the way I would enjoy rather than that awful tourist path .... That will be the route I take when I tackle Nevis again

[Graeme D]

Top drawer Bod! I think I'd be leaving Lucy at home too! I always think it's amazing to see CMD dwarfed by the Ben when you consider that CMD is one of the higher Munros in it's own right!