free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
The north east face of Ben Nevis - summer of 2019Ledge route on Ben Nevis picks an easy line through the crags and up on to Carn Dearg. There are some variations to the route and this one avoids the approach into No. 5 gully and the greasy sloping slabs, which having done it once I would not recommend. This route is more of a slightly exposed walk with a little bit of exposed scrambling most of which is avoidable. The biggest problem you will encounter is the route finding through the rock face which could be very complicated in poor conditions. I've done this route before and always in perfect conditions. It's best saved for a day like this.
Here is a rough draft of the route from the NF car park, up ledge route and coming down through Coire Leis.
I left the car park about 6am. It's a brilliant path that takes you all the way up to the CIC hut which is around half way (in elevation) to the summit of Ben Nevis.
Some pictures from the pathAt the CIC hut there is a water supply pipe which is very handy. Then the hard work begins
This is roughly the line I took up to Carn DeargI decided to visit the small lochan, so followed the burn and a sketchy path here and there and I was soon there. It was about 2 to 3 feet deep and had a rope and some climbing gear in it that had been there for a while.
Lochan Coire na CisteA good path traverses over No. 5 gully and leads up to the start of the ridge.
Following the path you soon reach the giant gravity defying stone tower which looks like it will tumble at any moment. Best passed quickly.
Shortly after the precarious tower the ridge proper starts to the left. It's a fantastic setting with big big drops, the scrambling is short lived and can be mostly avoided, even the notorious gangplank is a lot easier than it looks.
Looking back at the gangplankTower Ridge and the summit of the benAfter the short scrambling section it is mostly walking up on to Carn Dearg where I stopped for a rest and took a few photos of another lone walker on the ledge route ridge which gives it some perspective.
Loch Linnhe from Carn DeargThe CIC hut from the top of No. 5 gullyThe newish cairn at the top of No 4 gullySnow bunting perched on the old summit troughSteall Falls and the MamoresI didn't have any hard and fast plan but wasnt keen on a descent of the pony track, I had half heartedly been thinking of going over the CMD but I know how long it takes and was feeling pretty tired in the heat, so I took a shortcut from the cairn that marks the descent into Coire Leis. The corrie is rough going and probably not much less strenuous than doing the ridge.
Exit point into Coire LeisThe magnificent CMD arete from Coire LeisThe even more magnificent Tower Ridge The long walk home past the CICNearly there There are countless options for getting up and down the ben but ledge route along with a descent over the CMD is, for me, probably the finest "walking route"
It's what life's all about. Cant wait to do it all again.