Ben Nevis by the Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête

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For experienced, fit mountain walkers who do not mind easy scrambling but are not climbers, this is the finest way to climb Ben Nevis. This is a truly spectacular route incorporating two Munros. It will live long in the memory and does true justice to the mountain.

Terrain

Good mountain paths for much of the route; pathless section on descent with burn crossing. The traverse of the arête is a long but easy scramble.

Public Transport

None to start; buses pass Torlundy.

Start

North Face car park, near Torlundy. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Park at the North Face car park, reached along a track from Torlundy. Begin by heading along the track, over a bridge and past a vehicle barrier. When the track bends left, turn right on a path (signed North Face Trail). Go straight ahead uphill across the Puggy Trail, then keep right to stay on the main path at a fork. The path now takes a winding course uphill. Continue ahead when a smaller path joins from the left. Soon a bench is passed and there are great views over the head of Loch Linnhe and along Loch Eil. At another path junction bear right, signed ('North Face and CIC hut'). Pass a picnic table with another superb view. A track is reached at a bend, with a bridge on the right - go straight ahead up the track. At a track junction, turn right, now with stunning views of Ben Nevis ahead.

Stage 2

At the top of the track cross the stile and follow the excellent path as it continues up to the left of the Allt a'Mhuillin, with the north face of the Ben Nevis drawing ever closer. Eventually a boggy path forks off to the left; turn up this, which begins the long ascent to Càrn Mòr Dearg. Pretty wet lower down, the path improves as height is gained, giving stunning views back over Caol, Corpach and Lochs Linnhe and Eil.

Stage 3

Higher up the path cuts across the southern slope of Càrn Beag Dearg, giving absolutely stunning views of the cliffs, buttresses and gullies of Ben Nevis before eventually climbing up to the ridge at Càrn Dearg Meadhonach. From here Càrn Mòr Dearg looks an elegant pointed peak which would attract admiring attention if it were not overshadowed by the awesome bulk of the Ben opposite. Continue along the ridge to the summit of Càrn Mòr Dearg.

Stage 4

Eyes will be drawn to the spectacular arête that leads around to the Ben in a graceful curve. This is the Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête; there is an initial loose descent before the walk begins along the crest of this amazing ridge. There is a bypass path to the left, but keeping to the crest involves only minor scrambling over bouldery blocks - in an amazing situation.

Stage 5

The traverse is utterly involving and the situation beneath the great cliffs of the Ben is fantastic - there are few better ridge-walks than this. Eventually a minor peak is reached and the arête changes direction, curving to the right.

Stage 6

It descends to a low point before beginning to climb once more, with one particularly narrow section. The arête then climbs up to a flat shoulder - with a well-built cairn - beneath the bulk of the Ben itself. From here the route to the summit plateau is a steep climb up boulders with some sections of winding scree path.

Stage 7

The summit plateau is reached suddenly; as this is the highest peak in the UK, on a good day there will inevitably be lots of tourists who have come up the 'Mountain Track' - the crowds can come as a shock! There are several memorials, a trig point, and many cairns. There are also the remains of the (meteorological) observatory which operated here at the turn of the 19th century. The return is initially made by the 'Mountain Track', the main tourist route. In misty conditions and with snow covering the path, very careful navigation can be required to steer a course between Gardyloo Gully and Five Finger Gully. Follow a bearing of 231 degrees for 150 metres, and then a bearing of 281 degrees, to pass the most dangerous section.

Stage 8

In good weather with no snow there is a well worn path which zig-zags down towards Lochan Meall an t'Suidhe. This side of the mountain is owned by the John Muir Trust, a charity that protects wild places and maintains the path. You can find out more and support their work by joining at http://www.johnmuirtrust.org/. The path eventually crosses the Red Burn before reaching a path junction. Continue ahead here (the main tourist path down to Glen Nevis turns to the left), and keep left at a second fork to follow a constructed path to the loch outflow. From here make a rough, pathless descent NNE to reach the Allt a'Mhuillin - which can become impossible to cross if in spate (in which case continue downstream, go through the deer fence at a stile and continue on a rough path to the bridge and track to cross - don't cross at the water intake). Otherwise ford the burn and pick up the outward path on the far side, then retrace your steps back to the start.

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