Climbing Ben Nevis in Winter

If you’re looking for a winter mountain challenge that doesn’t require a flight abroad, Ben Nevis is an obvious choice. Topping out at 1,345 metres above sea level, it is the highest peak in the UK and one of our most iconic natural landmarks. During the summer, it attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and is rightly regarded as an awesome trekking experience.

However, come winter, and things change. The weather and the cold, snowy and icy conditions ensure the summit is much less accessible and the mountain receives far fewer visitors. But for those with the required skills, experience and winter expertise, this is a brilliant time to explore Ben Nevis and experience the wildness of its winter landscapes.

The challenge and a word on safety

Ben Nevis doesn’t mean the ‘The Venomous One’ for nothing. In winter conditions, the mountain is a challenging, inhospitable environment that can and does claim lives every year. It must be respected. While this guide will provide you with a lot of information regarding climbing Ben Nevis at this time of year, you should not attempt to do so unless you are absolutely sure you have the ability, equipment and experience to do so.

If you are in any doubt at all as to whether you are ready, we recommend joining a guided walk and attempting your first winter summit with the assistance of a qualified Winter Mountain Leader.

Your route and what you can expect

While there are several winter routes up the mountain, the two most popular are the Mountain Track and the Carn Mor Dearg (CMD) Arete. Both are feasible in winter conditions. But, just like in the summer, they offer distinct experiences and require different skill and experience levels.

You may have heard the Mountain Track referred to as the Tourist Track. In recent years, there has been a move away from this name, as it is misleading and suggests a far easier climb than it actually is. Especially in winter conditions. Across the season, you can expect to encounter snow and ice from around halfway up the route and crampons and ice axes are essential in winter.

The CMD Arete is even more challenging and includes a high-exposure ridgeline traverse that is absolutely spectacular in the right conditions. Ice axes and crampons will certainly be required, and it includes significant scrambling and a strenuous final climb. We would always recommend tackling the Mountain Track before the CMD, unless you are a highly experienced alpine climber.

You can find a detailed overview of these routes on our Route Guide blog.

Ascending is only half the challenge

We often seem to think the hard part is over once we reach the summit. But that certainly isn’t true of Ben Nevis in winter. In poor visibility, there are several risks to avoid and you need to be sure of your navigation skills to stay safe.

A series of gullies, most notably the infamous Five Finger Gully and Gardyloo Gully, are a real danger, and it is easy to veer from the path if you are not careful.

To avoid doing so, start from the summit trig point and take a bearing of 231°. You will need to pace this distance for 150 metres, at which point you take a bearing of 282° to take you down the centre of the zigzag path. Three cairns are positioned at the point you need to adopt this second bearing. However, they are often covered by deep snow and won’t always be visible to guide you.

Essential equipment

If you join a Climb Ben Nevis guided walk, we provide you with a comprehensive kit list well in advance of the day. It typically contains the following items.

If you don’t own some of the equipment listed here, you can typically rent it from a local outdoor shop. We can provide information and advice on doing so when you sign up for the guided walk.

Respecting the weather

What’s the main difference between climbing Ben Nevis in the winter and the summer? The weather. In the summer, it’s changeable at the best of times. In the winter, even more so. And the cold, snow and ice bring with it all kinds of risks and challenges, ranging from whiteouts and drifts to snowmelt and cornices.

This means you always need to check the weather before heading for the summit, understand what the forecasts mean for your day out, and be able to read the weather while on the mountain. Just as crucially, you must prepare for any eventuality. It may be blue skies and looking great down in Fort William, but that can change in moments once you hit the slopes. The repercussions of poor preparation can be enormous. So don’t take any risks. ‘Feels-like’ temperatures of -20℃ are not uncommon and are not to be underestimated.

In terms of what forecasts to use, we regularly check MWIS, the Met Office Mountain Forecast and Windy.com.

Avalanche awareness

You also need to know that avalanches are a significant concern on Ben Nevis. They were responsible for deaths as recently as 2022 and they pose a real risk.

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) provides daily reports on avalanche conditions and winter walkers heading up Ben Nevis should know how to assess terrain, identify signs of instability in the snowpack and avoid potentially dangerous slopes.

Climb Ben Nevis in winter with our guides

We love walking Ben Nevis in winter. It’s quite unlike any other mountain trek in the UK. However, it can be dangerous for those without much winter experience. Our winter Ben Nevis guided walks are the perfect way to embrace cold weather adventure safely.

Led by accredited Winter Mountain Leaders who assume responsibility for your safety and navigate you up and down the mountain, the walks are a great opportunity to learn and practice crampon and ice axe use too.

So join us on a winter ascent of the UK’s tallest mountain and get the new year off to a wonderfully adventurous start!