Frequently Asked Questions

Climbing Ben Nevis requires a reasonable level of fitness. While it's a popular hike and doesn't demand technical climbing skills, it's a challenging ascent. The main trail, the Pony Track or Tourist Route, is a long and steep path that requires stamina and endurance. The round trip usually takes around 7-9 hours, depending on weather conditions and individual pace.

In the month before your Ben Nevis day, we recommend you aim to have completed at least a few 8 mile walks, ideally over mixed terrain and in various weathers. If you can complete one longer day walk, with a backpack, over hilly terrain – this will give you confidence that you have the stamina to start your walk. To help you prepare, we’ll send you an Adventure Fitness 6-10 week training plan when you book.

Take a look at our downloadable Climb Ben Nevis training plan to help you get ready for the big day.

The time it takes to climb Ben Nevis can vary widely based on several factors, including the chosen route, weather conditions, individual fitness levels, and rest breaks taken along the way. On average, the ascent via the Pony Track or Tourist Route, which is the most popular and easiest path, takes around 4-5 hours to reach the summit. The descent can take roughly 3-3.5 hours.

Therefore, the total time for the round trip via this route typically ranges from 7 to 9 hours. Our guides will ensure the walk moves at a pace everyone is comfortable with.

In principle, yes, however this does depend on the child’s fitness and experience. As a guide we recommend over 10 year olds only, in order to keep up with the other participants on our open Ben nevis days.

Babies can be carried in a secure baby carrier back-pack, but please do bear in mind that the path surfaces are uneven and the weather can change suddenly. Your baby will need to be wrapped up warm, as they won’t be moving and can chill quickly.

Every time you book a Ben Nevis walk with us, we donate £1 to the Ben Nevis Partnership.

If you’d like to fundraise for a particular charity, just tell who you want to fundraise for and we can help you spread the word and maybe even recruit some fellow fundraisers to walk with you.

Most charities will offer you a fundraising pack with sponsor forms and t-shirts which will guide you. You will still pay us your Climb Ben Nevis cost, and it will be up to you to raise funds for your charity, on top of paying us to join our walk.

View our dedicated Charities section for more information.

No, you won’t. Our Open group walks always contain a mix of people with different fitness levels and walking speed. As these days are designed to bring like-minded people together, we focus on enjoying the walk rather than reaching the summit as fast as possible.

Our local leaders are super experienced in working with groups of different abilities. They know exactly how to manage a group to give everyone the very best day possible, while keeping the whole group safe.

If you’re worried about your fitness levels, then check out our “How fit do I need to be” FAQ with information on pre-event training. If you’re injured or it looks like you won’t be back off the mountain in time, then our leaders might discuss the options of heading down early. This is a conversation for the group as a whole and any decisions will be made with the group's safety as a top priority.

There are many benefits to exercising while pregnant, however, the appropriate intensity of exercising while pregnant will vary person to person. We highly recommend you discuss this with your GP or medical professional and do your own research before you commit to an event with us. Please ensure you let us know that you’re pregnant in your registration form as well as on the day so we can support you in the best way possible.

We recommend a substantial breakfast with complex carbohydrate and protein to fill you up for the morning, e.g. porridge with peanut butter and banana.

Take at least 1.5 litres of water with you in a reusable water bottle and pack a variety of foods –both savoury and sweet - that will sustain you during the day. Try to choose complex carbohydrates and whole foods, rather than overly sweet foods and chocolate. Foods like malt loaf, mixed fruit and nuts, cheese and ham/salami, oat cakes, raw fruit bars, dark chocolate, filled wraps, mini pork pies or sausage rolls will last well on the hill and sustain you over several hours. Cold pizza is a particular favourite for some of our staff!

Remember to never leave any wrappings or fruit peel on the hill and take all litter back off the mountain.

Our Ben Nevis days are walk-only, so don’t be put off by our name! While we call ourselves Climb Ben Nevis, we do not actually climb with ropes and harnesses. If this is something you’d like to explore, though, we can provide thrilling days scrambling on classic routes in summer or maybe climbing the many gullies and faces on the northern side when winter arrives! Please contact us if you would like more information on this.

For your Ben Nevis day, you might want to bring walking/trekking poles (check out our Guide to Walking Poles if you’re not sure what you need).

Everyone who signs up to one of our Climb Ben Nevis days should be ready for various weathers on their walk. This includes extreme heat as well as wind, rain, low cloud and even snow showers!

We recommend layers, as they allow you to adjust your clothing based on changing weather conditions or your level of exertion during the climb.

We’ll provide you with a full kit list before your guided climb, but here are some ideas:

• • Moisture-Wicking Base Layers: Start with moisture-wicking materials (avoid cotton) for both top and bottom to manage sweat and keep you dry.
• • Insulating Layers: Depending on the weather, add insulating layers such as fleece or wool to retain body heat. Consider a fleece jacket or a down jacket for colder conditions.
• • Waterproof Jacket and trousers: Outer layers should be waterproof and windproof to protect against rain, snow, and wind. Gore-Tex or similar materials work well.
• • Hiking trousers: Sturdy, comfortable trousers designed for hiking that offer mobility and protection against abrasions.
• • Hiking Boots: Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support and proper traction for navigating the varied terrain.
• • Socks: Opt for moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks to prevent blisters. Consider a liner sock underneath for added comfort.
• • Gloves and Hat: Carry gloves for warmth and protection against the cold, along with a hat or beanie to retain heat.
• • Sun Protection: Sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen, and a wide-brimmed hat or cap

Absolutely, the main thing you to consider is how your period affects you. Only you know your symptoms and what affect exercising while on your period will have. Things like lower motivation and dehydration are things to look out for but can easily be managed. Take some time to monitor your period ahead of your event and learn how you can best manage your symptoms.

In the run up to your event you might want to explore comfortable sanitary items, and how to change or manage them while out on the hill with no toilet access. If you’re still unsure, then check out www.optimalperiod.com for reliable and accurate information about exercising whilst on your period.

Yes, our super experienced Mountain leaders will support you every step of the way. When you book, you’ll receive a link to what we call our event notes. Between that document and these FAQs, we think we’ve covered everything you could possibly need to know for your event. If you think we’ve missed anything then please do let us know.

Our leaders have completed an extensive and recognised course to do their job, they hold a minimum 16-hour emergency first aid certificate no older than 3 years, and they have worked with us under supervision before we let them work by themselves. We know our leaders and trust them to look after you, the most important people in our business.

If you’re still feeling a little nervous, then you’re very welcome to give us a call in the office on 01286 870 870 or fill out our contact us form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.