Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is the highest and probably most famous mountain in the United Kingdom. An estimated 160,000 people climb Ben Nevis each year. This popularity, however, is largely concentrated on the tourist route, with roughly three-quarters of summiteers opting for this route to the UK's highest point.

Although the tourist path is the most popular, Ben Nevis' steep and craggy north face has some of the best climbing and mountaineering routes in the country. You can find a route that is 100 times more exciting and dramatic than the 'Punter's Path' if you have the right experience and skill level.

You might be surprised to find ruins at the top of the Ben once you have reached the summit. These are the ruins of a former weather observatory that operated from 1883 to 1904. Surprisingly, this summit is the highest point for over 640 kilometers before reaching the Norwegian mountains.

Elevation: 1,345m
Location: Fort William
Scottish Gaelic name: Beinn Nibheis
Gaelic meaning: “Venomous mountain” or “mountain with its head in the clouds”