hades

The tourist path up Ben Nevis really isn't that tough (unless the weather comes down and you're ill-equipped, but the advice above has covered that sort of thing). I did it when I was 11 or 12, my brother had come with us and was therefore 8-9 at the time. Ok kids recover quickly, but the net effect is you don't have to be super fit.

Admittedly, different people will find different muscle ache type problems on mountains, as your body is almost certainly not used to continually going uphill for say 3-4 hours (i.e. summit from Glen Nevis at probably an average pace) or downhill for 2-3 hours. Some people struggle with thighs or calves on the way up, some struggle with knees, shins etc on prolonged descents.

Whilst I agree the Snowdon horseshoe is the best way to walk Snowdon, going along Crib Goch etc from pen-y-pass does not equal "climbing". I've never climbed Snowdon (I'm a pretty mediocre climber to be honest), but I have walked and enjoyed the horseshoe (Crib Goch etc). Going up the pyg track in February with 2' deep snow and minus stupidē chill factor was harder work, but perhaps more satisfying in a perverse kind of way.

JamieMacdonald

Not climbed Ben Nevis, but go up to the Torridon area quite a lot and have climbed Beinn Eighe, Slioch, Ben Alligin. Unless Ben Nevis is some sort of 'mini everest' I don't think you'll have any trouble, as I found all these quite easy and I don't walk regularly (would love to do more mountains though).

Abdabz

I stare in awe at Slioch on my two visits to Wester Ross each year and whilst I often walk in the Letterewe and Gruinard estates, have never considered climbing the peaks
I love Torridon too and hats off to anyone who enjoys the peaks in such a fantastic wilderness!
I'll be back there mid August having been in Feb...

JamieMacdonald

Get yourself up there mate! Slioch's one of the easier ones, no climbing or even scrambling involved. The main danger as people have said is the weather - an inexperienced tourist can be fine on a nice sunny day, but an experienced walker could get in to trouble if the weather comes in - and you will know how quickly a nice day can change into a bad one as it sounds like you know the area quite well!

Here's the view from the top of Beinn Alligin (spelt it correctly this time) looking back towards the "horns". I did this one with my MUM , who smoked at the time , but she didn't hold me up (too much)! Although she gave the horns a miss and skirted around the side.



So if my Mum can do it, I'm sure you could. There are a few guides in the area who would take you up the mountains, which almost guarantee your safety, but personally I like that little elemnet of danger!

Unfortunately my gf won't go anywhere near a mountain unless there is a ski-lift, so when I was up at easter I only managed a walk up to the Fairy Lochs (Sheldaig, Gairloch) where a Liberator bomber crashed after the war, but it was very interesting, and also quite eeire . I used to live in Kinlochewe as a nipper.

Abdabz

I've been to the fairy lochs and seen the crash site...it is eerie
In Feb we just walked up to fionn and both sides of loch Kernsary. We also strolled round Flowedale falls with my mum leading the way.
Biggest dissapointment was trying to get to the northern foot of An Teallach where the loch is in the basin but it was just too muddy We'll try that again next year.
We've cycled to Loch Na Sealga from Gruinard and walked to Shenevall Bothy before too
While we're up there in Aug it's the annual wilderness challenge so I aim to fulfill a lifelong ambition and walk from Dundonnell to Poolewe (we always stay in Poolewe)...
Sorry for the thread hijack but thanks for the info Jamie. There's loads still to do up there for me so any other pics or info etc pm me...
Cheers
Pabs

Brit_in_Japan

The tourist path is a long slog and you get no rewarding views of Ben Nevis itself. The northern buttresses are very impressive so a route via Carn Mor Dearg and Carn Mor Dearg Arete is far more rewarding. You could also go up to the CIC hut and gain the CMD arete from there, long slog to gain the arete but at least you have some interesting views.

I still grin when I remember going up via Tower Ridge. Tower gap had me scared witless, but I wouldn't change it for anything. Those who've done it will know what I mean

little rick

Yeah but theres nothing like being the highest the person in Britain

MJB2

blimey, scoobynet has munro baggers! whatever next!

(im currently upto 6 lol)

JamieMacdonald

Just ask Pete Doherty!

little rick