Ben Nevis - National Three Peaks Challenge

Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom, at 1345 metres (4413 feet) in height, and is therefore the largest of the National Three Peaks of Great Britain.

Ben Nevis summit, May 2016

Ben Nevis has one main path, the Pony Track or "Tourist Path", marked on the OS Explorer 392 Map (at the Three Peaks Shop). Unlike Snowdon and Scafell Pike, the path to Ben Nevis starts close to sea level, meaning much greater vertical ascent.

Ben Nevis Parking

The postcode for the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre car park is PH33 6ST. Parking here is £3 for cars, and £10 for minibuses and coaches. More parking options →

Accommodation at Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis Route

A main path runs up Ben Nevis, from Glen Nevis, which can be followed from either Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, or the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. Early on the two paths join, and then continue to a Loch - Lochan Meall an t-Siudhe. From this half way point, the path follows a zigzag pattern to the rocky summit plateau. Large cairns mark the final ascent to the trig point which marks the peak - snow will often nearly obscure these cairns until around May each year.

Popularly known as The Pony Track, this route is 10.5 miles long, 17km, up and down, and includes 1352 metres of ascent. All routes →

The main route in red below shows the full route from the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. The alternative start in blue shows the route beginning at the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel.

Elevation profile of the Ben Nevis route from Glen Nevis Visitor Centre

Elevation profile of the Ben Nevis route from Glen Nevis Youth Hostel

Ben Nevis GPX Route Downloads

Download the GPX routes for the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre start and the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel start.

Ben Nevis maps

OS Explorer 392 map for Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis map, OS Explorer 392 map for Ben Nevis and Fort William

Buy the Ben Nevis map from the Three Peaks Shop

Please don't bring single-use plastics

Help preserve the beauty of our mountain landscapes by not bringing single-use plastics to the area.

Follow the Countryside Code.