What food to I need to bring?

Please bring a packed lunch, water/drinks and snacks to last you the day.

How fit do I need to be?

Ben Nevis is involves over 4000ft of ascent/descent by any route. You will have a far more pleasant experience if you have done some hill-walking or aerobic exercise in the run up to your day on Ben Nevis. If you do not currently enjoy a good level of fitness it may take many months of training to reach a suitable level of fitness to enjoy the 7 – 11 hours of walking that are involved in climbing Ben Nevis. It is important to start slowly and gradually increase your fitness. Try to exercise for between 30 and 45 minutes three times per week (walking, running, cycling or swimming) and go for longer walks on the weekends which should include some hills. A good local gym will be able to draw up a fitness program for you on request. If your guide believes that you do not have a sufficient level of fitness to safely complete the climb they may alter the plan for the day.

What should I expect?

Although Ben Nevis is not a large mountain by world standards it certainly punches above its weight. The climb is arduous and it is essential that you are well prepared. The summit plateau is almost always below freezing and in the winter the wind chill regularly reaches -30 Degrees Celsius so dress warmly or have warm close in your rucksack to put on at the top.