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On either of those routes, the sudden arrival at the summit, with its crowds, its cairns, and its litter, comes as a horrid shock – so avoid the top altogether. The Half Nevis takes you instead into the fine northern valley; and Meall an t-Suidhe, as a stand-alone or as a side-trip on the descent, has views of Loch Linnhe better than you get from the big Ben itself.

Summit summary: Ben Nevis

BEN NEVIS ROUTES

Route 7 Ben Nevis by the Mountain Track

Route 8 Carn Mor Dearg Arête

Route 9 Ledge Route

Route 10 Half Ben Nevis (CIC Hut)

Route 11 Meall an t-Suidhe

Route 12 Carn Mor Dearg East Ridge

ROUTE 7

Ben Nevis by the Mountain Track

Start/FinishAchintee (NN 125 730)Distance14.5km/9 miles (up and down)Total ascent1300m/4400ftTime7hrTerrainPath well built below, then stonyMax altitudeBen Nevis 1344m

Even for experienced hillwalkers, the ascent of the Mountain Track, from barely above sea level to Scotland’s highest point, is tough and tiring. As hillwalks go, it’s not wonderful; relentlessly uphill for 1200m on a stone-built path, and with no view at all of the mountain’s exciting northern side. The summit is in cloud more often than not. Still, Ben Nevis has to be done, and this is the convenient way to do it. Less experienced walkers should bear in mind that on the summit the weather will usually be two clothing-layers colder than at the start, and that for sore legs the rather steep downhill is almost as arduous as up.