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The path, marked by cairns but still not very clear, continues in the same direction to pass the head first of Tower Gully (with a small pinnacle on its left wall) and then of Gardyloo Gully. It bears left beyond, to the summit with its observatory ruins, shelter, large cairn and trig point. You may now refer to this hill as ‘The Ben’.

In normal conditions, the descent is easily made by passing the stream of people coming up. In mist (or if you happen to be the tired and damaged last person up) it requires care. In a winter (or spring, or autumn) white-out, this can be a life-threatening place. In falling snow it may be impossible to see cliff edges until you’re already standing on the unstable and overhanging snow cornice. The summit shelter was provided for such situations.

Ben Nevis summit

From the summit cairn head past the memorial cairn to the top of Gardyloo Gully that falls to the right, and turn half-right (see bearings in box ‘Getting off Ben Nevis’) on a wide path which is cairned, and clear enough in snowless daylight. After 400 metres is the top of MacLean’s Steep. In mist, take the direct downhill path (north of west) rather than the gentler zigzag leading out left, as the latter path flirts with top of Five Finger Gully.