How hard is Ben Nevis to hike compared to snowdon?

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Do_not_use_after@reddit

It's a simple enough walk, up either route, but TBH, I found it a tad boring. Still, has to be done sometime. FWIW, when we went up, there was a chap in full morning suit, going up at the same time, and a family of 4 who had clearly been told they needed good boots. Mum had on thigh-high high heels, and little girl had pink wellies. Fortunately they turned back before they'd gone a mile. Mr morning suit was there at the top, but it was a warm day and he looked a little less sauve than when he set off, but otherwise fine.

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theslowrunningexpert@reddit

It depends. For a decently fit person, neither Ben Nevis or Snowdon are hard at all. The average person is way less fit than the average person should be, so people make it sound harder just because they struggled.

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Foreign_Many5785@reddit (OP)

Yeah well my friend and I have booked Mont Blanc for next year and I need to get my experience up luckily I’m going Tokyo as well this year so I’ll try do Fuji while I’m there. I’m new to this and want to experience it all and catch up with my friend. I know I’m rushing a bit but I’ve been going peak and Lake District for years. Not to mention the amount of wales trips I’ve done.

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Anytimeisteatime@reddit

If you're going up Mont Blanc, walking the tourist route of Snowdon or Ben Nevis is not relevant experience (though useful for general fitness). You have hill-walking experience not mountaineering experience. Have you ever used crampons or an ice axe before? You need to get some guided experience on winter conditions- I'd strongly recommend booking a few days with a professional guide in the Cairngorms now, to get some winter skills.

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Dimac99@reddit

Fuji is not like any other mountain. For one thing, you don't start at the bottom, you bus halfway up, and you are obliged to walk on the path with literally - and I do mean literally - thousands of other people. It does not count as "experience" in any respect other than altitude.

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StatisticianOwn9953@reddit

The company you go with matters here. On the rare occasion I do something like this it's with fit friends who do it all the time, and it is trying to keep up with them that kills me off. Unless you're a total disaster health-wise, you should be able to potter up without any problems.

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TroublesZoo@reddit

The first forty minutes or so are relatively demanding, over big step bolders and rocks at points, but after that it's just a long walk gradually uphill really.

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Foreign_Many5785@reddit (OP)

I’ve heard that and then you have the other crowd that say the best of the best die on Nevis talking about it like it’s k2

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TroublesZoo@reddit

That's definitely nonsense! A relatively able bodied and fit person in appropriate clothing will do Ben Nevis with no training or anything!

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Foreign_Many5785@reddit (OP)

It’s a shame all the mountains in the uk are like this and don’t require any basic understanding of mountaineering . I’m looking forward to Europe next year

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Anytimeisteatime@reddit

I think you've mistaken Snowdon and Ben Nevis for the UK's hardest mountains because they're the highest. They both have extremely accessible tourist routes and (in summer, when you plan to go) those routes are reliably straightforward. There are plenty of mountains (technically not mountains due to height) in the UK without easy walking routes that you could find, or you could seek a guide and try your hand at some beginner winter routes. There are winter climbing routes up Ben Nevis that are spectacular and very technically challenging. You're obviously a keen beginner, which is great, but don't mistake going up Snowdon or Nevis' tourist routes for UK mountain experience.

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S-Harrier@reddit

You can definitely have a good days mountaineering in the UK you just have to get off the path less trodden, I’m not having a go at you I love that your into hiking and are excited about your Europe trip but you saying the you can’t Have a proper mountain day in the UK and at the same time asking for advise on going up what’s one of the most well marked out and well walked hills. If you want to train to walk up mont blonc, learn to map read if you don’t already know then go out on to some quieter hills, or challenging routes, Welsh 3000s would be a good shout.

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TroublesZoo@reddit

Hope you enjoy mate, there's some great stuff out there!

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Babaaganoush@reddit

That’s madness, I did Ben Nevis when I was 12. It was a family day out that just required sandwiches and a jumper for the photo at the top. It did take us about 8 hours though because our group had a lot of children.

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adamneigeroc@reddit

It’s not technically harder assuming you just go up the main path (pony path) it’s just much longer. Might be steeper towards the top, but doesn’t involve any scrambling or anything. The hiking gatekeeping crew will be along shortly to tell everyone not to go near it unless you’re in full mountaineering kit, have a guide, with flares and an emergency helicopter on standby, but in the summer it’s perfectly safe, just be sensible and have reasonable clothing, water, food, layers, and boots.

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Foreign_Many5785@reddit (OP)

Of course thank you. Do you know any mountains or hikes that require scrambles in the uk?

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Elegant_Plantain1733@reddit

Can recommend Pen y Ghent in yorkshire. Not as high but a great circular walk and exposed scramble. Cat Bells in Lake Disyrict - relatively easy scrambling, especiallg with youngsters. Blencathra in Lake District. Ive not personally done the Sharp Edge rpute, but looks exciting from the adjacent ridge Helvellyn via Striding Edge - another very exposed ridge. Not done Helvellyn yet.

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S-Harrier@reddit

If you’re looking to get just a taste of scrabbling to see if you enjoy it jacks rake up pavey arc in the lakes is a good start. Striding edge on hellbellyn as well is very beginner friendly due to the escape path that goes along most the way.

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simonps@reddit

I have never climbed snowdon, but I have climbed ben nevis via the "easy" walking path from Fort William. Its about a 20km round trip if you start in the town. My main observations are: 1. Recommend proper hiking boots. There are often muddy/slippery/rocky sections that make this advisable. 2. I was in decent shape and managed the full walk in 4 hours, but I would allow closer to 6, if you're not in good shape. 3. Both times the summit was in the clouds and bloody cold (despite being summer), and I needed waterproof warm clothing to walk around the summit. 4. The hostel/pub at the start of the trail was excellent, and great place for food/beer at the end of the walk. [http://www.ben-nevis-inn.co.uk/](http://www.ben-nevis-inn.co.uk/) Good luck.

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Fudge_is_1337@reddit

Helvellyn Striding Edge is a bit of fun on a nice day. More clambering than walking

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scrotalsac69@reddit

Glyderau via y gribin ridge, North ridge of tryfan, Aonach Eagach in glencoe. Will entirely depend on your experience some it all of those may be on the dangerous side for you, particularly aonach eagach that is very long and committing

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adamneigeroc@reddit

There are scrambles on most of the mountains, you just go a different route.

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thegerbilmaster@reddit

Found it much harder than Snowdon. It's pretty much 0 to 1345m.

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Clockportal@reddit

Unless if you take the Watkin Pass route up Snowdon, which also starts at sea level. Pyg and Miner track I'm starts at about 1 third up the mountain.

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thegerbilmaster@reddit

Didn't know that. It was pretty steep on the last pull up from what I remember. Think we did a combo of the Pyg and Miners. It wasn't enjoyable. So many people at the top. Not what I go hill-walking for, wouldn't do it again anytime soon. Would say the same for Nevis tbh.

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Foreign_Many5785@reddit (OP)

What season did you do it in

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thegerbilmaster@reddit

August in 23 degree, was fucking horrible. I enjoyed it at the time but looking back it's the least favourite mountain I've done after Snowdon. Way too many people and the pony track up Nevis is just a constat slog. Not an enjoyable walk at all imo. Probably my fault for doing it during a heatwave on Bank Holiday weekend.

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DerekW1968@reddit

Had a very strange interaction once with someone who repeatedly referred to Snowdon as the second highest mountain in the UK. I calmly pointed out that it wasn't but he got very aggressive and started shouting, calling me an imbecile and worse. I think of that exchange often.

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Vodkaboris@reddit

We can have almost any type of weather at any time of year. Snow in summer is unusual but isn't unknown. Equally, we've had some outrageously mild spells in winter stripping much of the snow - even high up on the plateau. October to April - be prepared for full on winter conditions, but pray for fine weather using calibrated prayer mats - infused with Islay Whisky. The Pony track is technically straightforward but it's starting from almost sea level so it's a long way up. It takes most people 3½ to 4 hours up and anywhere between 1½ to 4 hours down. I've met people who took as long as 6 hours to go up, so the for unfit people it can be a 10 hour day.

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172116@reddit

>October to April - be prepared for full on winter conditions, but pray for fine weather using calibrated prayer mats - infused with Islay Whisky. Worth OP knowing that it's often April that people get into trouble - they start from the glen on a gorgeous sunny day, and then discover it's still winter up the top!

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becjac86@reddit

It's a lot longer and colder at the top but it's one path so not very technical. When I climbed it a guy was doing it in flip flops for charity and a girl with a prosthetic leg on crutches. Very inspiring. A guy was playing bagpipes when we got to the top. Amazing experience

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blusterybristol@reddit

I found the Ben Nevis path easy to climb but very tiring. Easy because it’s a simple and clearly marked out path. Tiring because the elevation goes up so quick the path is often made of steps. Hundreds of uneven, irregular steps. It was a real thigh killer for me. Plus it makes the downhilling that much harder as your weight is coming down on these same steps. Not sure if others who’ve done the climb agree? - I’ve done it in midsummer (dry and hot) and autumn (pissing down)

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Foreign_Many5785@reddit (OP)

Was the top freezing in the summer or okay? Which summer was this sorry? Seems simple enough then if that’s all.

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Kickkickkarl@reddit

I went on July the 1st 2023. Down at grown levels it was normal temperature for that time of year. Top of Ben Nevis was -4. I didn't take any gloves and thankfully had a spare part of socks to put over my hands. I made it up there in 2 Hours 50 Minutes and found it quite easy to walk up. I started at about 05:30 so started coming down and lots of people were walking up and seemed to be weighed down with so much unnecessary winter clothing. I ate my lunch up there in the little hut on the rocks and changed my clothes while inside as I got to the top wet on the inside from sweating and wet on the outside from the drizzle. It was very cold at the top especially in summer for that top of weather that time.

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S-Harrier@reddit

I was last up there last August and it definitely wasn’t freezing at the top, people like to think it’s the alps but it’s less than 1400m, if I was going up in summer again personally I’d just chuck a jumper or mid layer in my bag and have a look at the mountain weather forecast beforehand.

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intothedepthsofhell@reddit

We went in Spring last year. At the bottom as you start on the tourist path in the valley, it was roasting. Shed all my layers and was still sweating buckets. On the top, there was still snow on the ground, freezing mist and limited visibility. I got massive quad cramps (probably dehydrated losing so much water to sweating on the way up) and so the journey down was pretty awful. I was honestly surprised how hard it was given how often I walk day to day. But then I'm 55 and my 16yo probably could have gone back up again.

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blusterybristol@reddit

It wasn’t icy at the top in the summer if that’s what you’re getting at. It was a while ago, I don’t remember which year

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UnCommonSense99@reddit

Ben Nevis climb is a cart track all the way to the old Victorian observatory at the top. However the climb basically starts at sea level, so it is much longer than Snowdon

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SpudFire@reddit

I did both last year - Snowdon via Watkin Path late-spring/early-summer, Ben Nevis in first week of September. First time doing either. There are a lot more easier sections on Snowdon where you can recover a bit whilst still moving. The middle section in particular on Ben Nevis is quite steep for long periods and a real thigh burner, so you don't get recovery unless you stop completely. It also takes longer to reach the top so that adds to fatigue. If you want to go up for sunrise though, be aware of how long it takes and there's often no guarantee of clear visibility even in summer. I was in the clouds from around 500m altitude all the way to the top when I did it. All that being said, I think if you can comfortably do Snowdon then you can summit Ben Nevis. Get yourself some poles though, you'll be glad to have them.

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S-Harrier@reddit

Depends what route you take CMD can be a bit of a challenge especially if you struggle with heights but the tourist path is pretty similar to Snowden’s in my opinion just longer.

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Exact-Put-6961@reddit

For the really fit strong walker, around an hour longer up and down. For the less fit, the time difference will grow from there.

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spoo4brains@reddit

Not done Snowdon hike, but did Nevis about 25 years ago, the schlep up there wasn't terrible, what I found hard was walking back down as the path is very uneven and it killed my knees which affected me for weeks if not months. Do research it though, the weather can be extreme and very dangerous, do not treat it like a casual walk.

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MaizeGlittering6163@reddit

Main difference is you start halfway up Snowdon (not literally, ackshuallyposters) but Fort William is at sea level, so Ben Nevis is a *much* longer day. If you stick to the tourist path then the challenge is basic fitness / endurance.

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TheMeanderer@reddit

The tourist path is a slog, but it's about as straightforward as hillwalking goes. Nothing overly technical. In good weather, it's a simple walk. In poor weather, it can be dicey - like all places.

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hillbagger@reddit

If you did Snowdon by the Pyg track you'll have started at 450 metres, leaving only 600ish metres of ascent. In that regard Ben Nevis will feel over twice as hard. Even in summer height of summer wind chill on the summit can be feel well below freezing. But it in benign conditions it's a straightforward hill walk and fairly young children do it.

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Miss_Type@reddit

Something to note - it's very exposed if you were wanting a wee. I'm not above having a wild wee, but there's not a lot of coverage for a lady :D I ran down cos I was so desperate for a wee. I could hear people saying "god, she's keen..." as I sprinted past.

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FoodBouncer@reddit

Have done both (inc Ben Nevis at night). Ben Nevis has a small year round patch of ice/snow near the summit on the main path but it's usually well trodden in and not dangerous. Snowdon often gets high winds that can make things more difficult and occasionally mountain rangers close the summit because of them. I'd say Ben Nevis is like 50% harder because it's longer, higher and doesn't have the railway, summit facilities & halfway house - meaning there's less support & bailout options (other than just walking back down)

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AbsolutelyWingingIt@reddit

I did it in August last year. The first half of the walk is tough because it’s mainly steps. Proper leg burner. The second half isn’t too bad, it’s a gradual incline but legs will be sore from the first half. I did Ben Nevis and was pretty sore after and did Snowdon, via Watkin Path, the week after and my legs didn’t hurt at all after.

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ConsiderationIll3361@reddit

You realise sunrise in fort William in August is around half 5 and sunset is around 9pm? That’s a lot of walking in the dark

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Foreign_Many5785@reddit (OP)

Of course you’re going to have to walk in the dark if you want to see a sunset or fall :)

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Competitive_Test6697@reddit

It's a tick box climb for me. Far more interesting/harder Munro's to tackle. Do the CMD route in the summer and get more out of it.

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