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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Just get out and walk a few hills look at being able to walk with a 30 litre back pack fir around 6-8 hours and you’ll be fine.
It’s not a technically hard climb if you go up the main route.
It’s hard going physically but look to be up and down in around 6 hours |
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Get a map and compass, learn how to use them.
The main path is well and truly trodden, however if the visibility is poor at the top (which it often is) it can be pretty easy to fall off the top and down a gully!!
It’s easy to get it right as well. Back to the trig point, follow a bearing, walk, turn to a new bearing and head down Macleans steep and you’ll be fine from there.
Have fun and 99% of the time it will be a doddle. Just be prepared for the 1%
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By *nkyCplCouple
over a year ago
Northampton |
"Just get out and walk a few hills look at being able to walk with a 30 litre back pack fir around 6-8 hours and you’ll be fine.
It’s not a technically hard climb if you go up the main route.
It’s hard going physically but look to be up and down in around 6 hours "
Exactly this.
Get a rucksack, weighted vest, or similar and just get out for daily walks. I started with 20kg and just plodded 3 miles up to cafe for coffee & cake and stomped back.
Do that for 6-8 weeks gradually upping the distance & intensity and you’ll be fine.
Make sure you wear adequate clothing and take necessary supplies. Invest in a decent pair of hiking boots, get to an outdoor shop and they’ll be able to advise. Break them in on your walks prior to Ben Nevis. 
Also the views are SPECTACULAR!! You’ll have an amazing time and the sense of achievement you have after with a pint is ace! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just get out and walk a few hills look at being able to walk with a 30 litre back pack fir around 6-8 hours and you’ll be fine.
It’s not a technically hard climb if you go up the main route.
It’s hard going physically but look to be up and down in around 6 hours
Exactly this.
Get a rucksack, weighted vest, or similar and just get out for daily walks. I started with 20kg and just plodded 3 miles up to cafe for coffee & cake and stomped back.
Do that for 6-8 weeks gradually upping the distance & intensity and you’ll be fine.
Make sure you wear adequate clothing and take necessary supplies. Invest in a decent pair of hiking boots, get to an outdoor shop and they’ll be able to advise. Break them in on your walks prior to Ben Nevis.
Also the views are SPECTACULAR!! You’ll have an amazing time and the sense of achievement you have after with a pint is ace!"
Out of interest, why a weighted rucksack or vest? |
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Sounds harder than it is tbh, you're probably about half way up by the time you've parked the car.
As the late great Billy Connelly once said, there's no such thing as bad weather in Scotland, just poor clothing choices |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Make a weekend if it too, the campsite opposite at Glen Nevis is perfect, a camping pod is awesome there and you can make an early start on it, it’s a great walk up up I hope the views at the top are good too as sometimes, (lots) the fog can drop in 
But sometimes it drops just right and you can get some cloud inversion shots, outstanding then! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just get out and walk a few hills look at being able to walk with a 30 litre back pack fir around 6-8 hours and you’ll be fine.
It’s not a technically hard climb if you go up the main route.
It’s hard going physically but look to be up and down in around 6 hours
Exactly this.
Get a rucksack, weighted vest, or similar and just get out for daily walks. I started with 20kg and just plodded 3 miles up to cafe for coffee & cake and stomped back.
Do that for 6-8 weeks gradually upping the distance & intensity and you’ll be fine.
Make sure you wear adequate clothing and take necessary supplies. Invest in a decent pair of hiking boots, get to an outdoor shop and they’ll be able to advise. Break them in on your walks prior to Ben Nevis.
Also the views are SPECTACULAR!! You’ll have an amazing time and the sense of achievement you have after with a pint is ace!
Out of interest, why a weighted rucksack or vest? "
I’ve never gone up a hill with a lightweight, I’m packed that if there’s a difficulty I’m prepped , I was Derbyshire mountain rescue for a little while and seen what happens. So carrying a decent weight around 10 kg will get your legs used to fatigue and build up the muscles you need while hiking. |
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By *nkyCplCouple
over a year ago
Northampton |
"Just get out and walk a few hills look at being able to walk with a 30 litre back pack fir around 6-8 hours and you’ll be fine.
It’s not a technically hard climb if you go up the main route.
It’s hard going physically but look to be up and down in around 6 hours
Exactly this.
Get a rucksack, weighted vest, or similar and just get out for daily walks. I started with 20kg and just plodded 3 miles up to cafe for coffee & cake and stomped back.
Do that for 6-8 weeks gradually upping the distance & intensity and you’ll be fine.
Make sure you wear adequate clothing and take necessary supplies. Invest in a decent pair of hiking boots, get to an outdoor shop and they’ll be able to advise. Break them in on your walks prior to Ben Nevis.
Also the views are SPECTACULAR!! You’ll have an amazing time and the sense of achievement you have after with a pint is ace!
Out of interest, why a weighted rucksack or vest?
I’ve never gone up a hill with a lightweight, I’m packed that if there’s a difficulty I’m prepped , I was Derbyshire mountain rescue for a little while and seen what happens. So carrying a decent weight around 10 kg will get your legs used to fatigue and build up the muscles you need while hiking. "
Agreed, plus it means you can take extra snacks for a picnic |
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By *nkyCplCouple
over a year ago
Northampton |
"Sounds harder than it is tbh, you're probably about half way up by the time you've parked the car.
As the late great Billy Connelly once said, there's no such thing as bad weather in Scotland, just poor clothing choices "
My arsehole of a Sgt said the same thing about Wales when we were going up Pen y Fan in freezing temperatures, gale force winds and torrential rain….that was a fun time!  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Just get out and walk a few hills look at being able to walk with a 30 litre back pack fir around 6-8 hours and you’ll be fine.
It’s not a technically hard climb if you go up the main route.
It’s hard going physically but look to be up and down in around 6 hours
Exactly this.
Get a rucksack, weighted vest, or similar and just get out for daily walks. I started with 20kg and just plodded 3 miles up to cafe for coffee & cake and stomped back.
Do that for 6-8 weeks gradually upping the distance & intensity and you’ll be fine.
Make sure you wear adequate clothing and take necessary supplies. Invest in a decent pair of hiking boots, get to an outdoor shop and they’ll be able to advise. Break them in on your walks prior to Ben Nevis.
Also the views are SPECTACULAR!! You’ll have an amazing time and the sense of achievement you have after with a pint is ace!
Out of interest, why a weighted rucksack or vest?
I’ve never gone up a hill with a lightweight, I’m packed that if there’s a difficulty I’m prepped , I was Derbyshire mountain rescue for a little while and seen what happens. So carrying a decent weight around 10 kg will get your legs used to fatigue and build up the muscles you need while hiking.
Agreed, plus it means you can take extra snacks for a picnic "
And a beer for mountain tops….. oooh that just reminded me for the advice thread  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Sounds harder than it is tbh, you're probably about half way up by the time you've parked the car.
As the late great Billy Connelly once said, there's no such thing as bad weather in Scotland, just poor clothing choices "
The Big Yin isn't dead yet. He's still very much with us |
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"Sounds harder than it is tbh, you're probably about half way up by the time you've parked the car.
As the late great Billy Connelly once said, there's no such thing as bad weather in Scotland, just poor clothing choices
My arsehole of a Sgt said the same thing about Wales when we were going up Pen y Fan in freezing temperatures, gale force winds and torrential rain….that was a fun time! "
Nothing an extra layer and a decent set of waterproofs wouldn't sort out...
... But the Sgt probably said something like "you're not working hard enough if you're cold" and/or "skin is waterproof anyway" |
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"Sounds harder than it is tbh, you're probably about half way up by the time you've parked the car.
As the late great Billy Connelly once said, there's no such thing as bad weather in Scotland, just poor clothing choices
The Big Yin isn't dead yet. He's still very much with us"
Woosh, so he is!  |
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"Sounds harder than it is tbh, you're probably about half way up by the time you've parked the car.
As the late great Billy Connelly once said, there's no such thing as bad weather in Scotland, just poor clothing choices "
Bit harsh that I thought the big yin was still alive and kicking!! |
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By *ornycougaWoman
over a year ago
Wherever I lay my hat |
"Thinking of doing it this summer. What sort of training do I need and any helpful tips or pointers.
Thanks "
Don't bother. Dullest hike I have ever been on (and I love a good schlep up a mountain) |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Thinking of doing it this summer. What sort of training do I need and any helpful tips or pointers.
Thanks
Don't bother. Dullest hike I have ever been on (and I love a good schlep up a mountain) "
Yeah to be fair there’s much better hikes
I love tryfan in snowdonia |
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"Thinking of doing it this summer. What sort of training do I need and any helpful tips or pointers.
Thanks "
Don't overthink it - it's a piece of piss, just a gentle uphill walk (downhill on the way back!) |
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By *ornycougaWoman
over a year ago
Wherever I lay my hat |
"Thinking of doing it this summer. What sort of training do I need and any helpful tips or pointers.
Thanks
Don't bother. Dullest hike I have ever been on (and I love a good schlep up a mountain)
Yeah to be fair there’s much better hikes
I love tryfan in snowdonia "
Good call. Even some of the Snowdon routes. But give me the Lake District every time in Britain  |
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"Thinking of doing it this summer. What sort of training do I need and any helpful tips or pointers.
Thanks
Don't bother. Dullest hike I have ever been on (and I love a good schlep up a mountain) "
Agree, so boring but there are better ways that make it more interesting and make it a proper mountain summit feeling ….. rather than go up with the hordes on the dull schlepping tourist track, climb via the carn mor dearg arête route (AKA the CMD route). Great views of the Ben Nevis North face, more fun on the Arête and fewer people. Cons.. it’s a bit boggy in places until the scree slope up to the CMD summit. Even better is the route I’m taking my son on soon:
The Ledge Route up and then down on the CMD arête - both beautiful scrambles and no tourists except at the top.. Leave the car at the North Face Car park and head up to the CIC hut and then turn right to head for Number 5 Gulley, up under the North Face and around, across the ledges, along the arête to the plateau- walk to summit and then down via CMD.
Both routes are just scrambles in the summer / autumn and there are guides who will take you if needed for a pretty reasonable day rate
TSF |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Thinking of doing it this summer. What sort of training do I need and any helpful tips or pointers.
Thanks
Don't bother. Dullest hike I have ever been on (and I love a good schlep up a mountain)
Yeah to be fair there’s much better hikes
I love tryfan in snowdonia
Good call. Even some of the Snowdon routes. But give me the Lake District every time in Britain "
Yeah on a quiet day, or the Mach loop just to make it interesting watching jets buzz by. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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If you have a reasonable level of fitness you don’t need any training at all.
Read up on the route and pre load it into your phone for GPS.
Dress for all seasons in one day!
Take water and snacks in a back pack.
It’s basically a walk. |
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"Thinking of doing it this summer. What sort of training do I need and any helpful tips or pointers.
Thanks
Don't bother. Dullest hike I have ever been on (and I love a good schlep up a mountain)
Yeah to be fair there’s much better hikes
I love tryfan in snowdonia "
Love it. We camp at the farm below, taught my lad to lead climb on the slabs and have gone on to do a few classic routes on Tryfan.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Thinking of doing it this summer. What sort of training do I need and any helpful tips or pointers.
Thanks
Don't bother. Dullest hike I have ever been on (and I love a good schlep up a mountain)
Yeah to be fair there’s much better hikes
I love tryfan in snowdonia
Love it. We camp at the farm below, taught my lad to lead climb on the slabs and have gone on to do a few classic routes on Tryfan.
"
It’s an awesome place and doable regardless of your experience and confidence |
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"Thinking of doing it this summer. What sort of training do I need and any helpful tips or pointers.
Thanks
Don't bother. Dullest hike I have ever been on (and I love a good schlep up a mountain)
Yeah to be fair there’s much better hikes
I love tryfan in snowdonia
Love it. We camp at the farm below, taught my lad to lead climb on the slabs and have gone on to do a few classic routes on Tryfan.
It’s an awesome place and doable regardless of your experience and confidence "
Being ex military you still have access to some of the bunkhouses? RAFMA still has a bunkhouse nearby I think? |
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