Ben Nevis: Get Out and Give Back
Make 2023 the year you make a difference! With our 'Ben Nevis: Get Out and Give Back' weekends we are giving you the opportunity to climb the UK's highest mountain, and also give something back to this spectacular environment.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit Ben Nevis and the surrounding area every year, and that number of people takes it's toll. We certainly don't want less people to visit, in fact we want everyone to have the opportunity to benefit from time in the great outdoors. In order for that to happen we need to look after our mountains and glens, and for that, we need your help!
We are teaming up with Nevis Landscape Partnership and Friends of Nevis, who run regular volunteer work parties, and we will also be organising some of our own. The work never stops here in the Outdoor Capital of the UK and there are always plenty of jobs to be done: footpath maintenance, clearing cross-drains, fixing fences, planting trees, collecting litter. We can't guarantee exactly what jobs you will be doing on your volunteer day, but what we can guarantee is the chance to meet like-minded people, learn new skills, and have a fun, informative and very rewarding day in the outdoors.
On day two we will aim for the summit of Ben Nevis. We will follow the mountain track from Glen Nevis, which is the most straightforward route up the Ben. It is, however, still a challenging route and you should be prepared to be out on the mountain for about eight hours. The path is rough and rocky, and the round trip is approximately 16 kilometres (10 miles) with 1300 metres of ascent. You will need a good level of fitness but it is worth all the effort, especially with the knowledge that you did something to help the area on the previous day.
Check out all the dates for our 'Ben Nevis: Get Out and Give Back' weekends below!
Hundreds of thousands of people visit Ben Nevis and the surrounding area every year, and that number of people takes it's toll. We certainly don't want less people to visit, in fact we want everyone to have the opportunity to benefit from time in the great outdoors. In order for that to happen we need to look after our mountains and glens, and for that, we need your help!
We are teaming up with Nevis Landscape Partnership and Friends of Nevis, who run regular volunteer work parties, and we will also be organising some of our own. The work never stops here in the Outdoor Capital of the UK and there are always plenty of jobs to be done: footpath maintenance, clearing cross-drains, fixing fences, planting trees, collecting litter. We can't guarantee exactly what jobs you will be doing on your volunteer day, but what we can guarantee is the chance to meet like-minded people, learn new skills, and have a fun, informative and very rewarding day in the outdoors.
On day two we will aim for the summit of Ben Nevis. We will follow the mountain track from Glen Nevis, which is the most straightforward route up the Ben. It is, however, still a challenging route and you should be prepared to be out on the mountain for about eight hours. The path is rough and rocky, and the round trip is approximately 16 kilometres (10 miles) with 1300 metres of ascent. You will need a good level of fitness but it is worth all the effort, especially with the knowledge that you did something to help the area on the previous day.
Check out all the dates for our 'Ben Nevis: Get Out and Give Back' weekends below!
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The volunteer days are provided by either Friends of Nevis or Nevis Landscape Partnership so you will need to book a place on their volunteer events directly with them here. Please go to our Ben Nevis Mountain Track page to book a place on a Sunday Group Walk.
Dates coming soon for 2023.
Dates coming soon for 2023.
To make sure you get the most out of your days we've included the following:
- Training plan
- Kit list
- 10% off at Cotswold Outdoor in Fort William
- 10% off at SYHA hostels
- Safety Briefs
- Experienced Mountain Leader
- Action photos
The weather on Ben Nevis can change in a matter of minutes. Rain is common and it can regularly feel as cold as -10 degrees celsius on the summit, even in the summer. Make sure you are ready for your day by packing the items on the list below.
For the volunteer day make sure you have some clothes you don't mind getting mucky, gardening gloves (although these can be provided) and wellies can be handy.
For the volunteer day make sure you have some clothes you don't mind getting mucky, gardening gloves (although these can be provided) and wellies can be handy.
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To wear:
Thermal base layer top – polyester or woollen, no cotton Warm fleece Walking trousers – no jeans Spare fleece or synthetic insulating layer Waterproof jacket and trousers Warm hat and gloves (spare gloves recommended) Sun hat Walking boots (with ankle support) Further detail on these things can be found here - https://www.abacusmountainguides.com/blog/what-to-wear-and-what-to-carry-on-a-walk-up-ben-nevis |
Other equipment:
Rucksack – roughly 25 litres Lunch and spare food 1 litre flask or water bottle Whistle Walking poles (recommended but not essential) Sunglasses & sun cream Mobile phone in a waterproof case Camera Personal 1st Aid Kit - plasters, blister kit, all normal medication including asthma inhaler if you have one. |
The Ben Nevis walks will start and finish from the Ben Nevis Inn, Achintee Road, Fort William, PH33 6TE
