Ben Nevis is the highest peak in the British Isles, reaching 1,345 metres in Scotland.
The mountain stands beside Fort William in the Scottish Highlands and is the highest point in the United Kingdom. Its name comes from Scottish Gaelic and is commonly interpreted as meaning “mountain with its head in the clouds.” The summit is the collapsed remains of a massive Devonian volcano, whose inner structure was exposed by erosion.
A path to the summit was established in the nineteenth century, and the Mountain Track remains the standard route for walkers. A ruined observatory once operated near the summit from 1883 until 1904, providing valuable high-altitude weather observations. The summit plateau can be markedly colder and cloudier than the town below.
Ben Nevis is sometimes confused with Ben Macdui, which is Scotland’s second-highest mountain. Although Ben Nevis is modest beside the world’s great Himalayan peaks, its rapid weather changes, rocky upper slopes and limited visibility make preparation essential for visitors.