Is hiking up Ben Nevis doable with a fear of heights?

Is hiking up Ben Nevis doable with a fear of heights? - Person Climbing on Mountain

We are considering hiking up Ben Nevis next year with a group of friends, but some of them don't want to because of a fear of heights.

Are there paths up that don't come close to steep drops? The actual summit seems to be flat and wide and probably no problem.

I'm looking for pictures of the worst parts, I guess. On the page http://ben-nevis.com/walks/mountain_track/mountain_track.php I saw this image, and if it doesn't get worse than this then I might be able to persuade my friends:

Image from ben-nevis.com



Best Answer

If you stick to the Mountain track which starts from near the visitor centre you should be fine. There aren't any steep drops(didn't see one when I last climbed in August 2011) per se but there are drops nonetheless. But most of the drops are before the halfway mark. After the halfway mark it is more or less like a zig zag way winding up the mountain.




Pictures about "Is hiking up Ben Nevis doable with a fear of heights?"

Is hiking up Ben Nevis doable with a fear of heights? - Black man got lost with smartphone in forest
Is hiking up Ben Nevis doable with a fear of heights? - Crop unrecognizable African American man with backpack and smartphone searching route while going astray in green forest
Is hiking up Ben Nevis doable with a fear of heights? - African American male with backpack standing in forest and holding mobile phone while catching GPS signal during hike



Can an unfit person climb Ben Nevis?

Many people climb these mountains on a whim - and there's nothing wrong with that. It's perfectly possible to reach the summit as long as you are moderately fit, but your legs will ache a bit more afterwards.

Can a normal person climb Ben Nevis?

While it is definitely possible for an amateur to reach the summit, the main thing to keep in mind is that Ben Nevis is not to be underestimated. It is a difficult and potentially dangerous climb, and takes an average of 4 hours to climb with a further 2-3 hours to climb back down.

Can a beginner walk up Ben Nevis?

For novices climbing Ben Nevis, we'd recommend the 'Mountain Path' (also known as the 'Pony Track' or 'Ben Path'). It's the simplest way to the top, and also the most popular.

Can I climb Ben Nevis with no training?

Go in June (much longer daylight hours), pick a fine clear day, set out early in the morning, and you should be OK. You shouldn't need navigation skills in good weather, but a spot of training before you go would not be a bad idea ;-) 3.



I Went on the Scariest Hike to Battle my Fear of Heights




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Pixabay, Kamaji Ogino, Kamaji Ogino, Kamaji Ogino