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ROUTE 10

Half Ben Nevis (CIC Hut)

Start/Finish	Glen Nevis Visitor Centre (NN 123 730)
Distance	17.5km/11 miles
Total ascent	700m/2300ft
Time	6hr
Terrain	Paths, rough for 4km
Max altitude	Ben Nevis (CIC) Hut 670m

Half Ben Nevis actually gives you more of the mountain, as it takes you into the grandeur of the northern corrie. It also includes 3km of the Nevis riverbank, as well as some less lovely back corners of Fort William. Walkers halfway up the Mountain Track who can’t face another 600m of straight ‘up’ can switch into this route, with its much better balance of pleasure and effort. (‘CIC’ stands for Charles Inglis Clark, a climber who died in World War I.)

Start at the Visitor Centre. At the downstream end of the car park cross the footbridge signed for Ben Nevis and turn upstream, but where the Mountain Track turns off left, continue along the riverside. In 1.5km you reach the footbridge to Glen Nevis youth hostel. Don’t cross it, but turn up left on the rebuilt path that climbs steeply beside a plantation to join the Mountain Track.

Turn right, uphill. The wide, well-built track slants up the side of Meall an t-Suidhe, with a couple of zigzags and crossing two little aluminium footbridges, into the hollow of the lower Red Burn. At the top of this it makes a zigzag to the left to arrive on the halfway plateau above Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe.

The wide path slants uphill northeast above the lochan. After 400 metres, the path divides: here walkers for Ben Nevis summit would make a sharp right turn. But keep ahead on a smooth rebuilt path. As it bends down left towards the outflow of Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe, fork off right on a faint, unbuilt path. This bends around a spur, and becomes rugged as it contours into the valley of Allt a’ Mhuilinn. (In winter, note that the slope crossed here is susceptible to avalanches – check the avalanche forecast.)

Heading up Allt a’ Mhuilinn to Ben Nevis

As you reach the stream, your eventual descent path is opposite, but continue upstream for 600 metres through scenes of increasing grandeur to the Ben Nevis hut, formally the Charles Inglis Clark or CIC Hut. If it was in Austria, the hut would serve gassy beer and herbal tea on red-chequered tablecloths. Being in Scotland, it is owned by the Scottish Mountaineering Club and is locked up.

Cross the stream 100 metres below the hut, and head down the well built path to its right (east). After 3km, a wide ladder stile leads to the top of a forest road. After 200 metres fork down left, and follow the road left over a bridge. It contours southwest for 1km, with fine views, until you can take the main track forking down to the right.

At the slope foot it joins another track. Turn left for 200 metres, under power lines, until an overgrown stony path turns off right (NN 133 752). It is signed for the Distillery. It leads to a stream, and follows its left bank, under the railway. Then it runs along to the right of a whisky shed. Head out though the distillery’s main gate to the A82.

Cross the A82 but not the Lochy Bridge ahead; instead turn sharp left onto a well-made path between the golf course (left) and the River Lochy (right). At a car park, bear right along the riverbank to Old Inverlochy Castle. Turn left, pass through the castle and back to the riverbank.

Ahead, a lane takes you under the railway. Just past the end of the long Soldiers’ Bridge (footbridge) take a stile on the right, to reach a narrow bridge over a tailrace stream. Cross grass to join the smooth gravel path of the Great Glen Way. It runs near the wide, tidal river, then through woodland; then is again beside the Lochy for 400 metres. Finally it bends left around a wood to a tarred street.

Turn left for a few steps, ignoring a rough riverside track to find a gravel path alongside houses. After 300 metres it drops to join Dubh MacDonald Road. At this street’s end, turn right in Earl of Inverness Road to the A82.

The street opposite is signed for Ben Nevis Inn. Follow it for 100 metres, then cross a stone bridge on the right. Turn left, up Glen Nevis, and follow the pavement for 500 metres until a track forks off left to another footbridge, a green-painted metal one. Recross the River Nevis and turn right, upstream. In 300 metres the street bears left; here keep ahead on a riverside path. After 1km it brings you to the footbridge at the Visitor Centre.