Ben Nevis the best way: by Tower Ridge. A film by Craig Bloxham.

Louis Kennedy
Dec 15, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Jun 6

A Blustery Day on Tower Ridge

One of our guests, Craig Bloxham, captured this fantastic video during a windswept ascent of Tower Ridge last year. It’s not every day I choose to venture onto Tower in such blustery conditions—but having climbed with Ian before, I knew we could handle the added challenge together. It turned out to be a memorable day and plagued with Scotland's typical and often soggy charisma...

Tower Ridge is one of the most iconic and sought-after alpine-style routes in the UK, located on Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain (1,345 m / 4,413 ft). It offers a long, dramatic climb that combines stunning exposure, varied terrain, and historical significance. It’s often described as Scotland’s finest mountaineering route. However in reality it's one of many, but certainly the finest way of reaching the top of Ben Nevis!

🧗 Overview

Location: North Face of Ben Nevis, Scotland
Length: ~600 meters of climbing
Grade:
- Summer: Difficult (rock climbing grade), suitable for confident scramblers with experience of long scrambles.
- Winter: Grade IV 3, depending on conditions — a serious mixed climb requiring ice axes and crampons
Style: Long alpine-esque ridge.

🗺️ Route Description

Tower Ridge begins near the Charles Inglis Clark (CIC) Hut, a base for North Face climbs. The route follows the long buttress running from the lower slopes all the way to the summit plateau of Ben Nevis.

🏔️ History

First climbed in 1892 by Norman Collie and Godfrey Solly, pioneers of Scottish winter mountaineering.
Tower Ridge was a major stepping stone in the development of climbing in the UK.
Still considered a benchmark for mountaineering skill and judgment, especially in winter.

Key Features:

Douglas Boulder
- An optional direct start for climbers; can be bypassed via a grassy terrace in the Observatory Gully (typical for guided ascents).
Douglas Gap
- A deep notch separating the Boulder from the Ridge proper. The climbing begins in earnest here with a short downclimb and then an ascent onto the ridge.
The Ridge Proper
- A mix of exposed scrambling and climbing along the narrow spine of the ridge. (Mostly graded scrambling)
The Little Tower
- A short steep section with straightforward but exposed climbing. (becomes more difficult from here) - note inexperienced parties often confuse the Little and Great Tower, don't underestimate the length.
The Great Tower
- The most formidable part of the route. In summer, it offers easy but serious rock climbing. In winter, it becomes steep and often icy.
The Gap (Tower Gap)
- A narrow and famously exposed notch just before the top. This section is psychologically challenging—a short but awkward downclimb followed by a step across a void. Legendary in winter conditions.
Summit Plateau
- The ridge tops out just below the summit of Ben Nevis, giving a dramatic and satisfying finish.