Riding up and down Ben Nevis

[Mikeyplum]

A few of us are looking into the prospect of this. All keen and regular (me being the least) XC/DH riders but I was just searching out other people's experience of it really.

Are there paths not to take, ones that are the best to take etc. We've watched a couple of YouTube videos and the descent looks good, although somewhat harsh!

Cheers
Mike

[zebedee]

I think you'd have to tackle it from the West, there are some pretty hideous drops in most directions off the top so be careful, especially if there is no visibility (which is often).

And don't try the CMD Arete, although if you do, you'd get lots of hits on youtube yourself (if you survive to post it)!

Good advice here, worth taking the summit map and this explanation as conditions can change so quickly there:
http://www.mcofs.org.uk/ben-nevis-navigation.asp

[anonymous-user]

the main "tourist" path has always looked fun on a bike, go for it but summit early and descend before its too crowded! I'd aim to be at the top around 0700, you'll be pushing the bike for most of it so you dont need to worry too much about it being dark on the way up. Then you can be coming down in the morning light and be back in Fort William for breakfast!.... sounds like an awesome trip, let us know how you get on!

[GadgeS3C]

If you do it mid-summer-ish then it can be very busy with 3-peakers. Best avoided, find a nice quiet time and enjoy.

[Mikeyplum]

Thanks for the replies. Will probably be doing it around easter time, anyone know if it's busy that time of year?

Regards riding times, it would have to be an early ascent as we plan to drive back the same day (South Wales) so will be a very long day!

[anonymous-user]

It will be busy, hard to say numbers wise, last time i was there it was fairly good weather on a Saturday in October and i'd say at least 500 sumitted.

I would work on daylight hours being 0800 to 1800 so most people will want to summit for 1400 at the latest to be up and down in the daylight. That means they will be starting at anytime from 0800 dependant upon their pace and ability. You also get large charity groups walking up it around that time of year which you will also want to avoid.

I would go up the night before, stay in the premier inn (its quite cheap if you book in advance) in fort william and then start your ascent around 0300, summit for 0700 and then descend. Any later and you will be hitting a lot of walkers on the lower slopes after the zig-zags.

[cookie42]

I used to walk Nevis quite regular , only ever saw three people on mtb's.
They Spent more time pushing them than riding them.

Oh and I used to set off on this walk at about 4am. Always somebody on this mountain.

[NCC]

As others have said, make sure you select your time and date carefully, unless you want to spend a lot of time stopping/dodging ramblers and generally saying sorry/thank you (not that there's anything wrong with saying thank you).

This video created a huge amount of debate last year:

http://youtu.be/B7M-XQm4o-A

Personally, seems a lot of effort for not that great a descent.

[Marty63]

Good luck on this

getting itchy to do similar

[zebedee]

I know it hardly has the same cache, but better (more riding less waiting for walkers) long distance descents could be had on Skiddaw (done many times and it is a lot of fun) and Cadair Idris, not done yet but allegedly the longest unbroken descent in the UK I think.

[Mikeyplum]

Thanks again for the replies.

I think we have realised that going up will mostly be a bike on the shoulder job. A few of the boys rode Snowdonia back last easter time and they said that was the same.

Some of the videos make for good watching. At least gives a bit of an insight as to what the ride might be like.

Best get training me thinks!

[Danny Milner]

I wouldn't bother tbh. There are so many amazing trails in Scotland, but Ben Nevis is not one of them and you'd be wasting time you could otherwise be enjoying elsewhere. I did it back in 2008 along with hellvellyn and snowdon and it was ste. Not enough riding up, very little flow back down. It's all stoe pitched staircases and drainage ruts lower down and hideous loose scree up top. Only the middle is ok. Much better to ride kinlochleven, Nevis range, ben lomond or head up to torridon. I wrote about it in mbr back in 2008; one of the summer issues.

[Olivera]

You'll be a massive pain in the t*ts to the hordes of other walkers trying trying to climb it at Easter, plus you'll be either carrying it or stopping for others most of the time. I wouldn't bother.

[chrisga]

zebedee said:

...and Cadair Idris, not done yet but allegedly the longest unbroken descent in the UK I think.

Really? I did it a year or so back and it was hard work going up and the descent from the summit to the saddle where it meets the pony path coming from Dolgellau side was ok but nothing special, certainly not worth the long slog up. Guess you could say it is a long descent though. From the saddle back down to the valley floor is not that great either with a long bit at the top where you stay at a similar altitude and traverse round a big natural bowl area where it was tricky trying to keep on the right track. Then you end up back on fireroad. Just looked at the map and we may have missed out a section we could have done off the fireroad lower down having said that though. As others have said, the big summits are ok to say you have done them, but often better riding is round the corner. Of course everyones tastes are different though so good luck, let us know how you get on!

[zebedee]

chrisga said:

Really? I did it a year or so back and it was hard work going up and the descent from the summit to the saddle where it meets the pony path coming from Dolgellau side was ok but nothing special, certainly not worth the long slog up. Guess you could say it is a long descent though. From the saddle back down to the valley floor is not that great either with a long bit at the top where you stay at a similar altitude and traverse round a big natural bowl area where it was tricky trying to keep on the right track. Then you end up back on fireroad. Just looked at the map and we may have missed out a section we could have done off the fireroad lower down having said that though. As others have said, the big summits are ok to say you have done them, but often better riding is round the corner. Of course everyones tastes are different though so good luck, let us know how you get on!

apparently yes, I'm not saying its good, just I read it was the longest. Helvellyn is far better to ride around than down, in fact the tour of it is a real favourite of mine in an all day epic old skool sort of way. Skiddaw is the best big mountain descent I have done, although that was on a full rigid, the speeds you could get on a hardtail would be pretty scary!