scottish pronounced highest mountain british isles located scotland standing metres sea level located western end area close town mountain popular destination attracting estimated year quarters use pony track metre cliffs north face highest scotland providing classic rock climbs difficulties principal locations scotland ice climbing summit collapsed dome ancient volcano features ruins observatory continuously staffed meteorological data collected period important understanding scottish mountain weather inspired cloud chamber period spent working observatory etymology ben scottish common word mountain variously understood word commonly translated alternative interpretation derives heavens clouds man head translation mountain head clouds mountain heaven frequently given common scottish mountains known locals visitors simply ben geography forms neighbour northeast linked mountains scotland feet western southern flanks rise metres kilometres floor longest hill slope britain result mountain presents aspect massive bulk north contrast cliffs drop metres contains clark memorial known private mountain located metres sea level owned base climbing routes mountain north face addition main metres summit subsidiary tops listed called red hill higher metres situated northwest mistaken views area mountain southwestern lower hill metres located west forming saddle contains small popular tourist path skirts hill ascending broad western flank geology remains volcano met end period million years ago evidence near summit shows light coloured granite cooled subterranean chambers kilometres beneath surface lies dark form surface lying evidence huge volcano collapsed creating explosion comparable 2nd millennium mountain remains inner dome volcano form extensively shaped research shown rock period million years ago surrounding form series concentric ring known constitutes southern bulk mountain neighbouring ridge forms outer granite colour summit dome steep northern cliffs composed climate highland alpine maritime oceanic polar climate climate classification altitude maritime location topography frequently lead cool cloudy weather conditions pose danger ill equipped according observations carried summit observatory fog present summit time november january time june average winter temperature mean monthly temperature year average year summit sees receives millimetres rainfall compared millimetres nearby millimetres millimetres london rainfall twice high winter spring summer snow found mountain year round particularly north face higher reaches observatory holding snow september years new following season history recorded ascent august edinburgh botanist region collect botanical specimens early ascent provided account mountain geological structure climbed mountain comparing ascent mounting convenience staircase following year later distinguished naturalist reached summit find fragments glass chicken bones bits paper confirmed ordnance survey highest mountain britain ireland ahead rival summit observatory built summer remain operation years path summit built time observatory designed allow carry supplies maximum gradient opening path observatory ascent ben increasingly popular arrival west highland railway time proposals rack railway summit came fruition comprising south mountain including summit bought scottish conservation charity ascent routes summit known mountain path remains simplest popular route ascent begins east town centre metres sea level bridges youth allow access west path climbs saddle known halfway remaining metres west flank series path regularly maintained running water uneven rocks loose hazardous slippery places thanks path unusually steep apart initial stages inexperienced aware descent relatively wearing knees route popular experienced starts miles north east road follows path alongside reached following pony track far descending slightly route continues climbing summit route involves total metres ascent requires modest ability head heights common approaches mountain advantage giving extensive view cliffs north face hidden pony track possible climb gorge car park steal head road south east ridge summit south west routes require mild shorter tend experienced hill summit summit comprises large plateau hectares acres highest point marked large built atop sits ordnance survey point summit highest ground miles kilometres western norway reached contain peaks higher summit higher rest british isles ruined walls observatory prominent feature summit emergency shelter built observatory tower benefit caught bad weather base tower slightly lower true summit mountain roof shelter point feet making highest man structure war memorial dead world war located observatory piano buried peak uncovered owns mountain piano believed carried charity removal men years earlier view highest point extensive ideal conditions extend kilometres including mountains hills county northern_ireland observatory meteorological observatory summit proposed sms late 1870s time similar built world study weather high altitude summer climbed mountain daily observations earning nickname leading opening october permanent observatory run sms building manned time closed inadequate government funding years worth readings provide comprehensive set data mountain weather great_britain september employed observatory couple weeks temporary relief permanent staff period witnessed glory caused sun casting shadow cloud observer subsequently tried reproduce phenomena laboratory resulting invention cloud chamber detect radiation member author book ben print available tells story funding building operating scotland navigation safety popularity climate complex topography contribute high number mountain rescue incidents example rescues fatalities mountain accidents arise difficulties navigating summit especially poor visibility problem stems fact summit plateau roughly kidney shaped surrounded cliffs sides danger particularly main path obscured snow precise compass taken succession necessary navigate summit west flank descent pony track relative safety late 1990s erected posts summit plateau assist attempting descent conditions posts subsequently cut sparking controversy circles ethics additions critics argued posts unnecessary man intrusion natural landscape create false sense security sense responsibility safety supporters navigational aids pointed high number accidents occurred mountain fatalities falls rock climbing navigational error long tradition placing aids summit potentially life saving role play series constructed currently september marks upper reaches climbing ben north face buttresses ridges towers contains classic rock climbs major importance british winter climbing routes holding snow late april places scotland receive attention descent earliest documented climbing expedition ben climbed years built north face remote location said genuine alpine britain remains popular especially winter longest north face main ridges metres ascent technically demanding grade difficult pitches tackled competent committing exposed moderate northernmost main ridges easier scramble difficult closest ridge summit technically hardest ridges summer winter tower tower takes cry garde french watch water scottish cities warning threw worse window street wall refuse pit disused summit observatory difficult southernmost ridges technically demanding mainly infamous rock problem man trap avoided north face contains dozens graded rock climbs entire length particular concentrations classic rock routes include severe second ascent considered hardest route mountain described scotland wall described guide best climbs class scotland seminal lines recorded world war pioneering scottish like william classic routes wars include longest sustained climb british mainland summer phenomenal seventy repeat climbs seventeen including fourteen solos returning add new lines solo including eponymous recently extreme climb completed years preparation north face scotland foremost venues winter ice climbing holds snow late year good year routes remain winter condition mid spring possible rock routes suitable winter climbs including main ridges example grade scottish winter grading system having upgraded requests local numerous incidents winter season probably popular ice climb curtain left end scale winter grade viii face climb february recorded major new ice routes days including direct winter version climax magnificent week climbing smith marshall step cutting era ben race history hill running dates barber recorded timed ascent mountain september year ran old post office summit hours minutes following years saw improvements swan record competitive race held june scottish amateur athletic association rules competitors ran course started longer route winner year old castle finished coincidentally swan original run hours minutes regular races organised events held years closure summit observatory following year foot finished summit won hour observatory second race ran new post office lowered record hours minutes record held years run current form takes place saturday september year maximum competitors taking starts finishes park football ground outskirts kilometres long metres ascent seriousness mountain environment entry restricted completed hill races runners carry hat gloves whistle reached summit hours turned records stood won men women races times respectively popularity high profile led concerns recent decades impact humans fragile mountain environment concerns contributed creation year programme aims protect enhance future proof delivering nineteen ambitious environmental projects supported partner organisations possible project year march march significant positive changes implemented projects significantly upgrades work upgrade mountain track started november contracts awarded wilderness contracts contractors immediately started stone high brought helicopter replace steps parts path project eventually upgrade mountain track starting point way john wall year maintenance focused difficult middle section need attention months hard work battling weather contractors upgraded mountain track roughly overall maintenance project carry contracted works resume end september stage project volunteer effort huge help continue large contributing factor overall upgrade mountain track landscape partnership working closely scotland run focus needed maintenance section allow outdoor enthusiasts actively maintaining protecting united_kingdom highest mountain generation come ben single foot mountain located north founded known long john oldest licensed scotland popular visitor attraction water comes stream flows northern organic contrast near uses ship carried group immigrants texas vessels carried mountain named scottish peak meters high located south head northwestern island comic strip character scottish highlands boarding school student strength antics featured british comic named mountain metre hill marked historical colonial maps
Ben Nevis