We Climbed Tower Ridge in July 2000. Located on the North East side on Ben Nevis this proved to be fine days climbing with superb positions and fine weather.

Location - Ben Nevis, Scotland

Camping Location/ Parking - Glen Nevis holiday park and camping - not basic and not cheap. We stayed at the tiny National Trust site at Glen Coe.  Parking is in the car park at the visitor's centre.

OS Map, Grid Reference -  Outdoor Leisure 

Guide Book Used - Ben Nevis Rock & Ice Climbs, Scottish Mountaineering Council

Grade - Very Difficult        Height - 1980 ft (600 m)        Number of Pitches -  lots! 

Equipment Used - A general selection of nuts and friends (or Hex's) with extenders, slings and a single 9mm rope.  Remember that this climb will take all day including the approach and decent. The easiest decent is by the "tourist" path, but a sturdy pair of walking boots are essential. 

You may wish to take rock boots, but we climbed in walking boots without any difficulty - and it saves weight in your pack! Even if you start in fine weather, you need warm clothes for the summit - in July it was 8 degrees before wind chill.

Do not forget to take waterproof jacket, small first aid kit, lunch etc (usual walking kit) and a torch as the weather can change without much warning.

Approach - Refer to the guide book for approach details.

The Route - (Refer to the Guide book for details, page 116) Follow the gully to the left hand side of the Douglas Boulder to gain the ridge easily. Generally just follow the crampon scratches all the way up the ridge, keeping left once you reach the tower.

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