Ben Nevis CMD Arete Circular - Starting from Ben Nevis Youth Hostel, leading up past Lochan Meall An T-suidhe to the Carn Mor Dearg Arete to Ben Nevis summit and down the tourist path. From the hostel cross the footbridge across the river and head in a slightly rough, but straightish path directly up the side of the hill past two very small plantations of forestry, until the path meets the junction. The first starting place is located at the large carpark (NN 122 731) just across the river from the Achintee Pub and Distillery (NN 124 730). The route that traverses its knife edge crest between The Ben and its smaller neighbour Carn Mor Dearg is one of Britain's classic mountain routes, and thanks to its technical simplicity is enjoyed by thousands each year. running time? For experienced, fit mountain walkers who do not mind easy scrambling but are not climbers, this is the finest way to climb Ben Nevis. In winter the summit plateau of Ben Nevis is potentially a serious place, and safe descent may require care (see stage 4) It is unquestionably the most enjoyable non-climber’s route on Ben Nevis, leagues ahead of the crowded and frankly dull trudge up the Tourist Track. A MAN has died after plunging from Carn Mor Dearg in the Scottish Highlands. This allows for a steady ascent, up a well maintained path. Difficulty: Hard / Extreme. The arete joins the south-eastern shoulder of Ben Nevis about a thousand feet (300m) below the summit, and reaching the start involves a substantial descent of a fairly steep boulderscape. I'm not going to list every road route here so consult Google Maps or an equivalent. The climbing increases in difficulty as height is gained so don’t be fooled into thinking it is an easy option. The second starting point is some 1.5km further on down the road at the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel (NN 127 717). Although there are many possible approaches for the Carn Mor Dear Arête this page will describe only the most used, in this case the one that follows the Pony Track/Tourist Route around the base of Carn Dearg and along Allt a' Mhuilinn. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. prob best waiting till summertime. Difficulty Length; Ben Nevis by the Carn Mor Dearg Arete: Torlundy: Hiking: Hard: 10.61 miles: ben nevis from north face car park: Torlundy: Hiking: Hard: 10.5 miles: Ben Nevis by the Carn Mor Dearg Arete: Torlundy: Hiking: Very Hard: 10.61 miles Only two of the higher posts remain and with care a person experienced in negotiating steep Grade 1 terrain in descent should be able to move down easily into Coire Leis. JavaScript must be enabled to use this map. From here follow the crest of the mountain in a south-easterly direction, first to Carn Dearg Meadhonach (NN 176 726) and then on to Carn Mor Dearg (NN 177 721) itself. Here some difficulty may be encountered navigating the various small pinnacles and boulders by the inexperienced; however in general all problems can be avoided. The best and quickest descent is via the Pony Track/Tourist Route which will take you back to your starting point. From the CIC hut, cross Allt a' Mhuilinn and contour along the western slope of Carn Mor Dearg, gaining a little height as you go to bring you onot the summit of Carn Beag Dearg (NN 171 735). It is possible to escape from the ridge at the Carn Mor Dearg abseil post sign (NN 171 710) should you need to do so in an emergency. Trail 100 - Ben Nevis via the CMD Arête is an expert Hiking Tour: 17.2 km and takes 07:50 h. View this route or plan your own! Basically as you traverse the ridge it becomes narrower and more exposed as you near its centre. Ben Nevis is located close to Fort William in the NW of Scotland and is served by both bus and train services. 7. Take the left hand turn and follow the path that contours along the western slope of Carn Dearg. the top is an L shape with 3000ft at each side. Please note: This route is severely affected by wind and rain, if there are high wind speeds on the day of the event then we reserve the right to change routes for safety reasons and we will summit via an alternative route! One bus a day runs to Mallaig and in summer a couple also go to Kingussie and Aviemore. From here, we will tackle the famous Arete, where the scrambling is easy, and can often be circum-navigated. This ridge, the Carn Mor Dearg Arete ('The CMD') draws walkers from around the country to stride, clamber and scramble along its airy, elevated walkway. Some of these buses also continue to the Isle of Skye. The arete isn't very difficult in itself, just a bit exposed in places. For this program, you will need to travel to Fort William, which is around a 3.5 hours drive from Edinburgh (Scotland) and around 2.5 hours from Glasgow(Scotland). There is less parking here so unless you're starting particularly early or are staying at the hostel, then this probably isn't a realistic starting point in high season. This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings. The CMD Arete can be approached from a number of directions, with one option being to start from Glen Nevis on the … Ben Nevis CMD Arete from the North Face Car Park Read More » Escape is more of a problem though. Trains can be booked here. One of the finest mountain walks in Britain links the Munros of Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis, via the exposed Carn Mor Dearg (CMD) arete. There is a no good or bad approach but on occasions roads close due to heavy snow fall. Citylink operate a bus service between Glasgow and Fort William. ... Edita on the arete, with Carn Mor Dearg behind. Continue to follow the path in a north-easterly direction for around 400m until you reach a small cairn/wall (NN 147 724), which marks a juncture in the path. Hear pronunciation Press to hear pronunciation. Fort William can also be reached from Oban, Kyle of Lochalsh and Inverness. (1 ), The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS), Mountain Weather Information Servise (MWIS), Grade 1 Scrambling or Scottish Grade I winter climbing. From the junction the paths converge and contour around the hillside, crossing two metal footbridges, before following Allt na h- Urchaire/ Red Burn towards Lochan meall an t-suidhe (NN 143 727). All good mountains should have a good ridge. Ben Nevis is no exception to this rule and is home to a number of fine ridge routes, one of the most famous being the Carn Mor Dearg Arête. All rights reserved. Please help UKHillwalking continue to provide varied and free content by becoming an official UKH Supporter. We walked the CMD Arete to the North Face - spectacular and challenging. The advantage of winter is that the crowds are gone and it becomes possible to enjoy the Arête without the chance of being caught in a queue . Our CMD (Carn Mor Dearg) Arete guided walk will give you one of the best easier scrambling experiences in the Scottish Highlands, with some of the most iconic views … It’s not difficult or particularly exposed, but the views more than make up for that. Carn Mor Dearg Arete (Ben Nevis) Stuff the tourist route on the Ben, the CMD Arete on a fine day is the best way to the summit for normal walking folk with a panoramic view across to the north face of the mountain and classic lines like Tower Ridge. CMD Arete (Photo by Antony Walker) It is possible to escape from the ridge at the Carn Mor Dearg abseil post sign ( NN 171 710 ) should you need to do so in an emergency. If your starting at the Achintee carpark (NN 122 731) start by crossing the wooden suspension bridge across the River Nevis and follow the broad track past the Achintree Farm. Take the right hand path which, is less well maintained and crosses some pretty boggy ground. New Topic Reply to Topic. The route throughout is spectacular, with breathtaking views of the Central and West Highlands, and the magnificent cliffs of Ben Nevis' north face. You may also want to consider a rope and a skeleton winter rack just in case a quick escape from the route is required. jonathan. (21), Climber's Log Entries Reviewed July 17, 2019 . It's a fairly long day out (probably expect a 10 hour day including a few rests) to do that so expect to be tired but the main difficulties would be the weather if it is poor. This is a truly spectacular route incorporating two Munros. © UKClimbing Limited. From here the way ahead should be obvious with the mountains summit tapering off into the narrow arc of the Carn Mor Dearg Arête. Haven't been to Ben Nevis, but from photos and video the CMD arete looks pretty similar to the "knife edge" on Katahdin in terms of difficulty. The 58-year-old was found on the munro, prompting emergency services to race to the scene at Lochaber, Fort William, aro… UK Hillwalking is the fastest growing hillwalking website in the world. That’s not to say it’s a walk in the park, as it’s still a fairly rock path in places, but there’s no exposure along the … Carn Mor Dearg Arete From Glen Nevis. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. The Carn Mor Dearg Arete is one of the classic UK scrambles, and without doubt the only option for the experienced hill walker looking to climb the UK’s highest mountain – Ben Nevis. Thanks to the following people for contributing to this article: Paul Lewis of Peak Mountaineering Dan Parry of Strath Lodge, Glencoe The CMD arete is a narrow, rocky ridge that curves down from Carn Mor Dearg and then up to Ben Nevis. After approximately 500m you will reach another junction. (16), Additions & Corrections A survival bag/bivy sack, head torch, emergency rations and even a snow shovel could save your life (or at least some fingers and toes) should you be injured or benighted. It was halfway between Crib Goch and Striding Edge in difficulty, but longer than both. The CMD Arete is the classic hill walker's ascent of Ben Nevis that should be on every mountain walker's tick list along side Crib Goch, The Snowdon Continue in a south easterly direction along a well defined path up a gradual climb follows the slope of the hill. This magnificent route not only gives a awesome view of Ben Nevis's North Face but also makes for a fine introduction to rock-scrambling in Scotland. The approach route has two possible starts, they are located along the same road and are pretty easy to find. The angle is steep at first, but eases after 150m. A description of the route can be found on the Pony Track’s route page. A contender for the title of grandest ridge walk in the country, the Carn Mor Dearg (CMD) Arete straddles that fine line between rambling and scrambling. Some information about reaching Fort William by public transport, as well as the public transport is available here. Despite the route being technically quite easy it should not be underestimated, the weather on The Ben can change rapidly, and once your on the ridge your committed. Most hiking ascents of Ben Nevis start from either the Achintee Inn or theVisitor’s Centre, both in Glen Nevis. Don't be put off by the potential busyness of the ridge, it's an enormously fun route, in summer forming an easy but exposed Grade 1 scramble and in winter transforming into a straightforward Scottish Grade I winter climb. Review of Ben Nevis. After 1km or so you will meet the junction (NN 133 720) where this path joins the one starting at the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel (NN 127 717). The CMD Arete: A long and spectacular excursion.This classic high-level journey [...] involving over 3km of exhilarating ridge walking and easy scrambling, is an excellent way to reach the top of Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis by the Carn Mor Dearg Arete. Woah, that's the best pics of the CMD Arete I have seen. Winter is also the time of year that Ben Nevis is at its best, and completing the route can have an almost alpine feel. Highland - ONE OF SCOTLAND'S GREAT RIDGE WALKS...THE CARN MOR DEARG ARETE IS AN ASTOUNDING ROUTE, VERY AIRY, BUT NEVER DIFFICULT. To get the best out of it this route has quite a long appraoch and the whole day should be allowd for its completion. You can show your support and will recieve rewards. You will have incredible views of the north face of Ben Nevis the whole way. Instead of starting at the usual CMD North Face Car Park, this trail begins at Glen Nevis, and provides a 19.6 km … Tourist info: Fort William (0845 22 55 121); Spean Bridge (0845 22 55 121); Ballachulish (08452 255 121). Ben Nevis and CMD arete Hillwalking route up Ben Nevis via the Carn Mor Dearg arete Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis are linked via the narrow and curved Carn Mor Dearg arete. Owing to The Ben’s northerly latitude and unpredictable weather, extra precautions should be taken in winter. Be wary this is an accident black spot and although infrequent, fatalities do and can occur. Last updated October 23 2018. http://www.pocketmountains.com/product/w... http://www.cicerone.co.uk/product/detail... High Willhays, Yes Tor, Hangingstone Hill and Cranmere Pool, Binnein Mor, Binnein Beag, Na Gruagaichean & Sgurr Eilde Mor. The path is well maintained and should be quite obvious. From the east end of the summit ruins locate the large, incongruous metal frame of a discarded instrument carriage. All pages have been updated as requested. CMD Arete & Ben Nevis with Rich Mountain Experiences Starts Sat 11th Jul 20 , Early Ends Sat 11th Jul 20 , duration 9 to 11 hours At Meet at North Face Car Park. The weather was shocking but it didn't deny an amazing hike. In winter conditions the CMD Arete is a grade I climb. In short it's around 16km long and could has over 1,700m of climb and could take as much as 10 hours to finish. Though fairly straightforward it is long and exposed, and deep snow or high wind are likely to make it feel pretty challenging. In terms of difficulty, the CMD is rather nicely pitched in between the plodding tourist path up Nevis, and the serious climbers and mountaineers routes like Tower Ridge. Although it is only a Grade 1 scramble, the ridgeline is very exposed. However, snow build-up will dictate the easiest and most obvious line down. Numerous accidents have occurred, particularly when people have tried to escape into Coire Leis, and it is not uncommon for fatalities to occur. Many thanks We started at the North Face Car Park and then enjoyed 7 hours of challenging scramble to the North Face via the CMD Arete. The CMD Arête is a fine narrow ridge, although not to difficult, the hardest parts of the ridge can be avoided to the left if needed. use Strong footware, because it gets … At the roundabout (NN 112 742) between Fort William and Claggan take the unclassified road signposting Glen Nevis east and then south-east along the glen following the southern side of the river. If you plan to take the over-night train between Fort William and London (or on route) then make sure you have a berth reserved. also try to get a clear day. Ben Nevis and Glen Coe by Ronald Turnbull, Winter Climbs Ben Nevis and Glencoe by Alan Kimber, The Munros Vol 1 Southern, Central and Western Highlands by Steve Kew, Scottish Mountaineering Club Guides and Publications, Ben Nevis - Britain's Highest Mountain by Ken Crocket, Ben Nevis Rock and Ice Climbs by Simon Richardson, Scottish Winter Climbs by Andy Nisbet & Rab Anderson, The Munros by Donald Bennet & Rab Anderson, The Munros CD-ROM by Ken Crocket & Donald Bennet, Ben Nevis and Glen Coe (Collins Rambler's Guide) by Chris Townsend, Ben Nevis and Glen Coe: Including Fort William (Pevensey Guide) by Allan Hall, Rock Climbing in Scotland (Constable Guide) by Kevin Howett, Hi Ken There are bypass paths you can take that avoid much of the exposure and some of the difficulty but they can be difficult to find. Follow the path up the valley to the CIC hut (NN 167 722), to reach it you will need to ford a number of streams which can be quite a challenge following periods of heavy precipitation. The CMD arete is probably a little narrower than the Katahdin Knife Edge (KKE), and the KKE is probably more solid rock, which means you can (for most of its length) stand away from the very top without worrying about riding a landslide all the way down. As with any mountain walk in Scotland, be sure to wear a good pair of boots, carry full waterproofs, hat, gloves and a fleece mid-layer or equivalent. All Rights Reserved. … Fort William is easy to reach by car. Trying to descend to the south into Glen Nevis is not recommended, because it's very easy to stray onto areas of steep bare slabs lower down. This trail, although similar to the CMD, is a slightly different route than the CMD. haydn 12 Aug 2011. "Only a hill; but all of life to me, up there, between the sunset and the sea" I'm considering running along the CMD arete and over the Ben in a few weeks, assuming a favourable weather forecast. A central source of information for walking in the UK, as well as trekking and hillwalking further afield In winter the route becomes a Scottish Grade I winter climb and an ice axe is advisable and crampons will be needed. ive turned back twice on ben nevis, due to the weather.With CMD is a lot more physically challenging. The CMD Arête is an open secret that every regular hill walker knows about. As a last resort there is a seated carriage but if this is full then you won't be allowed to ride the train. The Carn Mor Dearg Arete . How bad is it in terms of exposure/difficulty. From the southern end of the arête a short climb will bring us up the final slope to the summit of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in … Often it's easier to traverse left (west) towards the Little Brenva Face, before descending. Please enable JavaScript in your browser, and then reload the page. Despite this pages long approach the actual route across the ridge itself is relatively short and requires very little information in the form of a description. Starting from The North Face Car Park, we will ascend the steady slopes to arrive at the summit of Carn Mor Dearg, our first Munro. As you near The Ben, the ridge steepens and broadens as it rises up the mountains eastern flank, before becoming a steep walk up to the summit. It is an alternative approach to the CMD trail. CMD is more of a rough walk than a scramble.   --G W Young, The Carn Mor Dearg Arête from Carn Mor Dearg (Photo by, Images This path will take you around the side of Carn Dearg and into the valley of Allt a' Mhuilinn. Only two of the higher posts remain and with care a person experienced in negotiating steep Grade 1 terrain in descent should be able to move down easily into Coire Leis . For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. CMD Arete is a graded scramble. This graceful curving line connects two four-thousand-footers, its blocky crest offering airy positions and stunning views of the cliffs of Ben Nevis, but minimal hands-on stuff. / CMD arete > Ben Nevis - approx. If you have started at the hostel then your approach so far will have been short but steep. As you near the head of the valley you will be taken on a short diversion in order to allow soil regeneration on part of the slope. List every road route here so consult Google Maps or an equivalent approach route has two possible starts they... 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