Ben Nevis via the Mountain Track

Ben Nevis is the highest point in the British Isles at 1,345 metres, and the Mountain Track, sometimes called the Tourist Route, is the most straightforward of the routes to its summit. The path climbs steadily from the visitor centre at Achintee through open hillside before gaining the broad, boulder-strewn plateau that characterises the upper mountain. On clear days the views extend across Lochaber, the Great Glen and far into the Western Isles, but the summit plateau is frequently shrouded in cloud and can carry snow year-round. The 17 km return distance and 1,346 m of ascent place this firmly in the challenging category regardless of how well-worn the path.

This is a dog friendly walk in terms of access, with no restrictions on dogs on the mountain, but it demands careful thought about your dog's fitness and paw condition before setting out. The boulder field on the upper section is hard on paws, and the exposed summit plateau carries serious weather risk. Off-lead potential is low on the upper sections where the path is narrow and drops away steeply in places. The lower glen section offers more freedom. Water is plentiful from burns on the ascent. The Visitor Centre at Achintee has toilets and a café, and Fort William has extensive dog-friendly facilities for post-walk recovery.