Ben Nevis - Definition and Overview

Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis: the summit is out of sight to the left, the neighbouring peak of Carn Mor Dearg is visible to the right
Country:	Scotland
Area:	Lochaber
Translation:	(uncertain)
Elevation:	1344 metres (4409 feet)
Relative height:	1344 metres
OS Grid Reference:	NN166713 (http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=NN166713)
OS Landranger Map(s):	41
Listing:	Munro, Marilyn

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is situated in the west of Scotland, close to the town of Fort William. This imposing colossus is one of 284 Munros (mountains in Scotland that reach an elevation of 3,000 feet or more).

There is a relatively simple route to the summit known as the 'Tourist Route' that begins at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre about one mile from Fort William town centre. The mountain is notorious for fickle weather, and considered dangerous; hikers have been killed as a result. Controversy continues to rage about the placing of navigation poles near the summit. These navigation poles were placed upon the advice on Lochaber Mountain Rescue, as an aid for climbers/walkers in bad weather - the descent from summit plateaux having proven deadly in foggy conditions. Currently they have been cut by environmentally conscious climbers who object to the aesthetic intrusion.

The origins of the name of the mountain are unclear. The word ben is certainly the Gaelic for peak, and Ben Nevis is sometimes referred to as 'the ben'. However several possibilities for the meaning of nevis have been suggested. This include 'venomous','burst' or 'flow' (from neb) and 'brow of keen air' (from neamh meaning 'keeness of air' and bhathais meaning 'brow'). Finally a locally popular suggestion is that the name derives from naomh meaning 'heaven'. However this etymology is rejected by linguists. Ben Nevis is also a brand name of whisky distillery down in the nearby town of Fort William.

Ben Nevis is one of three British mountains climbed as part of the (National) Three Peaks Challenge.

There once was an observatory on the summit. It was while working here that CTR Wilson made his famous observations of clouds leading to his invention of the cloud chamber.

Ben Nevis consists of igneous rock dating from the Devonian period of geological history.

The north face, 300 m high and 2,000 m wide, is the largest cliff in the United Kingdom and has many famous mountaineering routes, from Tower Ridge (grade II) to Centurion (grade VIII.8).

A peak in New Zealand's Remarkables range of mountains is named after Ben Nevis.

See also

• Geology of the United Kingdom

External links

• Ben Nevis (http://visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/webcam/)
• Ben Nevis at Peakware (http://www.peakware.com/encyclopedia/peaks/bennevis.htm) - photos
• Ben Nevis Whisky distillery (http://www.bennevisdistillery.com/)
• The Munros of Scotland (http://www.simonsmountainlists.com/)
• The Scottish Mountaineering Club (http://www.smc.org.uk/)