Ben Nevis

Being the biggest in the United Kingdom, this one draws in the crowds. It’s also popular for air lifts and mountain rescues. It’s not particularly dangerous so don’t be put off by my comments—just come prepared. The tourist route up goes from the valley—Ben’s brother Glen—past Lochan Meall and some really pretty meadows and heather glens. It then trails all over the place on the way up. The terrain is rocky, so it can be slippery and you can be easily distracted by the ever improving views over the green glens and across to the Munros. On top is a ruined observatory where people usually take photographs. This is Scotland so be prepared for it to be cold and windy up top—possibly even snowy—and you should also be prepared for some really spectacular scenery if you’re there on a clear day (there’s about a 30 percent chance of that). On a good day the walk can take nine hours, but it’s likely to take longer if it’s your first ascent. If you’re a real climber you can attempt a climbing route up the cliffs. For fact fans it’s 1344 m up.