Skiing Ben Nevis

Somewhat surprisingly there doesn't seem to be much information available about skiing & snowboarding the north face of Ben Nevis. Hence the reason for compiling this wee photo guide.

Please remember this guide is just one subjective opinion based on our experiences. Take responsibility for your own actions. Given the potentially serious nature of skiing on Scotlands highest mountain there is some additional information here.

All photos by Doug Bryce / Eric Thomson / Bruce Thomson (2002 -> 2006)

Ben Nevis Gully's

Looking at the North face from left to right the major snow gully's on Ben Nevis are logically numbered 1 to 5.
#1 gully is more commonly referred to as 'Tower' (and Gardyloo is sometimes called #0 gully).

The MCOS publish a leaflet with a useful map showing all the gullys, and essential navigation advice.

• Tower Gully
• Number 2
• Number 3
• Number 4
• Number 5
• Others Skiable Lines


Tower Gully

Access Above Observatory Gully, to left of Tower Ridge looking up
Gradient 47 degrees
Vertical Descent 360ft in Tower Gully, another 1500ft to the foot of observatory gully
Dangers Large cornice at the entrance can be impassable with out a rope. Seriously exposed above tower scoop!

Route Description
Arguably Scotland's most prized gully descent,
It starts near the summit of Ben Nevis, and plunges into the glacial depths of Observatory gully.
The upper section of the gully descends very steeply (47 degree's) above a large cliff, called Tower Scoop.
This is no place for making a mistake, or catching an edge, as the consequence's are simply unthinkable.
Once the traverse above Tower Scoop has been navigated things start to ease off.

Notes
Tower Gully is notorious for having a huge cornice at the top. Access may require an abseil.
George Paton impressively managed to ski the full 2000ft vertical of Tower Gully on midsummers day 1994!

Tower Gully Map Tower Gully Map 2 Photo1 Photo2

Number 2 Gully

Access Coire Na Ciste, above the CIC
Gradient 48 degree's
Vertical Descent 400ft in the gully
Dangers The steepest and most technical of the five main Nevis gully's. Potential for a long slide.
Does however lack the serious exposure of tower gully.

Route Description
Long and seriously steep banana shaped colouir.
The steepest of the main Nevis snow gully's - but lacks the exposure of Tower gully.

Notes
As far as I am aware this gully has only been descended from the top on full on 3 separate occasions.
By Eric Thomson & Iain MacLennan, a team from freeskiing.co.uk and also by Paul Raistrick on a snowboard.
Interestingly I believe that 2 of these descents were made in late June - after the large cornice had subsided!
According to the SMC climbing guide there may be a short ice pitch half way down - you have been warned!

Number 2 Map Photo1 Photo2 Photo3 Photo4


Number 3 Gully

Access Wide obvious gully in centre of Coire na Ciste
Gradient 40 degree's - but top 10m usually much steeper
Vertical Descent Approx 1000ft to the small lochan in Coire na Ciste
Dangers Top 10m of the gully banks out very steeply under the cornice & can be icy

Route Description
A classic colouir with vertical rock walls which enclose the route.
The very top section bank's out steeply, and may be icy, or require a rope.

Notes
Once your in the gully proper this is a great ski.

Number 3 Map Photo1 Photo2 Photo3


Number 4 Gully

Access Long diagonal gully that reaches into the top right corner of Coire Na Ciste
Gradient 40 degree's
Vertical Descent Approx 1000ft to the small lochan in Coire na Ciste
Dangers Climbers footprints have been known to ruin the descent
Very popular route for climbers

Route Description
By far the easiest of the Ben Nevis gully's - recommended for your first descent!
The Top is marked by a metal abseil post (GPS NN15821 71733) and often used by climbers as a descent route back to the CIC.
Cornice at top can be intimidating, and like all narrow gully's prone to avalanche.

Notes
A popular route for climbers means that the gully may be full of foot prints - especially early in the winter.
An excellent choice for your first Ben Nevis gully.

Number 4 Map Photo1 Photo2 Photo3


Number 5 Gully

Access Looking up immediately left of Carn Dearg buttress
Gradient 38 degree's
Vertical Descent Potentially 1000ft+ depending on snow
Dangers Notorious avalanche gully - due to its funnel shape

Route Description
Should be no harder than number 4, once your over the cornice.
Potentially an easy tick... However statistically Scotlands most dangerous avalanche slope
Prone to large full depth slides.

Notes
We still havent done this one. Its firmly on the agenda...

Number 5 Map Photo1

Other skiable lines

The lower section of GARDYLOO gully has been skied - however a full descent seems unlikely due to one tricky pitch near the summit.
GARADH gully could provide a straight forward addition to the Coire na Ciste gully's listed above.
GOOD FRIDAY CLIMB has apparently once been skied by a Chamonix ski guide for a TV documentary (see SMC guide below)
SOUTH & NORTH CASTLE gully's look like they would provide tight and very steep decent's.
CARN MOR DEARG ARRETE may offer some interesting lines when banked out - BOB RUN & CRESTA have both seen descents.
On the tourist track side of the mountain the RED BURN offers the potential for Scotland's longest vertical descent.

Further Reading & Information

The SMC rock & ice guide is the best general guide to Ben Nevis. It used to contain an excellent short section on ski descents.
These pages are sadly absent from newer editions - So... I have taken the liberty of replicating them here - page1 page2
(Hopefully Graham Dudley or the SMC wont object to the replication of this information)

Paul Raistrick made 2 excellent short films titled "Pushing Winter" (2002) & "The Old Rock" (2003) - both of which feature snowboarding on Ben Nevis, and also other grade I & II routes across Scotland.