What are the correct compass bearings to descend Ben Nevis safely?

From the summit, take 231° grid for 150 metres (about 90-100 double-paces), then turn to 282° grid to pick up the zigzags of the Mountain Track. These bearings are critical for avoiding cliff edges and gullies like Five Finger Gully.

Why do people end up in Five Finger Gully by mistake?

In cloud, people miss the second compass bearing on descent and drift south-west into what looks like a reasonable walking route. The upper slopes are deceptively gentle with no immediate warning, but it steepens into cliffs that require technical climbing skills to escape.

How often is the Ben Nevis summit covered in cloud?

Around 300 days a year. This means there's a very high chance you'll encounter cloud on the summit plateau, making navigation without a compass extremely dangerous.

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Five Finger Gully: The Deceptive Descent That Keeps Catching Out Ben Nevis Walkers

Five Finger Gully looks like a reasonable way off Ben Nevis when you're lost in cloud. It isn't. Here's why people keep walking into it, and how not to join them.

7 November 20267 min read