Coming from Pakistan, a country home to some of the world’s tallest, most dangerous and deadliest mountains like K2 and Nanga Parbat, I grew up hearing incredible stories of mountaineers who risked everything to conquer them. I had always admired their majesty from afar but never managed to climb them and to be honest, I might never do so. But when I arrived in Scotland in September 2024 for my master’s degree, I discovered that this country also has its own iconic peaks, and that sparked a new curiosity in me.

I promised myself to take on one of Scotland’s most iconic challenges: climbing Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the UK at 1,345 meters. Of course, Scotland’s weather doesn’t make things easy. I had to wait until summer for the right chance, and just one month before completing my MSc, in August 2025, I finally managed to do it. It turned out to be one of the most unforgettable experiences of my time here.

Collage of photos. From Left to Right - Man walking across a bridge in Glen Nevis, Man climbing up stone path of Ben Nevis, waterfall cascading down Ben Nevis, view of the Halfway Lochan from the Ben Nevis climb

Initially, I had planned to climb in June, but my childhood best friend from Pakistan told me he would be in the UK in July and August. We immediately decided to do it together, which made the adventure even more meaningful. On the 1st of August, we set out early in the morning, catching the first Citylink bus from Hillhead to Fort William at 6:40 am. After arriving in Fort William at 10 am, we took a short 10-minute bus ride to the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre, where our climb officially began. Our bags were packed with snacks, water, and plenty of layers although it was a nice sunny day. To track our pace, we used the Strava app, which helped us monitor our progress throughout the climb.

We started the climb at 10:40 am. The first stretch was smooth with gentle, flat paths, green slopes, a couple of wooden bridges and we were full of enthusiasm. By 11:30, the trail grew much steeper, and we took a few short breaks to catch our breath. At 12 pm, we reached the point where we could see a lake called Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe, also known as the Halfway Lochan. The path flattened for a while, but we didn’t have time to go closer to the lake, so we continued our climb.

Soon after, the trail became steep again, and at exactly 12:30 pm we passed a beautiful waterfall, marking the halfway point. From there, the climb turned extremely steep and rocky, by far the toughest section, but the breathtaking views made every step worthwhile. For the last 200 meters, the mountain was covered in clouds. It was freezing, drizzling, and tiny droplets of rain were actually freezing on our clothes.

Finally, after exactly 3 hours and 55 minutes of hike, we reached the summit. Standing at the top was an incredible feeling, a mix of relief, pride, and awe. From the summit, we could see both Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil glistening behind Fort William, and standing at the tallest point in the entire UK felt surreal, almost like being on the roof of the country. Because of the cold, we couldn’t stay long, but we managed to take some photos before starting our descent. Going down took just over two hours, and we made it back to Fort William in time to catch the 6:40 pm bus back to Glasgow. Before The entire track was about 14 km long, 7 km up to the summit and 7 km back down.

Collage of photos. From left to right: view from the top of Ben Nevis, photo of Shadab at the top of Ben Nevis, view from Ben Nevis, walking down Ben Nevis, view from the top of Ben Nevis, cairn at the top of Ben Nevis indicating the trig point

Before climbing Ben Nevis, the one question I searched for a lot was: How long is the actual track, and how much time does it take to climb? I never really found a satisfying answer. Now that I’ve done it myself, I can tell you that the track is indeed 14 km in total, but the time it takes completely depends on each person’s pace, average speed, and the number of breaks they take along the way.

Climbing Ben Nevis taught me that the hardest journeys often bring the most rewarding views, both literally and metaphorically. It also reminded me that studying abroad isn’t just about academics, it’s also about pushing yourself, exploring new horizons, and making memories with friends.

For anyone studying in Scotland, I’d highly recommend adding a hike to your bucket list. It doesn’t have to be Ben Nevis because Scotland is full of mountains waiting to be explored. Hiking here is not just about climbing; it’s an experience that connects you with nature, with people, and with yourself.

First published: 3 September 2025

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