Ben Nevis Visitor Centre

Lovely hiking spot! The weather wasn’t great, but luckily we made it to the top. And Ben nevis visitor centre is a great hiking line for entry-level hiker to try. Can find the full mobile direction via alltraits app, which is really exact. FYI, 4h made the to the top + 3h returned. *Update: Toilets are now open and ready to use (8 Oct 2025).

We stopped here briefly. There is a gift shop and restrooms. This area is great for hikers. There are some great photo opportunities in the area. Drive past the visitor center for some more views. Across the street from the visitor center about .25 mile down there is a little turn off where you can buy hot drinks, cold drinks and muffins. It is a horse trailer converted into a shop. It is slightly hidden behind some trees. Good coffee, hot chocolate, muffins and conversation.

An incredible hike with breathtaking views all the way up! The trail is challenging but rewarding, and the scenery from start to summit is absolutely stunning. A must-do for anyone visiting the Highlands!

Ben Nevis Visitor Centre is an absolutely fantastic place and a perfect starting point for anyone planning to hike the highest peak in the UK. From the very beginning, you can see that everything is well-organized – there are clear information boards about the trails, weather conditions, and safety tips, as well as friendly staff who are happy to help with any questions. We were incredibly lucky with the weather – the sky was almost completely clear from early morning, which allowed us to fully enjoy the stunning views all the way to the summit. The trail up Ben Nevis is definitely a challenge, but in such favorable conditions and with proper preparation, it was a real pleasure. The summit itself was breathtaking – the panoramic views were absolutely worth the effort and will stay with us for a long time. After returning to the Visitor Centre, the biggest surprise was the café – we ordered coffee, and it turned out to be genuinely delicious. Maybe it was the exhaustion after the long hike, but it was honestly one of the best cups of coffee we've had in a while! There’s also a nice outdoor area where you can sit down, relax, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The whole experience – from setting off at the Visitor Centre, reaching the summit, and ending the day with a great coffee – was truly special. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves the mountains and appreciates good facilities and hospitality. Ben Nevis is an unforgettable adventure, and this centre makes it all the more enjoyable 👍💪👌

Don't rely on any maps bought in the store, use the ordinance survey ones. Be aware the centre seems to close around 4 pm along with the toilets. With that said the views in the Glen are stunning. Also be aware that if you use the Forrest track, it can be closed by the forestry workers.

Main place to start the trek to the top. Parking was £8. Walk up was grand walk back it rained for 3 hrs. Just he prepared for the chance in weather. I have seen too many people start the trek up, totally unprepared and unequipped for the trek. It's a really beautiful walk and totally enjoyable. Unparalleled scenery. The only thing was that the toilets in the visitor centre were out of order, apparently for a while now. This is not good enough. At least put temporary toilets in place.

Lovely visitor centre. Has free toilets and free water to fill up your bottles plus water for dogs. Had a delicious decaf coffee and daughter had a bit chocolate - well deserved after our hike. Lots of nice things to buy in the visitor centre and you can learn about Ben Nevis and the surrounding mountains. I bought a magnet and a medal for my son who went a lot further than I did! They also do an offer that if you fill a bag of rubbish you get a free hot drink (although I hope everyone takes their rubbish back down with them!)

Only downside is that its not open long enough. We started climbing at 8am with two kids and didn't finish till 4:30 with no lunch break. Really needed the tolite when we'd all finished lol but it was shut. Moutain was a nice climb when the wind and rain disappeared.