Ben Nevis Challenge | The Great Glen Way | Bike, Hike, Kayak Weekend.

Ben Nevis & Great Glen Way Challenge

  • Overview
  • Map & Itinerary
  • Essential Info
  • Pics & Vids
  • Dates & Prices

Highlights

  • Bike it. Paddle it. Hike it. 100km of pure adventure!
  • Experience the incredible Scottish Highlands on this 2-day multi activity adventure
  • Journey from the sea at Inverness to the summit of Ben Nevis
  • Immerse yourself in the wild nature and rugged scenery in the heart of Scotland
  • Cycle through the stunning Great Glen, paddle the historic Caledonian Canal and summit the highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis
  • Look out for the elusive Nessie as you pedal along the shores of Loch Ness
  • One night’s accommodation, bike & kayak hire are all included
  • Private trips available for groups over 10 people.

Overview

Experience incredible Ben Nevis and the Great Glen Way in the Scottish Highlands. You journey begins on the coast at Inverness to the summit of the mighty Ben Nevis. An epic 100km+ multi activity adventure.

Explore the wild nature and majestic scenery in the heart of Scotland as you cycle through the stunning Great Glen way, paddle the historic Caledonian Canal before summiting the highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis at 1345 metres. Take on this fantastic 2-day adventure amid the Scottish wilderness and enjoy the chance to celebrate with a wee dram of whisky at the finish – the true taste of Scotland.

You don’t have to be a pro at biking or canoeing, just have a great sense of adventure and some gritty determination to tackle this journey across Scotland. The sense of achievement is amazing with conquering this impressive Scottish challenge.

We look forward to welcoming you to the scenic Scottish Highlands.

Private groups

Do you have a group of 10 or more adventurers?. We can tailor your Ben Nevis & Great Glen Way Challenge to your requirements. We’re here to make this excting multi activity adventure a great success for all involved. We offer this trip between the months of May – September For more information on Private Trips please contact us at email: info@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.

Evening prior

Arrive in Inverness the night prior to the start of your trip so you have the chance to meet the crew and your fellow adventurers and attend a trip briefing. 

If you are arriving by train, a transfer can be arranged for you at a set time from Inverness station to the hotel if pre-booked prior to the event start date. Simply contact us at info@adventurousewe.co.uk

Please note, dinner is at your own expense.

Included
Accommodation: Guesthouse (room share & save basisi)

Day 1
First leg: Bike approx. 45 miles

Perched on a cliff overlooking the River Ness is Inverness Castle marking an impressive start to your adventure from the east coast of Scotland. Following a briefing and in your team accompanied by your Adventurous Ewe Leader, your bike journey begins following the River Ness. Passing along the southern shores Loch Ness keep an eye out for the mysterious Nessie before your route winds its way and through the picturesque landscape of the Great Glen. You will arrive in Fort Augustus for lunch enjoying the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

Your afternoon continues with short 9-mile ride on a mixture of cycle paths and road continuing through the Great Glen. Ben Nevis will be looming in the distance before you arrive in Loch Lochy where you’ll change your bikes for boats.

Second leg: Canoe approx. 2 miles

You will be kitted out with a double Canadian canoe, buoyancy aid and paddle and receive a full briefing prior to your canoe down the beautiful Laggan Corridor. This is a stunning sheltered section of the Caledonian Canal of which you will be accompanied by canoe guides. Following a full day of adventure you’ll overnight near the banks of the canal in a  friendly Scottish Highland hostel.

Included

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, checkpoint snacks and dinner
Accommodation: Hostel (dorm room basis) 

Day 2
Third leg: Bike approx. 22 miles

Following breakfast at the hostel from the self-catering kitchen, ensure you place your day-pack ready with your trekking kit and hiking boots in the support vehicle which will meet you at the finish of your cycling leg.  It’s then time to jump back in the saddle of your bike and pedal 22 miles to reach the base of Ben Nevis.

Fourth and final leg: Trek Ben Nevis approx. 8.5 miles

Swapping your bikes for boots, your ascent begins of the highest mountain in the UK, the mighty Ben Nevis, at 1,345 metres.  Accompanied by your Mountain Leader the trek begins from Glen Nevis and follows The Mountain  Track which is in fact the old access route to the now ruined Observatory and was designed as a rough bridle path for ponies. The track climbs steeply via several small zig-zags to the saddle by Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe (known as the halfway lochan) at 570m, then ascends the remaining 700 metres up the stony west flank of Ben Nevis in a series of larger, but less steep, zig-zags that criss-cross the face of the mountain’s western side leading to the rocky summit plateau.

The trek to the summit takes approximately 4 hours and involves 1,370m of ascent.  Whilst standing on the highest point in the UK, the sense of achievement is huge as you take in the awe-inspiring views of the Scottish Highlands. There’s time for a photo snap of your epic achievement before the descent taking approximately 2.5 hours. All being well your challenge should be completed by 6pm. Please allow extra time if you are planning onward travel after the adventure.

Transfer

Following your celebrations, you can either return home directly from Fort William, opt to stay overnight in this town or take a return transfer from Fort William to Inverness at an additional cost.

Included

Meals:  Breakfast, lunch and checkpoint snacks

Why go

Homegrown multi activity adventure

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on local communities and livelihoods, we’re keen to promote adventures on home ground particularly to help support the local tourism industry here whilst also giving you the chance to get out and explore our incredible Scottish landscapes in a safe and fun manner.

This multi activity has been designed to deliver an amazing experience and showcase the some of the most stunning landscapes across Scotland whilst also giving you the chance to step out of your comfort zone and gain a greater understanding of the mountains, local environments and communities. Plus you can experience different activities, learn new skills and traverse across the breadth of Scotland under your own power with bikes, boots & boats.

Carbon Footprint

We’ve crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of the Ben Nevis Challenge, and plant or protect enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.

What’s the number?
It works out on average at 69kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, leaders, crew and office operations.

The only thing not included is travel to Scotland. Given that our beloved guests travel from all parts of the UK for this adventure we have no way of reliably knowing their travel plans therefore we’re unable to include an individual number in the figure on display here.

What does the number mean?
To give you a snapshot of the numbers:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you).
  • A return economy class flight London – New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air over a period of 5 – 10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our adventures are relatively low-carbon by design, and we’re working to develop long term carbon reduction plan. Following much research into climate change organisations, we carefully selected to support the environmental charity, Cool Earth. They’re a sustainable operation and work with rainforest communities across the globe to halt deforestation and it’s impact on climate change. We invest 1% of our revenue into supporting critical conservation projects world-wild with Cool Earth.

On a local level in the UK, we’re an ongoing business member of the Snowdonia Society, plus Jim and Sue, together with some of our local leaders, also help the Society with their local projects such as planting native trees in Snowdonia. This is to help preserve the landscape and enhance wildlife habitat here in Snowdonia.

Want to know more?

We believe that with great travel, comes even greater responsibility. Tourism is one of the most important and largest industries on the planet. It employs more people worldwide than any other, with millions of families relying on tourism for their daily needs. At Adventurous Ewe we believe that our type of small scale, positive impact tourism can bring benefits to many communities, help preserve the environments we travel to see, and provide real and positive social exchanges. Here is our plan to do our part towards helping reduce factors that we can contributing to climate change as part of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency.

 

Pre-adventure info

On booking your Ben Nevis & Great Glen Way Challenge, you’ll receive all the exciting trip info via our free and personalised online travel platform.

You’ll have access to your itinerary, trip countdown, live updates, contact info, weather forecasts, know before you go trip info, kit lists and much more at the touch of a button 24 hours a day via your mobile phone. No more unnecessary use of reams of paper to benefit the environment and the need of carrying around documents with you. A’ppy days.

Pre-adventure support

With being a small family business we pride ourselves with providing personal, professional and friendly service. We appreciate that everyone has different levels of experience and reasons for wishing to embark on this Scottish Highlands adventure and therefore require varying levels of support and guidance. We’re here to help you every step of the way from the moment you join the flock all the way through to completing this multi activity adventure and beyond. Jim and Sue’s knowledge and expertise stems from dozens of years of travelling and exploring the UK in order to fully support you in the lead up to your Scottish adventure.

Safety and well-being

Adventurous Ewe puts the safety and well-being of you, our leaders & crew and the communities we visit at the centre of all our operations, always. Your safety and well-being is our top priority.

The Ben Nevis & Great Glen Way Challenge is intentionally challenging and will take you out of your every-day comfort zone to achieve something great. Rest assured we have a thorough Safety Management System, indepth risk assessments and risk management systems in place. Your safety and well-being is our top priority at all times.

For more info, please visit our Safety and Well-being page. 

Adventurous Ewe Leaders and Crew

You’ll be accompanied by certified Adventurous Ewe Leader/s for each of your three activities and there will be a support vehicle during your Scottish Highlands journey.

Our Leaders are first aid qualified and have extensive experience in leading multi activity style challenges throughout the UK. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group.

Leaders and Crew will carrying full safety equipment and first aid kits with them at all times. Please note, these kits are for emergencies only so please come prepared with your own personal first aid items.

The Leaders and Crew will also be in constant radio communication with the vehicle drivers and base throughout your adventure.

Group size

We pride ourselves in small group travel to minimise the impact on the environment, to maximise your safety and wellbeing and to make your experience more authentic.

The minimum group size for this Scottish Highlands adventure to run is 10 people and the maximum group size is 30 people, dependent on accommodation availability. 

You’re most welcome to join the Ben Nevis & Great Glen Way Challenge as a group of family, friends, colleagues, a private bubble or as a solo adventurer.

If you have a group of over 10 people, we would be more than happy to run a private trip for your team, your charity or your company. You are also welcome to use this trek as a fundraiser for the charity of your choice.

For any further info or to chat about running a bespoke trip, we’d love to hear from you at info@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.  

Group management

The Ben Nevis & Great Glen Way Challenge is a team event and is not designed to be an individual competitive race. You will be taking part in teams of up to 10 people with a dedicated Leader. We encourage team spirit and support of each other to ensure everyone has the best opportunity to complete the challenge and enjoy the journey along the way too. These trips are a fantastic way to meet like-minded people and share an incredible adventure whilst being accompanied and supported by friendly and experienced Adventurous Ewe Leaders and Crew.

Trip grading

This Scottish Highlands adventure is graded as ‘High/Tough’ challenge and preparation is key to help you get the most enjoyment and reward from this trip. A good level of fitness, endurance and some gritty determination is required in order to complete 2 full days of activities.  During the cycling leg you will be travelling on both roads and cycle paths following the Great Glen Way, so prior experience and road traffic knowledge is key. For the canoe section you do not need any previous paddling experience. You will receive a canoe briefing and instruction and have the chance to practice your new skills prior to starting your paddling journey. For trekking the mighty Ben Nevis, a good level of fitness and endurance is required. The terrain is rough and rocky in parts, however the path is clear to follow.

A training programme will be provided. It’s a fantastic challenge and the sense of achievement is huge on completion of this two day adventure from coast to coast across Scotland.

Training Guide

A bespoke training programme will be provided when join the team for this adventure to help you with your preparations. We also have exclusive offers with our Training Partners and Communities – Her Spirit and the Bath Kettlebell Society. For more info, please visit our Training and Preparation page.

The more you are prepared, the more you will enjoy the challenge.

Our motto is: Train hard, smile harder and enjoy the journey!

Kit & Equipment

A full kit list will be provided when you sign up for this trip. Good kit can make the difference between a fantastic adventure and an uncomfortable one. Well-worn in waterproof hiking boots are essential together with a good quality waterproof jacket AND trousers.

Bike & helmet hire and canoe, buoyancy aids and paddles are all included in this challenge. You are welcome to bring your own bike and helmet if you wish. Hire bikes will be provided according to your height. Rest assured any equipment that we supply will be hygienically cleaned and sanitised.

An exclusive Adventurous Ewe discount code will be provided for the independentUK  outdoor retailers on registering for this event.

Exclusive kit discount offers

To help you get the very best from your Scottish Highlands adventure we will provide you with an exclusive Adventurous Ewe discount code to use in independent UK Outdoor retailers both online and in store. They offer a large choice of kit that the staff themselves use while climbing, hiking, mountaineering, running, travelling or enjoying expeditions across the globe. They pride themselves on sharing their experience and knowledge of equipment so you can choose the right gear to suit you and your multi activity trip.

Weather

The weather in the Scottish Highlands can change rapidly so it is essential that you are prepared for all conditions including rain, wind and heat. In the week leading up to your trip we recommend checking the Mountain Weather Information Service. You will also receive weather updates via our mobile travel app.

Please note, the Leader/s reserve the right to change the itinerary at any time should the conditions require it as your safety and wellbeing is our top priority at all times.  In these circumstances we will make the best alternative arrangements possible that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

Accommodation

Two nights accommodation are included as part of your Ben Nevis & Great Glen Way Challenge. On your first night in Inverness you will be staying in a guesthouse in twin share basis. On the second night you will be staying in a local hostel and will be allocated single sex dorm rooms. 

If you would prefer a single room please let us know asap and we will make the arrangements for you dependent on availability and the hostel. There will be an additional cost for this room dependent on the hotel and hostel, therefore please get in touch with us for further info at info@adventurousewe.co.uk.

Getting there

You will need to make your own way to the hotel in Inverness Scotland. We recommend taking the train to reduce carbon emissions. The closest train station is Inverness and there are direct trains available from London Kings Cross station. A transfer can be provided from the train station to your accommodation if pre-booked with us one month in advance of the trip which is at a set time. Further information will be provided once you have booked.

Food & drinks

Two breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner are included in your Scottish Highlands Adventure. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know one month prior to your event start date. Please note, dinner is not provided on the night of your arrival. Please bring your own water bottles or camelbaks/platypus (or similar) and flasks (if you wish to take a hot drink during your event) and refill to avoid the need of purchasing plastic water bottles.

Adventurous Ewe Water-To-Go Bottles

The impact of single use plastic is having on our landscape, wildlife and oceans, it is now more important than ever that we all make changes in order to help our planet. We may not be a huge global company but we’re passionate about playing our part and trying to make a huge difference collectively. Together we can dramatically reduce our consumption of single use plastics and support our responsible travel ethos of ‘Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but boot-prints, keep nothing but memories.’

You can make a difference too with taking part in this multi activity adventure and purchasing one of these environmentally friendly reusable alternative bottles compared to single-use plastic water bottles. Grab a Water-to-Go bottle through Adventurous Ewe and receive a 15% discount. Even better, Water-to-Go will donate a further 15% to our charity partner, Cool Earth. For more info please visit here or email us at susan@adventurousewe.co.uk to purchase your Water-To-Go bottle.

Loos

Naturally there are bathroom facilities at the hotel and hostel however during your Multi Activity Adventure the facilities will be limited to the great outdoors in some areas. If nature calls during this time, please be prepared with biodegradable waste bags (dog poop bags are ideal) and biodegradable loo paper and leave no trace of your paper items. During the activities you can pop into local cafes, pubs or similar. If you do, we encourage you to support the café or pub by means of purchasing a drink or treat yourself to a piece of cake if available.

Payment

Deposit: £95 per person is required on booking. 

Remaining balance: £430 per person is due for payment no later than 4 weeks prior to the trip start date.

Total cost: £525 per person

Monthly payment plan
A monthly payment plan can be arranged for this trip. Please contact us for more information or to set up your plan. Simply email info@adventurousewe.co.uk or call 01492 588 069.

Book & Travel with Confidence
As well as carefully crafting amazing and meaningful adventures across the planet, we’ve made booking them as flexible, safe and as simple as possible. 

For the latest info regarding booking and travelling with Adventurous Ewe, please visit our website.

Fundraising
You’re welcome to fundraise for a charity of your choice if you wish to do so. All sponsorship monies are to be sent directly to your chosen charity.

 

Book and travel with confidence

As well as carefully crafting amazing and meaningful adventures across the planet, we’ve made booking them as flexible, safe and as simple as possible. With the ongoing impact of COVID-19, we’ve made a number of updates to our safety guidelines, flexible booking conditions and trip departures. For more info, please our Book and Travel with Confidence page. 

Stay connected

All your trip info will be sent to you through our mobile travel app which is free to download. You will receive an email from Adventurous Ewe with your personalised log in code for this app.

For the latest and greatest from the land of adventures, simply follow us at:
Facebook: @adventurousewe
Instagram: @adventurousewe
Twitter: @adventurousewe
Youtube: Adventurous Ewe
LinkedIn: Adventurous-Ewe-Ltd

You’re most welcome to use the hashtags
#ewecandoit #thisflockrock #adventurousewe

Emergencies

Your Adventurous Ewe Leader/s and Crew will have a mobile phones and radios communications in case of emergencies. The team are trained to deal with these situations. Please ensure you listen to your Leader during these times and refrain from putting any posts on social media during this time. Should you find yourself unable to continue with the event, your Leader and crew will make the necessary arrangements. Depending on the situation, you will be met by the support vehicle (depending on access) and you will be transferred back to your accommodation or nearby medical facility as required. Your Emergency Contact at Adventurous Ewe HQ is Jim Young on 07747 346 588.

Our environmental charity partner, Cool Earth

We are very excited to have teamed up with leading climate change charity Cool Earth, who share our mission to protect the planet’s precious environment in a sustainable manner. The future of rainforest protection is where everyone makes a difference to climate change! We invest a % of our revenue into supporting critical conservation projects around the world through Cool Earth. You are most welcome to help make a difference too by sparing a few pennies. Please give what you can and help save the world’s rainforests today by clicking here. Just £2.50 will save 10 trees and lock up 10 tonnes of CO2. Together, we can all make a difference in helping preserve this precious and wonderful planet. Thank-ewe.

Departure & Return Duration Availability Deposit Total Cost* (*Total cost includes the deposit)
May 24, 2024
May 26, 2024
3 Days Available £95.00 £565.00 Book Now

What's Included?

Pre-trip:
  • All trip info supplied via our free mobile travel app
  • Multi Activity training guide
  • Personalised and friendly support 
  • Exclusive discount codes for kit from independent UK outdoor retailers
  • Public liability insurance
  • All risk assessments and safety management
During your trip:
  • Cycle & Mountain Leaders and Canoe Instructors
  • Hire bikes and helmets included
  • Canadian canoes, paddles and buoyancy aids
  • Canoe briefing, instruction & support on the canoe journey
  • Full back-up support including first-aid qualified staff and first-aid supplies 
  • Entrance permission to national parks
  • 2 night’s accommodation (share & save basis)
  • Checkpoint snacks and drink refills
  • 2 x breakfast, 2 x lunch and 1 x dinner
  • All logistical management and equipment & luggage transfers
  • Complimentary celebratory fizz on completion of the challenge
  • All trip management and hygienic cleaning procedures of equipment before, during and post trip.
  • A transfer can be provided to and from the train station if pre-booked 
  • Return transfer from the finish of the event in Fort William to Inverness

What's Not Included?

Can be included at an additional cost:
  • Accommodation in either Inverness or Fort William on the night of completing your trip
  • Single room supplement depending on availability
  • Return transfer from Ben Nevis, Fort William to Inverness following the completion of your adventure at £75 per person.
Not included:
  • Clothing and equipment listed on your Kit List
  • Getting to the start and finish of the trip
  • Personal spending money
  • Travel insurance
  • Any costs incurred with leaving the trip early ie. accommodation, change in travel arrangements ie. train tickets or flights, etc.

Sustainable and Responsible Travel

Adventurous Ewe is committed to delivering trips in a responsible and ethical manner with sustainability at the core. We respect and aim to operate our adventures to benefit local people, their economy and the environment!

Some of the sustainable features embedded in our Ben Nevis Challenge adventure are:

  • We only operate with small groups which have less impact on local communities and the environment and give you a more authentic experience
  • Using local crew who are qualified leaders and extremely experienced, passionate and knowledgeable
  • We do not use any single use plastic and refill water bottles and flasks to avoid the need to purchase bottled water
  • We stay in locally owned accommodation wherever possible
  • Our meals are taken in local cafes and restaurants to support the local community
  • Encourage our suppliers to adopt more sustainable practices and also choose suppliers who already have greener practices in place
  • We encourage you to travel to and from Scotland via train as opposed to internal flights in order to reduce carbon emissions
  • We do not use any route markers which are often made from plastic based products and non-biodegradable
  • Where possible, our Leaders collect any rubbish enroute
  • We recycle and reuse wherever possible
  • We always operate by our ‘Leave no travel ethos’ – Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but boot-prints, keep nothing but memories.
  • By taking part in this trip you are helping us support the climate change charity, Cool Earth, and local environmental charity, the Snowdonia Society.

 

Location
UK
Duration
2 days & 2 nights
Difficulty
Cost From
£565.00