Neptune's Staircase Locks – Ben Nevis summit loop from Banavie

Running trails & routes

Neptune's Staircase Locks – Ben Nevis summit loop from Banavie

Hard

runners

Neptune's Staircase Locks – Ben Nevis summit loop from Banavie

05:31

32.7km

1,540m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: October 7, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

200 m

Neptune's Staircase Locks

Highlight • River

Barrages from Neptunes Staircases guide the boats over the difference in height

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.30 km

Footpath to Ben Nevis Distillery

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

Along a crystal-clear rushing creek, the small winding path leads you through nature. That this is the way to a distillery, one may believe only when one has left the trees and shrubs and is already in the middle of the yard.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

12.2 km

Trail junction at Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe

Highlight • Viewpoint

Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe is often referred to as the Halfway Lochan and it is a distinctive landmark when ascending the Ben from Glen Nevis. The 'halfway' tag should really apply to the T-junction rather than the lochan, which lies at around 1,840 feet (560 m), about 300 feet (100 m) short of such an accolade.

This meeting of paths is an important junction. Those taking the popular Pony Track to the summit begin their climb on the zigzags by heading south. Better, though, to head north for Coire Leis and the North Face of the Ben. From here the awesome hikers' ridge, the Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête, can be accessed, as well as various scrambles and climbs on the world famous north face.

Tip by

13.1 km

Ben Nevis Zigzags and View of Halfway Lochan

Highlight • Lake

This corner marks the bottom of the zigzags on the Ben Nevis mountain path. A well-maintained stone path continues between the summit and here. There are also beautiful views towards the Half-way Lochan and down Glen Nevis.

Tip by

16.3 km

Ben Nevis summit

Highlight • Summit

Ben Nevis is Britain's highest mountain and arguably its greatest from a mountaineering perspective too. This is mostly down to its immense North Face, a treasure trove of ridges, buttresses and gullies that climbers have been testing themselves on for generations.

Leaving the summit in poor visibility during winter poses significant dangers due to the cornices that form on the Ben's gullies. The safest way off is to walk on a bearing of 231 degrees for 492 feet (150 m) from the summit trig point. Then, walk on a bearing of 282 degrees to intercept the zig zags of the Pony Track.

Tip by

19.8 km