Ben Nevis via The Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête

An early set off today with the hop of being relatively high up for the sunrise. The challenge wasn't to get to the summit for sunrise as I had no plans to walk the CMD arete in darkness but if I could get close to Carn Mor Dearg for first light then all was good. And so I set off from the north face car park at 02:30 in the morning, knowing sunrise was around 04:30.
It all seemed to work out perfectly as the sun rose over the horizon at the same time I hit the summit of Carn Mor Dearg. It was now time for the walk over the boulder stricken ridge. No rushing about here, though the ridge seemed a pretty safe scramble to me, wide enough to not worry about any drops either side. I still took my time making sure of my footing and soon found myself past it and toward the steeper part of the climb, which again, didn't come as too much of a struggle.
I was grateful to have the summit to myself for a good 20-30 minutes to explore and take it all in.
I then dropped off the tourist path, passing many others now making their ways up, before cutting back across to the path towards the north face car park, finishing the loop in around 8 hours. Though a good deal of this time was taken filming.
A map of this route can be found here: explore.osmaps...

[@jeanpipes1160]

Great video as always Anthony. The views from the top of Ben Nevis look absolutely amazing and you were so lucky with the weather. That ridge you went up looks tough going and certainly not one I'd attempt x

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Outstanding video.

[@pipes-hikes]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@DaveCollierCamping]

@@pipes-hikes My pleasure

[@jerrygale1994]

Awesome video. Looks like a hard grind in many places. Thank you for creating and sharing

[@pipes-hikes]

Thanks Jerry, there were a couple of tricky sections but with care and time it wasn’t too bad.

[@DG.ADVENTURES]

Superb video mate ⛰️🤜🤛 getting the summit to you're self is an absolute treat.... Great drone footage too 👍

[@pipes-hikes]

Thanks David! Certainly was great to get it to myself, I wasn’t expecting it after seeing others on top from the CMD.

[@IanC_42]

Thanks for the video, I got lucky with the weather when I did it a few years ago the views are stunning, I think you got really lucky having the peak to yourself, great stuff.

[@pipes-hikes]

Thanks, yes the views are pretty amazing from most of the summits I visited on my trip. I agree, it was great to have it to myself for the 20 mins I was there. I know there were a few people up top prior to me getting there (they were there for sunrise I think) and as I headed away from the summit, I soon started passing people on their way up. Perfectly timed, which seems rare for me 😂

[@DJVOutdoors]

I saw the solo sumiteer recently camped on it but it looks very rocky! I recall when I started the great glen way end of last June I could see snow on top which is in my video, the GGW is a great trail as you can see Ben Nevis all the way back down through the glen not as good as the WHW. Fantastic what that drone can do!

[@pipes-hikes]

I’ve not seen that video mate but yes it’s a bit rocky up there for camping in my opinion. I thought about continuing along GGW but could only have so many days up there and fancied ticking off some of the mountains near to the WHW instead.

[@DJVOutdoors]

@@pipes-hikes definitely the right call, though the GGW is great seeing some of those mountains would of been far more interesting than walking along the Caledonian canal.

[@sarraspecials]

Amazing! I assume you climbed in May? I'm surprised that it's just you in the CMD route at that hour.. Do you think it's feasible for a first time on Ben Nevis? and especially when not lots of people around?

[@pipes-hikes]

Hi Sarra, it was 17th June last year. I saw nobody else on the CMD arête. If you are confident in navigating, have done plenty of hill/mountain walks and don’t have a fear of heights/ridge walking, then no reason why you couldn’t undertake it in my opinion. Certainly more peaceful than the tourist path will be. Obviously I have no idea of your experience in the mountains. I had great weather in the week I was in Scotland, it’s not all that often that the weather is that kind up there, more often than not there is cloud and wind (or worse) to contend with. Plan wisely x

[@DG.ADVENTURES]

Just subscribed to you're chanel also 🫡