Britain's Mountain Challenges: The CMD Arête

Trail magazine and the British Mountaineering Council present Britain's Mountain Challenges.
In this video, featuring some incredible aerial footage of some breathtaking mountain scenery Trail magazine's Ben Weeks tackles the 'best walkers' route up Britain's highest peak' - the CMD Arête on Ben Nevis.
Linking The Ben to its neighbour Carn Mor Dearg (the peak that gives the arête its name), the arête is narrow enough to be exciting, but wide enough to be within the limits of most competent hillwalkers. As the video shows, it's possible to make the traverse of the ridge as thrilling or as gentle as you like, depending on whether you like a nervy scramble with plenty of air around you, or a more relaxed walk with incredible scenery as your backdrop.
However you tackle the route, it's a big mountain day. As you might expect from a climb that finishes atop the highest peak in the country, there's a lot of ascent involved, and burning leg muscles are very much part and parcel of the journey. But with the unrivalled views of Ben Nevis - and it's breathtaking North Face specifically - that this route provides, we're pretty sure you'll agree that aching limbs are a price worth paying.

[@onion_wind]

This video should have more views. It deserves more viewers.

[@anthonyholroyd5359]

Did this yesterday. In cloud from about 200m!! 20 - 35mph winds aswell. Alot of moments where we thought the ridge and the Ben were out of the equation . . . But as soon as we dropped off Carn Mòr Dearg the winds died down and even without the views across to the North face we had a corker of a day traversing the arête!

[@delboyg2690]

This is the best video I’ve seen if the CMD Arête. I’m doing the East Highland Way at the start of August in reverse i.e. Aviemore to Fort William then on my birthday I’ll do Nevis. This video has confirmed that there is only one route up it, the CMD Arête. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@peterreid8785]

In car on way home from doing this route, for my first ever hill walk or Munro I found this so much fun

[@brianleecy]

Great stuff, that is THE route up the Ben hopefully doing it this Spring.

[@HarryRunsUK]

Great video guys!

[@JustMe-vm8xj]

Did this last week in “that weather” was time to come home when it was too cold for my gas! Seven days on the side of alt na mhuillin burn worth every minute was amazing

[@AcfLavertyy]

Just did this route last Wednesday the scenery was spectacular and the route is a lot more enjoyable and fun than then tourist route. It's a must if you're fancying walking Ben Nevis.

[@donuttime2507]

I've done the tourist route twice but I do fancy the arete, not great with heights though. Would you say it's tough and are you ever completely exposed?

[@AcfLavertyy]

@@donuttime2507 depends how experienced you are and how well you can keep your head at heights. From memory there was only 1 section that felt very exposed. But it was short. If you've got plenty of hill walking experienced and can keep calm for the traverse you will be fine. Anything gets too much then start to make your way back, slowly 🐌

[@AcfLavertyy]

@@donuttime2507 personally would say it's in the reach of most experienced hill walkers

[@indynoir2178]

@@AcfLavertyy Loved the video. How long was the very exposed section (10 feet, 10 yards, 100 yards)? And was it very exposed on both sides? I keep reading stuff that you can avoid any exposure with the path on the left but then other comments seem to contradict that.

[@turboduckhead6179]

Spectacular

[@BartoniGaming]

Always love these vids

[@Dirt2gold]

Excellente ! J'adore!

[@magnuswalker7957]

Did it in 1982 as my last hill walk before heading to England for work.

[@AlexExplorer]

Amazing Video! Really Enjoyed

[@CelticMickWalks]

Thanks for the video. Heading to Ben Nevis in a few weeks. Planning to hike in Napal next year. Did the Camino this year as well.

[@JasonH5575]

Smashing stuff I will most definitely be using this route when I do Ben Nevis next year.

[@WyeExplorer]

Enjoyable short video. Ots in there. Not sure about the conquering bit though.

[@anthonyholroyd5359]

We need more of this!! Would love to see your take on - 'Forcan Ridge' - Glen Sheil, climbing up to 'The Saddle'. Its a Grade 2 with significant exposure. To me it felt like "what if Sharp Edge was Aonach Eagach level"? And the bad step on this route is significantly more extreme than the route up Blencathra. And if a Grade 3 scramble could make it on here? The 'Curved Ridge' - up Buchaille Etive Mòr - has to be the one. Possibly my favourite way up a mountain so far . . . Didn't feel like it was until afterwards mind you 😅😅

[@lewistaylor2858]

I mean if you don't want crowds go to one of the other 1000 hills there are in the highlands...

[@pittodrie19831]

How many ascents of CMD did you have to do to get a day like that?! Did it last Saturday but with only 20-30 metres visibility. Map and compass essential in those conditions. Descending the tourist route was an experience, after 5 minutes the Ben was dubbed Scotland's most un-sociable Munro. Was glad to reach the wee loch to head back towards the north face track leaving the rabble behind.

[@anthonyholroyd5359]

I did it a couple of days ago . . . And I did find, when descending the pony track, that alot of the folk climbing were clearly novices who had not developed the hill walker / mountaineer etiquette of always saying hi to the folk you're passing, giving them some encouragement or letting them know how close they are to the top and warning them of any tricky terrain ahead.

[@greenball2092]

@@anthonyholroyd5359 doing the walk in a couple of weeks, how busy was the CMD route?

[@anthonyholroyd5359]

@@greenball2092 in good weather there would probably be a few on it. The day I did it, I think my party of 3 was one of only two parties that day who committed to the whole traverse.

[@mcguggonedward]

CMD only way for me 😎

[@MattUkGti]

Excellent video thanks. Dislike the idea of the tourist route but not sure if this would be suitable with our dog.

[@tooclaws]

Not for dogs bro..:)

[@fraserct533]

Agree its a srumptious route but why not call the Carn Mor Dearag Arete by it's well known name?

[@gingyyb4316]

Anyway up the mountain u should be proud of

[@Roberttramp]

Scottish Mountain

[@peterreid8785]

In car on way home from doing this route, for my first ever hill walk or Munro I found this so much fun

[@ajcoops5919]

How long did it take all in all as I'm doing this hike in 10 days time