Climbing Ben Nevis? Form an orderly queue

CROWDED round the summit, they look like modern-day pilgrims at a mountain shrine.

And there’s no doubt the path they have taken will inspire new followers – on social media.

For the picture shows a long queue of hikers waiting patiently to take a selfie on top of the UK’s biggest mountain.

The photo, taken on August 8, shows the line at the summit of Ben Nevis as climbers waited for snap.

Lisa Smol, 39, captured more than 50 people queueing to reach the cairn and trig point.

There were the same number again queueing from another side.

The teacher, who is from the Highlands, said she was shocked by the number of people and how they were queueing in close proximity despite the pandemic.

In the queue at the top, there certainly appears to be very little social distancing in place.

Another picture shows the beginning of a queue that snaked its way down off the 4,413ft mountain.

Keen hiker Miss Smol shared the images on social media, saying: ‘A different view yesterday.

‘A queue for that Ben Nevis summit photo. Busy times up there but still beautiful. Stay safe.’

Reflecting on the scene she encountered, Miss Smol said: ‘I had heard from previous hikers it was busy, but I was still shocked to see a queue to reach the cairn and trig point.

‘I think it was busier than usual due to bad weather earlier in the week, which probably altered many initial midweek hikes and pushed it back to the weekend, plus it was the summer holidays for the whole of the UK.

‘Although Ben Nevis gets busy, this was extreme. I haven’t seen it that busy before.’

Many social media users were quick to condemn the hikers queueing up at the summit.

Michael G Annis wrote: ‘This is insane. Aberdeen closing down, football game cancelled and people do this.’

Jennifer Hall said: ‘Not much social distancing there, and no trace tracking if one of them is ill.’

And Laura Hay commented: ‘Oh my god. I go walking in the hills to get away from people.’