Climbers queue on highest peak

IT IS the highest mountain in Britain, usually seeing more than 160,000 visitors every year.

But Ben Nevis, near Fort William, Inverness-shire, has now become so overcrowded that ‘supermarket-like queues’ have been seen forming at its summit.

John Stevenson, leader of the area’s Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, said the 4,413ft peak was suffering similar problems from overuse as Snowdonia, in Wales.

He said: ‘There are so many people going up and down the mountain it is something of a supermarket-like queue – but only steeper. There have been thousands on the Ben on certain days.

‘It really is crowded and obviously staycations have boosted numbers.

‘But people need to be prepared for extremes of weather. Already, we have had sleet at the summit.’

He added: ‘With these large numbers, there is also the issue of the wear and tear on the path.’

Of the 70-plus call-outs the rescue team has had this year, he said 90 per cent have been to Ben Nevis.