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Journal / Travel

Ben Nevis and the Scottish Highlands in winter: field notes for travel content

By Aditya Narayan6 min read
Hiker silhouetted on a snowy ridge in the Scottish Highlands in winter

Some of our favourite travel content comes from the Scottish Highlands in winter, from snowy ridgelines to the summit of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK at 1,345 metres. These are our notes for anyone heading up with a camera.

Hiker on a snowy Highland ridge under a bright sky
A lone figure on the ridge gives the mountains their scale.

Safety comes before the shot

Winter changes everything on Scottish hills. Snow and ice can sit on Ben Nevis well into spring, and the summit plateau is close to steep cliffs. Check the Mountain Weather Information Service and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service before you go, carry a map and compass, and take crampons and an ice axe only if you know how to use them. If conditions turn, the summit will still be there next time.

Start early, finish in daylight

Winter days are short in the Highlands. Starting at first light gives you the soft low sun on the way up and time to come down before dark. The golden hour lasts longer in winter, which is good news for photographers.

Pack light, shoot smart

  • One body and one versatile zoom, or a phone with a good wide lens.
  • Spare batteries kept warm in an inside pocket, because cold drains them fast.
  • Gloves you can work your camera in.
  • A small gimbal or a light tripod for steady video clips.
Snow covered hills rising above a dark loch in the Scottish Highlands
Lochs below the snowline add depth and colour.

Compose for scale

Mountains look smaller on a screen than they feel in person. Put a person on the ridge, shoot into the light for silhouettes, and use lochs and valleys to lead the eye into the frame.

Film for reels as you go

Shoot short vertical clips at each stage: the car park in the dark, the first view, the snowline, the summit, the walk down. Five good clips tell the whole story in fifteen seconds.

Follow the journey on Eccentric Routes. Tourism and outdoor brands that want Highland content shot with the same care can get in touch.

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