Climbers leave Ben Nevis summit strewn with beer cans and rotten food

Climbers leave Ben Nevis summit strewn with beer cans and rotten food Hundreds of kilograms of litter is left behind on the mountain each year - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Visitors to Ben Nevis have been urged to clean up after themselves after an emergency shelter at the summit was found strewn with beer cans, cigarette packets, and mouldy food. The trust that manages the Scottish mountain condemned the mess, which was shared on social media, but said it was not unusual, as “large amounts of littering take place on Ben Nevis every year”. The John Muir Trust said it is forced to remove hundreds of kilograms of litter from the mountain annually, and has to rely on volunteers to pick up the waste. Author and snow patch researcher Iain Cameron shared a photo of the hut to social media, writing: “There is an emergency shelter on top of Ben Nevis, invaluable for injured or exhausted walkers to get out of the weather. “This is how it looked yesterday. Beer cans, abandoned rucksack, cigarette packets, mouldy food… I despair sometimes.” A spokesperson for John Muir said the amount of waste left behind on the mountain had worsened since Covid. There is an emergency shelter on top of Ben Nevis, invaluable for injured or exhausted walkers to get out of the weather. This is how it looked yesterday. — Iain Cameron (@theiaincameron) September 19, 2026 Beer cans, abandoned rucksack, cigarette packets, mouldy food… I despair sometimes. pic.twitter.com/OXfVUuNVQJ “More than 160,000 people climb Ben Nevis each year, and many aren’t used to the conditions on the hill,” they said. “They are often ill-equipped for the weather and seek shelter, which is when this sort of littering happens. Mountain Rescue are frequently called out.” “Each year we hold volunteer work parties to clear up. People really do care and want to help. We rely on fantastic volunteers who are willing to carry this sort of material, which involves wearing PPE and a full day of walking up and down the hill. Sadly, littering takes place throughout the year. “Like other charities, we struggle with having enough resources and capacity to clean up after people, and to manage the detrimental impact of littering on wild places. “The situation at the top of Ben Nevis is not new and since Covid the volume of littering has become much worse in the lower glens. We have clear signage at the bottom of Ben Nevis to show where the nearest toilets and litter bins are.” Mountaineering Scotland warned of the amount of rubbish being left behind at the mountain in 2019 after it found 8kg of banana skins in just two days. “Everyone should have the chance to experience wild places, and to care for them by leaving those places as they find them for others to enjoy,” a John Muir spokesperson added. Lochaber MSP Andrew Baxter also hit out at the state of the shelter, telling the Press and Journal newspaper: “It’s very disappointing to hear that the emergency shelter has been left in such a state. People ought to know better. It makes it a less pleasant place for everyone. “I would urge all visitors to respect the mountain and take your waste home. “Incidents like this are the reason the council is having to invest in countryside rangers but we shouldn’t have to spend money educating people to take their rubbish home with them or having to clear up their message. It should just be common sense.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments