Welcome to our monthly Spotlight series, where we will explore the Trust's properties, people and projects. In this edition we focus on the highest mountain in the UK - Ben Nevis: a natural source of inspiration to many. A place of adventure and achievement, spectacular beauty and rare wildlife, it’s somewhere that leaves visitors with a true sense of wildness.
But the appeal of Nevis is much more than the peak – it’s the rocky slopes, the crags that provide a home to rare Alpine plants, the plunging waterfall at Steall, and the vibrant native woodlands that edge the river.
Read on to find out what's involved in our care of Ben Nevis - including restoring native woodlands, reviving peatlands, and ensuring safe, sustainable access - and discover how you can get involved by fundraising through Step Up for Wild Places, Adopting an Acre of Nevis or donating towards our work there.
For over two and a half decades, the John Muir Trust has worked with neighbouring land managers and the local community in the Nevis Landscape Partnership to manage this special and popular wild place on a landscape scale and bring nature back to life.
We restore native woodlands
Much of the native woodland that once covered Ben Nevis has disappeared. Today, only small patches of birch, rowan, and willow remain on steep slopes. We focus on reversing this loss by encouraging the natural regeneration of native trees, including Scots pine.
Ben Nevis shelters one of the last remnants of Scotland’s temperate rainforest - a globally rare ecosystem. Thanks to high rainfall and mild temperatures, it supports unique mosses, lichens, and other species found almost nowhere else on Earth. We are committed to protecting and expanding this precious habitat.
We aim to help native woodlands expand naturally from riverbanks to hillsides. Through careful grazing management, and support for natural regeneration, alone with enrichment planting where necessary we’ll create vital wildlife corridors and reconnect fragmented habitats
Deer and sheep are part of the landscape, but overgrazing can halt woodland recovery. We manage grazing levels through annual deer culls based on scientific data, working with neighbours to ensure a balanced approach across the wider landscape.
We revive peatlands and preserve paths
Peatlands are powerful allies in the fight against climate change. By restoring these carbon-rich landscapes, we’ll lock in carbon, improve water quality, and create thriving habitats for wildlife. We are restoring damaged peatlands - vital carbon stores and biodiversity hotspots - by blocking drainage channels and supporting vegetation recovery.
At the same time we maintain a safe and sustainable path network to the summit and through Steall Gorge, reducing erosion and protecting fragile montane habitats.
We engage people in conservation
Our on-the-ground team monitors habitats, leads volunteer work parties, and engages with visitors to protect sensitive areas.
Annual surveys of key habitats and species including woodland, blanket bog, dragonflies and mountain ringlet butterflies to guide conservation strategies. We believe in using science to guide our work. From tracking tree growth and butterfly populations to monitoring rare species like golden eagles and water voles, our data helps us us understand what’s working, what needs adjusting, and how we can keep improving.
Our wonderful conservation volunteers help with monitoring, path maintenance and our ongoing clean-up efforts to protect wildlife from litter and plastic pollution.
Initiatives like the Nevis Junior Ranger programme and partnerships with the University of the Highlands and Islands help train the next generation of conservationists.
The word iconic may be overused these days, but its true meaning - widely known and acknowledged for distinctive excellence - fits Ben Nevis perfectly. With your support, the John Muir Trust will ensure this extraordinary landscape remains a place of wonder, resilience, and inspiration for future generations.
Fundraise for wild places this summer by scaling Ben Nevis. Track your steps and aim for the 'summit'. Don't worry! Walking boots and rucksacks are not essential. Our flexible, feel-good challenge fits into your day and can be done during lunch breaks or on commutes – perfect for connecting with friends and colleagues, encouraging movement, and supporting a meaningful cause. Find out how to sign up to Step Up for Wild Places.
Photography: Mark Hamblin/scotlandbigpicture.com, Michael Souter, Marion McKinnon, Blair Fyffe, Julia Robertson
