Ben Nevis Inn

Reviews

• Ben N.

  star star star star star 26 May 2026

  You cannot beat the location, at least not very easily:  The Ben Nevis Inn is situated at the beginning of the trail to Ben Nevis, overlooking the lower end of the Glen Nevis.  It sits alone in one of the more enviable spots in all of Scotland, I'd say.  
  
  Getting there is part of the fun:  You can park at the Ben Nevis visitor center lot across the River Nevis (yeah, you have to pay), cross the footbridge across the stream, and cross a meadow where sheep are grazing.  (Or, much more simply, you can apparently park at the Inn itself, a method that Google Maps withheld from us for some reason.)
  
  The pub and bunkhouse (no, we did not stay there) are housed in a 200-year-old barn.  The inside's been beautifully redone:  a single large room with wood floors and ceilings, with the same stone walls that you see on the exteroir.  It looks like a mead hall reimagined for the 21st century, with long, sturdy wooden tables, and lots of natural light.
  
  We were at the Ben Nevis Inn only for lunch, but the food we had was great.  From this American's perspective, cullen skink seems to be the great unsung Scottish dish:  the Ben Nevis Inn's version was intensely smoky and rich and hearty.  (It makes most versions of the somewhat similar New England clam chowder seem pretty pallid.)  Really good, and a £6.95 bowl was very filling.  A very fresh side salad for only £2.25 was a great deal, too.  
  
  Can't remember the local draft beer we had, but the IPA was very good.

• Kacie S.

  star star star star star_border 25 May 2026

  Delicious food in an old dairy barn at the foot of Ben  Nevis. We went at night and drove down a narrow road into complete darkness. After a few minutes we saw a light and that was it... this place is very very remote.
  
  The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the service. Our waitress kept forgetting about us and once we could finally get her attention she would come over and apologized profusely.... she really was running around like crazy.
  
  Overall, I highly recommend. The menu was diverse with something for everyone.

• Meghan T.

  star star star star star_border 20 May 2026

  Super packed little spot, but well worth the wait. We all ordered something different from the menu and everything was served fresh and sourced local. 3 happy tummies (and very picky eaters too). If you find yourself hiking Ben Nevis, stop in here for dinner afterwards and pick one of the delicious options from the menu to fuel you back up.

• Peter W.

  star star star star star 14 May 2026

  This place was like a beacon shining through the mist as we descended Ben Nevis. We were cold, wet and hungry and saw this wooden lodge at the end of the trail, it turned out to be the Ben Nevis Inn so we stopped in to rest our weary bones and find out if we could get some food and drink. It was like walking into another time and place, the beautiful wooden lodge with high ceilings and tall windows was warm and comforting. The staff was friendly and took care of us in our weakened condition, but above all the food and drink was amazing! Everything we ordered was great, but do yourself a favor and try a pint of the Cairngorm Black Gold, it was one of the best stouts I've ever had!
  
  Ben Nevis Inn was such a great surprise, it turned out to be one of the best meals we had during our vacation in the UK. If you're in the area, wether you're hiking Ben Nevis or not, don't miss out on this hidden gem.

• Rich P.

  star star star star star_border 10 May 2026

  After a hike up Ben Nevis, what's not to love about a decent inn at the base of the mountain for some beers and solid food to celebrate.  Friendly staff. Tall ceiling with long tables and benches creates a lodge like feeling, accentuated by all the hikers.  Beer selection could be improved.  Enjoyed the salt and pepper shrimp with Sriracha mayo and side salad (nicely plated), and the local smoked fish and potato soup warmed me up.