Ben Nevis has been named the most littered tourist destination in Scotland and the third most littered in the UK, according to new research analysing public reviews from visitors across the country.
The findings come from waste management specialists BusinessWaste.co.uk, who reviewed thousands of TripAdvisor entries to uncover which of the UK’s top visitor attractions are most commonly associated with litter.
Scotland’s highest mountain was singled out after 0.66% of its 2,648 TripAdvisor reviews mentioned littering, a higher proportion than any other Scottish site analysed.
Each year, more than 150,000 people climb Ben Nevis, drawn by its spectacular views and status as the UK’s tallest peak at 1,345 metres.
But with footfall comes waste and some visitors are not taking their rubbish home.
The types of litter reported by reviewers ranged from plastic bottles and food wrappers to tissues and dog waste.
Some comments warned prospective climbers to “expect mess” along the main paths, particularly near the summit and popular rest spots.
Graham Matthews, waste expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, said the findings were a concern, particularly given Ben Nevis’s cultural and environmental importance.
“To see so many reviews highlighting the amount of litter at some of the UK’s most iconic tourist attractions is a concern,” he said.
“Many of these sites hold historical and environmental significance, so it’s vital that visitors treat them with respect.”
He added that while site management can be challenging in remote or large-scale outdoor areas, the responsibility ultimately lies with each visitor.
“If there are no bins available at a site, always take your rubbish home with you,” he said.
“This way, we can ensure these sites remain well-preserved for years to come.”
Ben Nevis joins Loch Lomond Shores and Edinburgh Zoo on the UK’s top ten list of most littered attractions, though both scored significantly lower at 0.33% and 0.23% respectively.
At the other end of the scale, the Loch Ness Museum in Drumnadrochit was listed among the least littered tourist sites in the UK, with hardly any reviews mentioning waste, a bright spot in an otherwise sobering snapshot of visitor behaviour.
The UK’s most littered tourist site overall was Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in North Wales, with 1.03% of reviews mentioning litter.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach ranked second, with issues including discarded food containers, cigarette ends, and graffiti.
For Highland communities working hard to promote sustainable tourism, the Ben Nevis ranking will reinforce ongoing calls for greater awareness, more education, and better behaviour on the hills.
