Ben Nevis Geography Ben Nevis forms a massif with its neighbour to the north-east, Carn Mòr Dearg (1,223m), to which it is linked by the Carn Mòr Dearg Arête. Two huge magma chambers developed in the Glen Nevis area, one in the Mamores and another formed directly beaneath what is now the summit of Ben Nevis. The mountain was formed when the roof of a huge volcanic caldera collapsed. Ben Nevis, in the Western Highlands, is Britain’s highest mountain. These form the Ben Nevis central ring complex (Strachan et al., 2002). The liquid granite magma was originally forced up into (intruded) the surrounding rocks deep beneath an active volcano about 350 million years ago. A History… The first recorded ascent of Ben Nevis was made on 17 August 1771 by James Robertson, an Edinburgh botanist, who was in the region to collect botanical specimens. Ben Nevis was formed approximately 350 million years ago when a volcano collapsed.See the related Wikipedia link listed below for more information: James Roberston, a botanist from Edinburgh, was the first person to climb to the top of Ben Nevis. The heat and pressure baked the surrounding crustal rocks into schists and domed them up. Both mountains are among the nine in the UK over 4,000 feet (1,200 m), as are Aonach Mòr and Aonach Beag (1,234m) immediately to the east; the other five are all in the Cairngorms. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Another early ascent was in 1774 by John Williams, who provided the … Volcanic eruptions, in this area, added layers of lavas on top. Around 400 million years ago, the rocks that form the area around Ben Nevis were part of a chamber of molten rock in the upper layers of earth’s crust. Snow can be found on the mountain nearly all throughout the year. Ben Nevis, highest mountain of the British Isles, in the Highland council area, Scotland. This, and many other Scottish peaks, are made of granite, a rock that resists erosion well. There are 6 main stopping points along a ‘geo trail’ that help to explain the forces that have shaped the glen we see today: glacial features that will fascinate even the novice geologist. It’s peak is the collapsed dome of the volcano that imploded millions of years ago. He did this on 17th August 1771. Geologist Noel Williams describes the unusual geology of Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis is all that’s left of an ancient volcano. Ben Nevis History. Ben Nevis Visitor Centre » Geology of the Glen. Remains of these lavas can be seen forming the upper half of Ben Nevis. Glen Nevis is a beautiful place and a Geologist’s idea of heaven! 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