Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles, standing at 4,413 feet (1,345 meters) above sea level. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands. A tricky aspect of Ben Nevis is its weather; because of its proximity to the Atlantic, it is shrouded in clouds for almost 300 days a year. The peak is actually the collapsed dome of an ancient volcano. While it may not seem tall compared to the Alps or Himalayas, its base starts at sea level, meaning the ascent is a full 4,400-foot climb. The mountain's name translates from Scottish Gaelic to either 'venomous mountain' or 'mountain with its head in the clouds.'