‘High heel hiker’ attempts to climb Ben Nevis for charity in 5-inch platforms

A daring student has ditched his hiking boots to climb up Britain’s highest peak in a pair of five-inch heels.

Ben Conway, from London, endured rain, gales and a rocky path to make it more than two-thirds of the way up Ben Nevis in stilettos before deciding to call it quits.

The “High Heel Hiker”, as he is now known, raised money for equality charity Stonewall and Sal’s Shoes, a charity which works to bring shoes to barefoot children.

He said: “Before it became about fundraising, it started as a thing for the scholarship application. They asked us to make them passionate about something that we are passionate about.

“I needed to think of something difficult to do and I also love drag culture. I have also been scouting for 13 years and the challenge sort of married the two.

“I picked Ben Nevis because it is the biggest. I thought if I’m going to go for it, I’m going to go for it properly. It was all a bit spontaneous.”

Mr Conway was joined on the epic hike by Callum MacKenzie Allen, a friend from his art foundation year who filmed the journey for a two-minute video for the application.

The pair were accompanied by a guide and started their ascent at 8am on June 27 before climbing for five hours to reach 900m.

He added: “I’ve never climbed up a mountain before and it was also my first time in heels. Most people have been super positive but some people have been down on it, saying I should have thought about health and safety.

“I’ve hurt myself more on nights-out in London than wearing high heels up the mountain because I had socks and bandages on.”