Ramsay's Round
The Classic 24 Hour Scottish Challenge

Record number of Munros climbed within 24 hours

In June 1988 Jon Broxap from Kendal in Cumbria, keeper of records for the Fell Runners Association (FRA), and 3rd successful finisher of Ramsay’s Round, looked at the possibility of climbing as many of the Munros within the Glen Affric and surrounding area within 24 hours, 32 in total.

Glen Affric and the surrounding area

He set out with a very strong support team and managed to complete a round of 28 Munros from within that area in an amazing time of 23 hours and 20 minutes, covering 77 miles with 33,300 feet of ascent.

In 1989 this record was equalled in Lochaber by Adrian Belton’s extension of Ramsay’s Round.

In 1997 following the revision of the Munros’ tables, Sgurr Na Carnach, one of the summits that Jon visited during his journey, was upgraded to Munro Status. Sgorr an Iubhair on the Mamores lost its Munro status, consequently reducing Adrian’s record to 27, and making Jon a record holder for the most amount of Munros climbed in a single day: 29 in total.

When and who will manage to visit 30 or 30+ Munros in a single day?

Cairngorm Munros

Also known as the “Mark Rigby Round” (Mark is No 5 on Ramsay’s Round); this seems like a classic 24-hour challenge to rival anything in the west. A round of the 17 Cairngorm Munros (this is the pre-1997 figure, as there is now an 18th Munro – Sgorr an Lochain Uaine) was recorded by Mark Rigby on 24-25th July 1988. Starting and finishing at Cairngorm Youth Hostel, he went round in an anti-clockwise circuit with Braeriach first and Cairngorm last. The route is approximately 75 miles (19,500 feet of ascent).

A classic alternative to Lochaber if the West Coast weather forecast is not favourable.

Successful Munroists

In 1991 Charlie completed the task of successfully climbing all of the 284 Munro’s in Scotland, his last one being Sgurr nan Gillean on the Cuillin ridge in Skye. In so doing he is listed in the Scottish Mountaineering Club’s list of finishers as Number 1003. To date there are over 10 000 successful completions listed on their records.

Carnethy Hill Running Club

Charlie is currently a member of Carnethy H R C.

Carnethy is one of the UK’s premier hill running clubs, and is certainly the largest of its kind in Scotland, with a very wide ranging membership of hill runners of all categories.

Safety Cairns on the summit Plateau of Ben Nevis

The majority favoring the infamous Mountain Track which leads from Achintee farm or Glen Nevis.

In the summer of 2008 Upland Contracts Ltd and Highland Conservation Ltd were tasked by Nevis Partnership to erect 20 Cairns approximately 1.5 metres high, set at approx 50 metres apart on the main track leading from the 1200 metre shelter to the summit 1344 metres of Ben Nevis.

Their main purpose was to facilitate route finding across the plateau safely onto the summit and back to the zig zags on the main track, especially during poor weather such as mist, deep snow, darkness or even white out conditions.

Similar cairns were also constructed at the top three corners of the zig zags, for the same reasons.

Nevis Partnership should be applauded for bringing this very worthwhile project to a successful conclusion.

Friends of Nevis

photo supplied by Diana Strausa

Friends of Nevis have planned a series of volunteering weekends for 2010. The objective being to allow people of all ages to have an opportunity to do some environmental improvement voluntary work on Ben Nevis and the surrounding area.

ALL equipment, supervision, guidance and training will be provided as appropriate. Also refreshments and Good Company promised!

FREE ACCOMMODATION available at the Ben Nevis Inn Bunkhouse, Achintee, for the first of these weekends, any/all nights! Hopefully, a similar offer will be made available for subsequent weekends.

• Tree and scrub clearance in Lower Glen Nevis (old curling ponds area)
• Path maintenance/repairs on Glen/Ben tracks (not high level)
• Volunteer/subscribers get together and meeting
• The return of the popular Glen Nevis Spring Litter Blitz
• Ben Nevis litter sweeps/cairn maintenance

For further details and to secure a booking / accommodation please contact Liz Wishaw, Friends of Nevis Project Manager
See Useful Contacts page No 16 Friends of Nevis

Donations to Friends of Nevis

Visitors to Lochaber can contribute to the ongoing development work in and around the Glen Nevis area by leaving a donation in the newly established donation boxes located at the foot of the Ben or at the Ben Bevis Inn.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team

The team operates within all sections of Ramsay’s Round and beyond. They provide all year rescue for climbers and walkers who get into difficulty on these hills. They are a group of volunteer mountaineers who rely entirely on public donations to enable their continued provision of ongoing training and resourcing of this invaluable emergency rescue service.

They operate from their recently newly opened headquarters within Claggan Estate in Fort William
The Team provides assistance to a variety of people who go into the hills including walkers, climbers, skiers, para gliders and even mountain bikers. The Team works closely with other agencies including the police and both Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Search & Rescue Services.