History

The mountains around Glen Nevis are ideal for those dreaming of big days in the Scottish Mountains.

In June 1964 Philip Tranter son of the author Nigel Tranter was the first to cover all of these mountains in a single trip, taking in the Mamores 11 munros, Grey Corries 4 munros, the Aonachs 2 munros, Carn Mor Dearg 1 munro culminating on Ben Nevis 1 munro. Tranters Round involves a journey of 36 miles with 20,600 feet of ascent; it has been successfully completed many times in recent years. No details are retained of successful round completions. Scottish Hill Runners however, can confirm that the fastest known traverse of the round was completed in 1990 by Mark McDermott in 12 hours and 50 minutes. The fastest lady, Dawn Scott got round in 2000 in 15 hours and 57 minutes.	Philip Tranter on the top of Ben Mor Assynt on completion of his second round of the Munros (supplied by Blyth Wright)
Historical Meeting: Charlie Ramsay and Blyth Wright Blyth Wright and Philip Tranter collectively planned and put together what is now known as Tranters Round. Blyth also accompanied Philip for most of the journey before returning to their rendezvous point in Glen Nevis. Charlie and Blyth going through one of Philips hand written diaries, highlighting excellent and detailed accounts of their many mountaineering ventures together. After over 30 years of sporadic phone calls, letters and e-mail communication Charlie finally caught up with Blyth at his home in Aviemore in November 2008, where they shared an interesting, informative and enjoyable afternoon reflecting on big days in the Scottish mountains. Sadly after a long illness Blyth passed away on Sunday 24th May 2009. He will be remembered for his invaluable knowledge and expertise in avalanche forecasting and relentless work towards safety in the Scottish mountains.
Many including myself have followed Tranter’s footsteps and successfully completed his circuit within the 24 hour time scale. Whilst on the round one day I wondered if one could extend the round by including the 5 munros that surround Loch Treig: Beinn na Lap, Chino Dearg, Stob Coire Sgriodain, Stob a Choire Mheadhoin, and Stob Coire Easain, making it into a journey that would involve 24 munros within 24 hours, a distance of 56 miles with 28,000 feet of ascent.
With the assistance of many friends from Lochaber and Edinburgh I put together a package of training and planning in order to attempt the round, adopting the fell running style of the Lakeland runners. Would this be possible in the Scottish mountains? Bob Graham Round
Charlie and family following his completion of the B G round Picture supplied by Stan Bradshaw Having completed the Bob Graham Round in 1977 (Number 82) I used their model to prepare for my attempt. Details of preparation and planning can be seen on a separate page under these headings. I also decided to raise money for Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (£500.00). With all of the training complete and support in place, I was ready to go at 12 noon on Friday 8^th July 1978, I left Glen Nevis Youth Hostel and proceeded anticlockwise heading onto the Mamores. I returned to the Youth Hostel having completed the circuit at 11 58 on Saturday 9^th July with only 2 minutes to spare. Ramsays Round was a reality.
Chris Brasher The round acquired a comparatively low profile for over 10 years… Until 1986 when Chris Brasher called into my office during a business trip to Edinburgh, seeking more detail and information about Ramsay’s Round. I assisted in supporting Chris, Paddy Buckley and George Rhodes during their Bob Graham attempt in 1977. Chris Brasher’s name is synonymous with such achievements as: 1954 Assisted by Chris Chataway they facilitated the 1st sub 4 minute mile achieved by Roger Bannister 1956 Olympic Gold Medal for the Steeplechase in Melbourne Instrumental in raising public awareness in competitive orienteering both nationally and internationally 1981 Original organiser of the now infamous annual London Marathon Following that meeting Chris returned south where using his many networking skills within fell running circles, he increased awareness, interest and enthusiasm about the round resulting in a steady flow of successful attempts each year from both north and south of the border.
To date, there have been 55 successful contenders for Ramsay’s Round, including 3 ladies who have completed the round. 47 have gone clockwise starting with Ben Nevis and 8 have gone anticlockwise finishing with the Ben.The fastest time recorded is that of Adrian Belton from Baslow in Derbyshire. He recorded a time of 18 hours 23 mins.
The fastest lady is Helene Diamantides from Harrogate in a time of 20 hours 24 mins. Picture supplied by Steve Harling
In 1987 by travelling eastwards Martin Stone from Exeter added a further 2 munros to the round.	Martin Stone (2nd left)
In 1988 Adrian Belton extended the round even further to 28 munros. His target was 30 but snow in June denied him that goal, such is the weather in the Scottish mountains.
My Granddaughters Islay, Jessica, Charlotte and Rowan. All in the U K Pre School National Squad. Hopefully in due course they will follow in Gran dad’s footsteps.
Charlie on the summit of Ben Nevis, March 2009.
Winter attempts Whilst I only retain record details of those who have completed the round starting and finishing at Glen Nevis Youth Hostel within 24 hours. It is noteworthy that the round has been completed in both directions in winter conditions (October / March) as shown. 1 2002 Glyn Jones: anti clockwise in 53 hours 34 minutes 2 2003 Garry Tompsett: anti clockwise in 33 hours 48 minutes 3 2006 John Fleetwood: anti clockwise in 47 hours 55 minutes In 2003 John completed the round within 24 hours: No 31, 23 hours 53 minutes 4 2008 Shane Ohly: clockwise in 29 hours 59 minutes Four remarkable achievements in Lochaber winter conditions Well done.
Sub 24 hours Solo Winter Attempt
Shane Ohly is planning to attempt the round within 24 hours, during the winter of 2010/11, reducing his current record and claiming 1st to achieve success in winter, in under 24 hours. We wish him well.
Ultra–Distance Challenges Ramsay’s Round is recognised by Ultra–Distance Challenges as one of the UK’s big 3 mountain challenges, which include: 1 The Bob Graham Round: England 2 The Charlie Ramsay Round: Scotland 3 The Paddy Buckley Round: Wales

Round Detail	Bob Graham	Charlie Ramsay	Paddy Buckley
Distance	60 miles	56 miles	61 miles
Summits	42	24	47
Ascent (Feet)	27,000	28,000	28,000
First Completed	1932	1978	1984
Completions	1,529 within 24 hours	55 within 24 hours	80: 62 within 24 hours
Fastest Time	Billy Bland: 13 53: 1982	Adrian Belton: 18 23: 1989	Tim Higginbottom 17 42: 2009
Fastest Lady	Anne Johnson: 18 49: 1991	Helene Diamantides: 20 24: 1989	Anne Johnson: 19 19: 1991

New Ladies Record Attempt

Anne Johnson, from Hebden Bridge (Yorkshire) The current ladies record holder of the Bob Graham and Paddy Buckley rounds, will attempt to break the ladies record on Ramsay’s Round during 2010.

Having successfully reccied the round during the summer of 2009, she was ultimately denied the opportunity to proceed in August due to foul weather.

Good Luck & Fingers Crossed.

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.

The Skye Bridge

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
Nearly one hundred and sixty thousand visitors are attracted annually to the challenge of negotiating the 1344 metres climb to the summit of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. 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.
Poor navigation or visibility could lead to straying off the correct navigational line and heading towards the cliffs on the North Face
The mountain track within that section of the mountain has also been upgraded, that task was completed by Students from Lochaber College in Fort William.
This work was completed, often in appalling weather conditions has proved to be a success story and is fully appreciated by those on the last stages of their ascent and at the beginning of their descent off the Ben. Nevis Partnership should be applauded for bringing this very worthwhile project to a successful conclusion.
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.
Alternative Running / Walking Challenges within Lochaber 1 Ben Nevis Race: Held annually in September for experienced hill runners only. Approx 8.7 miles from Claggan Park in Fort William, to the summit of Ben Nevis 4406 ft, and back again The current Men’s record stands at 1 25 34 and the Ladies record is 1 43 25.
2 The Glencoe Munro Circuit A complete circuit of the 8 Munros flanking Glen Coe. 19 miles with 12 750 feet of ascent, commencing at the Clachaig Inn, travelling anticlockwise towards Bidean nam Bain, then heading east towards Stob Dearg (Buachaille Etive Mor, crossing the A82, ascending onto the Aonach Eagach ridge before descending back to the Clachaig Inn. This circuit can also be completed by travelling in a clockwise direction. The original circuit was devised in 1980 by Bobby Shields of Lochaber A C.
3 West Highland Way A very popular walk, covering a distance of 95 miles, from Milngavie on the outskirts of Glasgow to Fort William,via Loch Lomond, Tyndrum, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and Kinlochleven.
The West Highland Way Race The route is also recognised as Scotland’s longest single stage race, held annually (mid summer) Course records: (M) 15 hours 44 minutes: set in 2006 by Jez Brag (F) 17 hours 16 minutes: set in 2007 by Lucy Colquhoun
4 The Great Glen Way This recently established walk includes a distance of 73 miles linking Fort William to Inverness via the Caledonian Canal and the Great Glen Both the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way follow a series of recognised way markers, and can be completed over several days depending on the participant’s choice There is also a wide variety of affordable accommodation options within each section of these walks.
5 The Cape Wrath Trail: The Cape Wrath Trail is just short of 200-miles long and runs from Fort William to the most north-west tip of the Scottish mainland, before finishing at the lighthouse at Cape Wrath, it follows an interesting, challenging and often remote route. Journey completion normally takes up to 14 days Unlike the 2 previous walks, there are no specific way markers; the route choice is that of the walker(s) This walk is more suited to backpackers, although with variations on route choice, you may find accommodation and refreshment facilities along the way This walk could be described as the hardest long distance backpacking journey in the UK.