Challenging Scottish Highland Trek: A Strenuous Mountain Trail Race, Given the Name of a Legendary Scottish Mountain Figure
Revamped Rewrite:
Are you ready to embark on an exhilarating trail run in the UK with a twist? Instead of tackling the widely popular Bob Graham Round in the Lake District or the tough Jurassic Coast stretch of the South West Coast Path, consider Ramsay's Round.
What's the lowdown on Ramsay's Round?
Ramsay's Round is a demanding fell running route nestled near Fort William in the western Highlands of Scotland, consisting of a 58-mile circuit through the imposing mountain ranges of the Mamores and Grey Corries. Now, at under 60 miles, it's not as lengthy as the previous routes, but let me assure you, it's nothing to sneeze at!
This trail isn't just a long jog through the hills; a whopping 23 of the peaks in the route are Munros – truncated mountains over 3,000ft – with the cherry on top being the UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Oh, and here's the kicker - Ramsay's Round isn't just a trail, it's a challenge. To officially mark its completion, you've got to power through it in under 24 hours – that's Scotland's Classic Mountain Marathon!
You might be wondering, who the heck is Charlie Ramsay? Well, Charlie – a fell runner and walker from Edinburgh – masterminded this beast of a route. His journey to creating this iconic run started with a humble milk round in the city that provided him with a little extra cash to buy his first bike and kickstart his athletic career.
After spells in London and a family addition, Ramsay returned to his hometown, where he would explore the Pentland Hills every day. As his interest in running grew, he entered the Ben Nevis race in 1974, which necessitated both athletic prowess and determination.
Following this event, Ramsay joined the Lochaber Athletic Club to continue his training and took up a holiday camping trip with his family in the Lake District, where he blundered upon, and unintentionally completed, the entire Bob Graham round. Upon this accidental finish, another trail runner implored Ramsay to create a Scottish equivalent, and he began to consider the Tranter's Round route in Lochaber.
“I liked Tranter's Round, but it wasn't big enough. It only consists of 18 Munros, so what do I do?” Ramsay pondered.
He discovered that by traversing Loch Treig, he could bolster the route with an additional 20 miles and 8,000ft of climbing – a challenge he relished.
On July 8, 1978, Ramsay embarked on his now-legendary attempt, accompanied by a couple of support runners. The next day, after 23 hours and 50 minutes, with both support runners dropped out due to exhaustion, Ramsay triumphantly returned to the Glen Nevis Hostel, and thus, Ramsay's Round was born.
Since then, champions of trail running have tested their mettle against Ramsay's Round. Record-holder Adrian Belton held the fastest known time for the round for an astonishing 26 years, but that record has crumbled numerous times since 2015, with the most recent time of 14 hours and 42 minutes set by Finlay Wild in 2020.
How tough is it really?
While the difficulty is subjective, it's safe to say that Ramsay's Round is a knee-slapper in the jaw of hard challenges. In addition to its impressive distance, all those peaks mean a total elevation gain of 28,500ft – just 500ft shy of climbing Mount Everest. And if that weren't enough, you'll face every unique obstacle that comes with hiking in Scotland – we're talking unpredictable weather, tricky navigation, and, of course, the notorious Scots midge!
Gearing up for Ramsay's Round involves starting and finishing at the Glen Nevis Hostel, from which you can tackle the route either clockwise or anti-clockwise (the latter being Adrian Tressider's suggestion for quicker completion times). Before you lace up your trail running shoes, research our articles on trail running in Scotland and how to run an ultra, and then visit the official Ramsay's Round website for tips on navigating the route and preparing for this specific challenge. And, as they say in Scotland, good luck, mate!
- Training for Ramsay's Round requires not only stamina but also extensive preparation, as the trail involves more than just running – it's a test of endurance, navigation skills, and outdoor aptitude.
- Completing Ramsay's Round earns you the respect of fellow trail runners and athletes, as the iconic route is a fruit of Charlie Ramsay's passion for sports and his adventurous spirit.
