The Ramsay Round, also known as the Charlie Ramsay Round, is a long distance hill running challenge near Fort William, Scotland. The route is a circuit of roughly 58 miles (93 kilometres), taking in 24 summits with a total climb of around 28,500 feet (8,700 metres). Ben Nevis, Great Britain's highest peak, is included in the route along with 22 other Munros. Originally, all 24 summits on the Ramsay Round were Munros, but Sgurr an Iubhair was declassified as a Munro in 1997. The route was devised by Charlie Ramsay as an extension to Tranter’s Round, an existing 24-hour walking route, and first completed by Ramsay on 8-9 July 1978.[1]
Charlie's completion created Scotland's classic round, intentionally the Scottish equivalent of the Paddy Buckley Round (which in turn was the Welsh equivalent of the Bob Graham). Participants must complete the route on foot, starting and finishing at the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, and may take the route in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Whichever direction is chosen, all tops must be taken in order.[1]
Until June 2015, the fastest time recorded was that of Adrian Belton from Baslow in Derbyshire. He recorded a time of 18 hours 23 mins.
On 12 June 2015, this record was broken by Jez Bragg with a new time of 18 hours 12 minutes. Soon after, on 5 July 2015, the record was lowered again, this time by Jon Ascroft in a time of 16 hours 59 minutes.
On Saturday 18 June 2016, Jasmin Paris set a new record outright (both for women and men)[1] for the Ramsay Round, knocking 46 minutes from the previous fastest round to set a new time of 16 hours 13 minutes. Previously the fastest women’s time was that of Nicky Spinks who on 31 May 2014 recorded a time of 19 hours 39 minutes for a clockwise round, breaking the previous record set by Helene Diamantides.
Es Tresidder set a new fastest time on 6 July 2019, running the Round in 16 hours 12 minutes.[2]
The record was reduced to 14 hours 42 minutes by Finlay Wild on 31 August 2020.[3]
This is the original, anticlockwise route followed by Charlie Ramsay.
| Summit | Altitude/m | |
|---|---|---|
| Glen Nevis Youth Hostel | ~20 | |
| 1 | Mullach nan Coirean | 939 |
| 2 | Stob Bàn (Mamores) | 999 |
| 3 | Sgurr a' Mhàim | 1099 |
| 4 | Sgorr an Iubhair | 1001 |
| 5 | Am Bodach | 1032 |
| 6 | Stob Coire a' Chàirn | 981 |
| 7 | An Gearanach | 982 |
| 8 | Na Gruagaichean | 1056 |
| 9 | Binnein Mor | 1130 |
| 10 | Binnein Beag | 943 |
| 11 | Sgurr Eilde Mor | 1010 |
| 12 | Beinn na Lap | 937 |
| 13 | Chno Dearg | 1046 |
| 14 | Stob Coire Sgriodain | 979 |
| 15 | Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin | 1105 |
| 16 | Stob Coire Easain | 1115 |
| 17 | Stob Bàn (Grey Corries) | 977 |
| 18 | Stob Choire Claurigh | 1177 |
| 19 | Stob Coire an Laoigh | 1116 |
| 20 | Sgurr Choinnich Mor | 1094 |
| 21 | Aonach Beag | 1234 |
| 22 | Aonach Mor | 1221 |
| 23 | Carn Mor Dearg | 1223 |
| 24 | Ben Nevis | 1345 |
| Glen Nevis Youth Hostel | ~20 |