The Classic Sub 24 Hour Scottish Mountain Challenge
About Ramsay's Round
Just before noon on Sunday 9th July 1978, Charlie Ramsay from Edinburgh, Scotland, and a member of Lochaber Athletic Club in Fort William, was seen running down the lower slopes of Ben Nevis, his mind seemingly possessed by a desperate degree of urgency as he crossed over the footbridge and onwards for a further 25 metres past the youth hostel, to his finishing line.
There, his family and friends met him; as he checked his watch and fell to his knees with a mixture of exhaustion and elation.
For the previous 23 hours and 58 minutes, Charlie had climbed a total of 23 Munros (mountains over 3,000 feet/ 914.4 metres) of which Ben Nevis was the last. With just 2 minutes to spare he had achieved his dream of circuiting all the Lochaber mountains in a single day. Behind him he left a trail of exhausted bodies, his support team and even his teammate, Bobby Shields, who had to retire after 16 tops, so sustained was the pace.
Charlie had set a record, which was to last for nine years, and had created Scotland’s Classic Mountain Marathon, a distance of 56 miles/90.123 km and 28,500 feet/8686.8 metres of climbing.
Charlie died peacefully at home in February 2025 at the age of 81.
The record keeping and enquiries relating to the Round are currently looked after by a small group of Charlie’s friends and hill runners who know the route intimately, while plans are progressed for Charlie’s legacy to continue.
Charlie was an inspiration to many, always generous with his time and community spirited. He believed in ‘Sport and Recreation for all’ and that is the spirit in which Ramsay’s Round will continue.
In the meantime, completions are still being recorded - get in touch via ramsaysround@gmail.com
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The information on this website was not prepared with the intention that it should be relied upon or used by any party.
Contenders attempting Ramsay’s Round in whole or in part, do so entirely at their own risk.
Charlie Ramsay assumes no responsibility whatsoever in respect of or arising out of or in connection with, the use of the content of this website by any other party.
Contenders attempting Ramsay’s Round in whole or in part, do so entirely at their own risk.
Charlie Ramsay assumes no responsibility whatsoever in respect of or arising out of or in connection with, the use of the content of this website by any other party.
The information on this website was not prepared with the intention that it should be relied upon or used by any party.
Contenders attempting Ramsay’s Round in whole or in part, do so entirely at their own risk.
Charlie Ramsay assumes no responsibility whatsoever in respect of or arising out of or in connection with, the use of the content of this website by any other party.
Contenders attempting Ramsay’s Round in whole or in part, do so entirely at their own risk.
Charlie Ramsay assumes no responsibility whatsoever in respect of or arising out of or in connection with, the use of the content of this website by any other party.
Charlie Ramsay