Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Ramsay’s Round? 56 miles/ 90.123 km and 28,500 feet/ 8686.8 metres of ascent.

How hard is Ramsay’s Round? It’s one of the ‘Big Three’ British rounds along with the Bob Graham in the Lakes and the Paddy Buckley in Wales. It’s not as long, but has more up and down and is remote with harder logistics.

How many people have completed the Ramsay’s Round? See the Completions page.

What sort of pace do I have to run at? 56 miles in 24 hours is approximately 2.33mph.

Do you have to register prior to an attempt? Charlie always loved to hear of an attempt. Please feel free to email, we’ll endeavour to get back to you.

Requirements for inclusion onto the list of successful sub 24 hour completions? Please see the Completions page.

Rules? Not too many… Start and finish at the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel. Go clockwise or anti clockwise. Visit all summits in the correct order, depending on direction of travel. Complete the route within 24 hours.

Weather Ben Nevis/ Beinn Nibheis translates from Gaelic as the ‘malicious’ or ‘venomous’ mountain, it is the highest and wettest place in Britain. See clothing section!

Water Usually not too hard to find on the Harvey’s map.

Parking Parking can occasionally be tight at the YHA and Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. There is paid parking opposite the Visitor Centre. For supporters: vehicle access to Mamore Lodge (Kinlochleven) is now restricted. There is paid parking at the Grey Mare’s Waterfall car park in Kinlochleven.

Where can I find a schedule? Best to recce and develop your own (for example using Naismith’s Rule), it’s also possible to find examples on online forums. See Charlie’s splits on the History page.

Is one way easier than the other? Anecdotally no, but some consider that facing the Ben at the end in possibly deteriorating weather can be intimidating.

Route guidance There is discussion and debate on the best routes and shortcuts on the Fell Runners Association forum, for example.

Where can I find supporters? Clubs, friends, spouses, mums, dads, social media groups and the Fell Runners Association forum for example.

Guidance on record ratification- https://www.fellrunner.org.uk/championships/longdistanceguidelines

Other long distance hill rounds- SHR/ Long distance pages- https://www.scottishhillrunners.uk/LongDistance.aspx

and www.gofar.org.uk

Best fish and chip shop? Fishy Fishy in Fort William High St or Sammy’s in Caol.

Joe Williams (92) at the finish line. Credit: David Lintern