Scotland

For me, the Scottish Highlands offer the best and truest rounds in the British Isles.  The mountains are that bit higher, the tops are more prominent, the scenery is that bit grander and on the West Coast, the interplay of sea and mountains is unmatched.  The mountains can also be much more remote and committing, especially in the winter when they are at their best.  Winter rounds in Scotland are generally a very different proposition to those in England and Wales and take on more of a mountaineering quality.

Grey (white!) Corries to Ben Nevis on a winter Ramsay

The Tranter was the first recognised round of any significance and in my opinion, it remains one of the best quality round in mainland Britain.  This was extended to the Ramsay which has become one of the three recognised classics.  Mark Rigby added a round in the Cairngorms, and Jon Broxap's Munro round in Kintail and Affric still stands as a record for the number of Munros in a day.  However, this barely scratches the surface of what is possible in the Highlands, with circuits around long glens making obvious targets. I've completed many challenges now in Scotland, both in summer and winter.  I've endeavoured to follow natural lines, some as a round, and a couple as traverses.  I've not imposed a time limit as most of these were done solo on a 'turn up, do the route, go home' basis, but with a bit of preparation and support most would be do-able within 24 hours.

The table shows the challenges that I've completed and their location is shown on the map below.  Click on the route name to access the route page, where further details, photos, accounts and timings are available.  You can also download a summary of the challenges here.  The Gofar web site is also a source of invaluable information.

Map	Route and Page Link	Miles	Feet	FKC*	Season	Time	Date
1	Cruachan Classic	44	21,500	1st	W	28 h	06/02/09
2	Clachaig Challenge	56	30,150	1st	S	30 h 11 m	23/07/07
2	Etive Round	57	30,400	1st	S	30 h 20 m	25/06/05
2	Glencoe Skyline	25	14,500	1st W	W	22 h	13/03/20
2	Kingshouse Round	52	27,700	1st	S	28 h 55 m	13/05/06
2	Kingshouse Round (2)	48	27,000	2nd	S	35 h	08/08/20
3	Ramsay Round	60	28,000	2nd W	W	47 h 55 m	05/03/06
3	Ramsay Round	60	28,000	30th	S	23 h 53 m	12/07/03
3	Tranter's Round	38	20,300	2nd W	W	26 h 45 m	18/12/02
3	Tranter's Round	38	20,300	?	S	16 h 7 m	20/04/03
4	Scottish Haute Route	108	34,500	1st	W	3 days	19/12/07
5	Loch Shiel Round	54	20,400	1st	S	29 h 20 m	17/07/20
6	Laggan Round	63	22,000	1st	S	33 h	30/08/20
7	Cairngorm Tops (DNF)	90	28,000	DNF	S	34 h 40 m	28/07/08
7	Rigby Round	74	18,000	1st W	W	54 h	13/12/10
8	Knoydart Round	55	26,500	1st	S	27 h 40 m	10/08/04
9	Broxap Round	75	34,800	1st W	W	61 h	24/02/20
10	Glen Shiel Round (16 Munros)	38	16,000	1st W	W	23 h	25/01/05
10	Glen Shiel Round (19 Munros)	40	23,000	1st W	W	30 h	01/02/06
11	Cuillin Ridge	16	13,000	?	W	2 days	19/03/18
11	Cuillin Round	39	23,000	3rd	S	29 h	04/06/16
12	Mullardoch Round	48	20,000	1st	W	26 h 8 m	02/02/07
13	Strathfarrar Watershed	62	25,000	1st	W	50 h	27/02/17
14	Torridon Giants	27	14,500	1st W	W	17 h	11/03/14
15	Fisherfield 24 hour Round	60	25,500	1st	S	23 h 50 m	08/06/12
15	Fisherfield 24 hour Round (2)	60	25,500	DNF	W	35 h	07/01/18
15	Fisherfield Round	70	28,000	1st	S	37 h	19/06/11
15	Fisherfield Round (2)	70	28,000	2nd	S	31 h	24/07/11
16	Assynt Traverse	50	20,800	5th	S	27 h	27/05/18
17	Torridon Round	45	23,800	1st	S	33 h 45 m	29/05/21
18	Sutherland Round	56	21,150	1st	S	28 h	28/06/21
19	Glen Lyon Watershed	75	32,500	1st	S	47 h 15 m	31/07/21