Update: Finlay Wild 8:27:53, 1st June 2024, ref. UKH report, where Dan Bailey also asks Finlay some interesting questions about the round and gets some very interesting answers.

Updates: Finlay Wild 9:00:05, 17th July 2020, and 8:52:53, 27th July 2022; Jack Kuenzle 8:38:23, 28th July 2022; Jill Stephen 12:23:22, 21st August 2022; Andy Berry 13:45:18 winter, 28th January 2023 (all pending incorporation into main text below, see UKC reports for 2022 Wild/Kuenzle and 2023 Berry runs).

The original 24-hour concept, now superseded by Charlie Ramsay's Round, but a magnificent and natural expedition none-the-less. The 36-mile (20,600 feet of ascent) route takes in the Mamores plus the Grey Corries, Aonachs and Ben Nevis, and was first achieved by Philip Tranter in June 1964.

Please note that the original visiting order for the central transition from Mamores to Grey Corries was Binnein Mor, Binnein Beag and finally Sgurr Eilde Mor before the Grey Corries Stob Ban, and we would prefer to see this order (or its clockwise counterpart of Stob Ban, Sgurr Eilde Mor, Binnein Beag and Binnein Mor) retained. While we're not currently rejecting completions with Binnein Beag and Sgurr Eilde Mor reversed, we encourage repeaters to follow Tranter's order.

The fastest known time is currently 10 hours 15 mins and 30 secs, set solo, unsupported and anticlockwise by Finlay Wild on 1st October 2016 [Ref: Finlay's blog]. A stunning effort taking 76 minutes off Mark Harris's partially-supported anticlockwise 11 hours 31 mins of 15th July 2015 [Ref: SHR News] and, as acknowledged by Finlay in taking up the challenge, clearly suggesting sub-10 to be possible! Previous (pre-Harris) recorded bests were the solo/unsupported runs of 12 hours 17 mins clockwise by Stephen Pyke on 3rd June 2012 [Ref: SP] and Mark McDermott's long-standing 1990 anticlockwise record of 12 hours 50 mins [Ref: MM].

The ladies record now stands at 12 hours 25 mins, recorded in mixed conditions on 14th July 2017 by Helen Bonsor running with Andy Fallas [Ref: Carnethy HRC report]. This beat Jasmin Paris's three-year-old mark of 12 hours 41 mins from 26th July 2014 by 16 minutes, with Jasmin having taken nearly two and a half hours off Nicky Spinks's 15 hours 10 mins of 29th July 2011 and Nicky 47 minutes off Dawn Scott's 15 hours 57 mins set eleven years earlier. All four runners travelled in the original anticlockwise direction.

The coveted and much attempted 24-hour winter round finally succumbed to a magnificent effort by Dan Gay, Jon Gay and Paul Manson on 1st February 2009, with this redoubtable trio achieving the remarkable time of 18 hours 59 mins 6 secs in truly cold and 'white' conditions. This has subsequently been reduced to 14 hours 24 mins 48 secs by Finlay Wild's solo anticlockwise run of 26 February 2018, which took advantage of the same stunning winter spell that saw Uisdean Hawthorn's Cuillin traverse that very day and Helen Rennard's pioneering ladies' time (see below) the previous week. [Refs: Finlay's Instagram and UKClimbing Finlay Wild & Helen Rennard Winter Tranter Double Bill.]

On 22nd February 2018, Helen Rennard became the first woman to complete a winter Tranter's round, recording 23 hours 29 mins 7 secs anticlockwise in proper winter conditions and mostly solo with support towards the end from Kevin Woods. [Refs: Facebook, UKClimbing report and personal communication.]

We'd also previously noted a 15 hours 45 mins clockwise completion in wintry conditions on 15th March 2016 by Mark Harris and Adam Harris, accompanied part way by Jon Gay and Al Anthony [Ref: personal communication from Mark Harris]. A cracking effort which couldn't supplant Dan, Jon and Paul's winter record through falling outwith the core, limited daylight, 'winter' months of December, January and February, but certainly foreshadowed Finlay's 2018 run in terms of where times could go with appropriate ground conditions.

Some noteworthy earlier winter completions outside 24 hours are also briefly summarised here:

• Nick Carter, 29 hours 23 mins, unsupported, 13th/14th January 2001.
• Glyn Jones, 29 hours 49 mins, solo/unsupported, 13th/14th January 2001 [Ref: FR 6/01].
• John Fleetwood, 26 hours 40 mins, 18th/19th December 2002 — the quickest known previous winter Tranter Round. His anticlockwise solo/unsupported effort was in cold and icy conditions, but with little snow — a good effort, admirably close to the winter solstice [Ref: FR 6/03].

Page updated 31st July 2022