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Munros - 24hr record

Updates: Alexander Chepelin 32 Munros, August 2020, Kim Collison 33 Munros, July 2021, and Jasmin Paris 29 Munros, July 2021 (all Cairngorms/Glen Shee, pending incorporation into main text below).

The rules of this game are simply to climb as many Munros as possible, and return to your start point, within 24 hours.

In 1978, Charlie Ramsay completed a circuit of 23 or 24 Munros (note changing status of Sgor an Iubhair) around Glen Nevis in a time of 23 hours 58 minutes. This has become established as the eponymous Ramsay's Round.

On 25th/26th June 1988, Jon Broxap completed a route of 28 Munros around Glen Shiel and Affric, starting and finishing near the Cluanie Inn.

On 1st/2nd June 1991, Adrian Belton also completed a route of 28 Munros by extending Ramsay's Round in the Lochaber hills towards Ben Alder.

However, continuing revisions to Munro's Tables by the Scottish Mountaineering Club have since muddied the waters. The 1981 edition had promoted Sgor an Iubhair in the Mamores to full Munro status, but in 1997 the SMC had a change of heart and demoted the hill back to a Munro top. The 1997 edition also decided that Sgurr na Carnach (one of the Five Sisters of Kintail) was worthy of full Munro status. These 1997 revisions to Munro's Tables affected the 28-Munro rounds by Broxap and Belton, essentially now making Broxap's round 29 and reducing Belton's to 27.

On 21st June 2008, Stephen Pyke (Spyke) set out to break the Broxap record on a planned 31-Munro route, however bad weather forced the attempt to be abandoned after 21 Munros.

Jim Mann's round of 30 Munros in 22hrs 5mins — 7th/8th July 2017

On 7th/8th July 2017, Jim Mann set a new record of 30 Munros on a hitherto overlooked route starting/finishing at Invercauld Bridge near Braemar and taking in the White Mounth, both sides of Glen Shee and a substantial core of the Cairngorms. An inspired choice, covering significantly more ground (88.6 miles) but less ascent than the 'traditional' Western alternatives, and completed faster than any of them in an impressive 22 hours 5 minutes. A true runner's round!

We hope to get some more details on conditions, support team, choice of area etc. from Jim soon, but can tell you now that the 30 Munros visited were:

  1. Cac Carn Beag (Lochnagar)
  2. Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach
  3. Carn an t-Sagairt Mòr
  4. Cairn Bannoch
  5. Broad Cairn
  6. Tolmount
  7. Tom Buidhe
  8. Carn an Tuirc
  9. Cairn of Claise
  10. Glas Maol
  11. Creag Leacach
  12. Carn Aosda
  13. The Cairnwell
  14. Carn a' Gheòidh
  15. An Socach
  16. Glas Tulaichean
  17. Carn an Righ
  18. Beinn Iutharn Mhòr
  19. Carn Bhac
  20. Beinn Bhrotain
  21. Monadh Mòr
  22. Sgor an Lochain Uaine
  23. Cairn Toul
  24. Bod an Deamhain (aka The Devil's Point)
  25. Carn a' Mhaim
  26. Ben Macdui
  27. Derry Cairngorm
  28. Beinn Mheadhoin
  29. Beinn a' Chaorainn
  30. Beinn Bhreac

[Refs: Facebook, Strava]

Jon Broxap's round of 28 Munros in 23hrs 20mins — 25th/26th June 1988

Jon Broxap held the record for 29 years with his incredible 78-mile (33,000 feet of ascent) effort on 25th/26th June 1988, completed in 23 hours 20 minutes. The 28 (29) Munros climbed were:

  1. Creag a' Mhaim
  2. Druim Shionnach
  3. Aonach air Chrith
  4. Maol Chinn-dearg
  5. Sgurr an Doire Leathain
  6. Sgurr an Lochain
  7. Creag nan Damh
  8. Sgurr na Sgine
  9. The Saddle
  10. Sgurr Fhuaran
  11. (Sgurr na Carnach)
  12. Sgurr na Ciste Dubh
  13. Saileag
  14. Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg
  15. Aonach Mheadhoin
  16. Ciste Dubh
  17. Beinn Fhada
  18. A' Ghlas-bheinn
  19. Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan
  20. An Socach
  21. Mullach na Dheirgain
  22. Beinn Fhionnlaidh
  23. Carn Eighe
  24. Mam Sodhail
  25. Mullach Fraoch-choire
  26. A' Chralaig
  27. Sail Chaorainn
  28. Sgurr nan Conbhairean
  29. Carn Ghluasaid

[Refs: HS, MM, FR 10/97]

Broxap's 28 Munro Route

Jon Broxap crossing the finish line 1988 supported by Pete Barron and Mark Rigby

Adrian Belton's round of 28 Munros in 23hrs 57mins — 1st/2nd June 1991

Setting off from Fersit Dam at 9am in glorious sunshine they crossed the Easains, the Grey Corries, the Aonachs, Carn Mor Dearg, Ben Nevis and the Mamores in a little over 13hrs (21 Munros). Lots of water, food, sun cream and tons of encouragement from his team of pacers ensured he reached this far.

The real challenge lay ahead now in the shape of the night time section. They ran down to Loch Ossian Youth Hostel from Sgurr Elide Mor in worsening conditions and with some injuries picked up on route.

Beyond the two Loch Ossian Munros the weather became abysmal and Adrian admitted that were it not for his team he would have given up. The idea of adding Carn Dearg (above Culra Bothy) was abandoned but his team coaxed him over Cnoc Dearg and Stob Coire Sgriodain and back to Fersit Dam in just under 24hrs.

The Adrian Belton route added five extra Munros to the Ramsay Round — the two south of Loch Ossian, plus three NW of Ben Alder — but missed out Beinn na Lap.

24-hour Munro Record Attempts

NameArea1981 ed.1997 ed.Year
Charlie RamsayLochaber24231978
Martin StoneRamsay +226251987
Jon BroxapCluanie/Affric28291988
Adrian BeltonRamsay -1 +528271991
Colin DonnellyCluanie/Affric—271997
Stephen PykeCluanie/Affric—212008
Jim MannWhite Mounth/Glen Shee/Cairngorms—302017

Page updated 10th July 2017