Go Mountain Goats Finlay Wild

Es Tresidder chats to me (Finlay Wild) about my record for the Cuillin Round. Set on May 1st 2024, I travelled solo and unsupported from a tent at the base of the South Ridge of Bla Bheinn, returning to finish the loop in 13hrs 04mins 13secs. The round takes in 60 summits in the Black and Red Cuillin in a route created by Rob Woodall in 1999 and rekindled by James Gibson last year with his record of 19hr 39min.



We spend some time discussing different rounds in the Cuillin, starting with the famous Cuillin (Main) Ridge traverse: the classic mountaineering journey of the 'British Alps', which has a point to point record for which both Es (2007) and then myself (2013) have held the record (currently my 2hr59mins). Longer outings are generally based around the main traverse with the addition of hills in the Red Cuillin (Glamaig, Marsco, etc) plus the brilliant Clach Glas - Bla Bheinn traverse. The Cuillin Round itself takes a slightly different route along the Main Ridge to take in outliers such as Sgurr Sgumainn and Knight's Peak, then drops to Glen Sligachan's runnable terrain before the tough climb up Glamaig and a traverse of the Red Cuillin, including outlier Belig, and a finish over Clach Glas and Bla Bheinn. It also traverses lesser known peak Sgurr Hain and the fab viewpoint of Sgurr na Stri. Much of the terrain is scrambly and exposed, with around 7300m of ascent over 53km.



I was incredibly satisfied with such an unforgettable day out in some of the best terrain the UK has to offer a runner-climber. I'm pleased to become the sixth completer of the round, and would highly recommend it to others with the skillset.



Corrections/ extra info:

Greater Cuillin Traverse record (main ridge + Clach Glas - Bla Bheinn): Tim Gomersall and Johannes Felter, 2015, 9h 24m peak to peak (also included Garbh Bheinn)



Rob Woodall's Cuillin Round concept can be seen at https://gofar997.wixsite.com/gofar/cuillin-round

Note his 59 tops were defined as having at least 50 ft drop on all sides.



More detail on various Cuillin rounds can be found at SHR Long Distance Records page at https://scottishhillrunners.uk/LongDistance.aspx



I mention a 'Sea King' helicopter, when I of course mean Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter, the Sea Kings having been retired some years ago.



James Gibson did climb King's Chimney on Sgurr Mhic Choinnich on his Cuillin Round

In one of my favourite episodes so far, I chat to Kevin Woods about his Winter Munro Round in which he completed all 282 Munros over the brutal winter of 2019/20. Delving into logistics and preparation for the Winter Munro Round gives a glimpse of Kev's incredible depth of mountain experience, having previously completed 4 (non continuous) rounds of the Munros. As an example of his meticulous planning, he carefully compiled a database of winter weather patterns over multiple winters, which he used to aid his decision making over the winter Munros project - in a winter season of relentless stormy weather. As if the continuous westerly storm cycles weren't enough, March 2020 brought with it new and unexpected challenges of a very different kind.

Kev's recent Arrochar Round takes in all the Munros (4) and Corbetts (7) of the Arrochar hills, in a rugged 52km loop with around 6000m of ascent. Kev laid down a time of 13h54m for this round in his local hills, which could well become a connoisseur's classic.

Our wide ranging conversation touches on many aspects of mountain culture including connection to place, historic depopulation of the land, changing land use and the intertwined history of the mountains with the people who live on and near them. Kev hails from Glasgow and takes us through his earlier mountain memories, which then led into climbing and longer linkups. From his beginnings its clear that creativity and the artist's aesthetic are large drivers for Kev - be that in his music, his media work or his many hills days themselves.

In the course of working on a film about Sir Hugh Munro for the Munro Society, Kev has delved into stories from a bygone era, and through this has discovered a deeper understanding of the Scottish hills, not just as "cathedrals of our sport" but as places steeped in and changed by human history - from the Clearances to early map making, from Victorian attitudes to adventure and Land Access right through to modern pressures on the land.

He also talks us through some of the climbing guidebooks he has been working on, previous adventures such as the filming of Dave Macleod's "24/8", and other projects, including an upcoming book on Winter 282.

Recently I bumped into Harry Bolton of Keswick AC and we arranged to sit down for a chat when he was up in Fort William. Harry has a real love for fell running and has notched up some impressive results including being the Lakelands Classics winner in 2022 and both the English and British Under 23 Fell Running Champion, also in 2022.

Even back in school he was clear that he wanted to make a career in sportswear design, and this led to a Sports Engineering degree at Loughborough University which he completed in 2021. Harry tells the story of how he then landed an exciting job as Running Footwear Designer for Ronhill, who were putting together a team with which to develop and release a new footwear range. Harry tells us about the process from start right up to actually seeing his finished concepts being worn in races and on big rounds.





Correction: I mean Speedy Tours 7, not 6

Rob Greenwood, UKC Guru (probably not his actual job title!), interviews Finlay Wild about his recent “Dark Bob” - a Bob Graham Round run between sunset and sunrise, solo and unsupported in Jan 2024. Rob is no stranger to long rounds, having racked up an impressive CV including the UK “Big Three”, Rigby Round and Spine Challenger.

Developing the idea of midwinter rounds, Finlay maximised the darkness and committed to attempting whatever the weather on the longest night (Winter Solstice 21-22nd December). This first attempt was aborted at Scafell Pike in very poor conditions - strong winds, heavy rain and visibility reduced to 5m on the higher peaks.

Trying again on 6th January, Finlay had a narrower sunset-sunrise window (16h30 rather than 16h45 at the Solstice) but took advantage of better weather to try again. Setting out once more from Moot Hall at official sunset - this time 4.03pm - he had a very different experience and managed to get ahead of Kim Collison’s overall Winter BGR record of 15h47, taking 12minutes off this to give a new winter record of 15h35m47s.

Conditions were good: -2’c on the high tops, clear skies and light wind. Parts of the ground were frozen and there was icy hoar frost around the high peaks, but not much snow or neve build up. We discuss differing winter conditions, especially with the effects of climate change, and the idea that maximising the darkness - and using map and compass navigation - made for its own unique adventures.

We mention different definitions of Winter - Astronomical Winter is the name for the period between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.

See video of Blizzard bag vs race kit by Trail Running Scotland here: ⁠youtu.be/MIFNZdSjSDo?si=Ls_qK90N9WJ3CXuR⁠


More details on the Dark BG: https://strava.app.link/WuFBskn6fHb



Re ski rounds in Cairngorms with GPS - I mean a dedicated GPS unit, not a watch

Cumbria-based James Gibson has had an incredible past few years picking off a host of big ticket endurance running records. In a 10 week period from December 2022 he became the first person to complete all three UK Big Rounds in one winter season, solo and unsupported (Bob Graham Round, Paddy Buckley Round and Charlie Ramsay Round). Completing this 'Winter Trilogy' took 6 attempts and James talks about the experience he gained from the 'failed' rounds early in the winter.

While most people would be content to sit on the couch for a bit after that, he was back with the second fastest ever run of the 100mile Lakes, Meres and Waters round just 5 weeks later in April 2023. The same month he broke the record for the Etive Round with friend Jack Oliver, taking the record for the rough 16 Munro circuit down to 19h 26m.

James works as a guide on Skye for much of the year, and his familiarity with the Cuillin lead him to completing two outstanding runs - first, the Trans Cuillin Round which was first attempted by Rob Woodall in 2001. This takes in 75km and 9000m of ascent over 70 summits - James became the first completer in May 2023. A mere 16 days later he took advantage of a weather window to bosh out the 4th ever Cuillin Round, a 60 peak loop for which he improved the record to 19hrs39mins in very hot conditions.

Just days after our conversation James won the FRA Long Distance Award in a stacked field of worthy nominees.

James can be found at www.jamesgibsoncoaching.co.uk

Note: when discussing Winter Munro Rounds we forgot to mention Steve Perry's 2005-06 121 day continuous round (www.ukhillwalking.com/articles/features/interview_steve_perrys_winter_munro_round-4400)

Shane Ohly tells me about his incredible record on the Lake District Classic Rock Round, a 50 kilometre route linking 15 classic climbs from the 1978 book 'Classic Rock' by Ken Wilson.

In 2020, Will Birkett and Tom Randall battled as they each brought the record down. Shane watched from the sidelines nursing an injury but knowing that he possessed the unique skill set to bring this down even further.

Shane left school obsessed with climbing and went on to become a sponsored pro, establishing new routes up to E8 and onsight solos to E7. Living in Cornwall he often ended up climbing alone, and so became a prolific soloist, culminating in his '500 routes in a day' on the Grit with John Arran in 2003. Later, he moved into mountain marathons and endurance running, clocking consistent podium results in Elite length mountain marathons for over a decade. He held the Winter Ramsay's Round record between 2008 and 2012 and broke Martin Stone's record for a solo unsupported midwinter Bob Graham round in 2020.

Shane talks about his 3 year meticulous planning process for Classic Rock, which saw him spend over 30 days learning and memorising the rock climbs and running route. Using this approach he was able to keep the risk acceptable for him, and he talks through his logic and justifications.

Executing the round in ideal conditions in August 2022 he describes a near perfect day of flow state which saw him reduce Will Birkett's record of 10h 41m to an incredible 9h 22m.

Shane is the founder of Ourea Events who provide some of the most challenging mountain running events in the UK such as the Dragon's Back, Cape Wrath Ultra and Glencoe Skyline.

Please see Episode 14 for an interview with Josh Jardine (which is weirdly the exact same length as this episode) on the pairs record for the Lakes Classic Rock Round, and Episode 10 for Martin Stone's 1987 solo unsupported mid winter Bob Graham Round.