Legendary Runner Charlie Ramsay Has Died Aged 81

Legendary Scottish runner Charlie Ramsay, who is best known in the running world for giving his name to the Ramsay Round, has died at the age of 81. 

A pioneer for Black runners, Ramsay was active in trail running from the 1970s and he continued to run well into his 60s. 

Ramsay was well known and loved for his help and encouragement of other runners and especially those taking on the Ramsay Round, and was present at the attempts of many runners – few people have completed a Ramsay Round without having had some contact with Charlie. 

RAMSAY’S ROUND

At noon on Saturday 8th July 1978, Charlie set off from the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel to attempt something he didn’t know was even possible: to run the 24 Munros of the Lochaber mountains within 24 hours. 

A full day later he scrambled down Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Britain, and ran to his finish line. He’d covered 56 miles (over 90km) with 28,500 feet (over 8,600m) of climbing, and as he came to a stop by the hostel he checked his watch: 23 hours and 58 minutes. 

Ramsay was the first person to complete the route in under 24 hours, and so it took his name. It was more than nine years before someone completed the run faster. 

The Ramsay Round is now one of the three iconic British mountain running ‘Rounds’ alongside the Bob Graham Round in the Lake District, England, and the Paddy Buckley Round in Snowdonia, Wales.

BLACK TRAIL RUNNERS TAKE ON THE RAMSAY ROUND

In 2021, a team from the Black Trail Runners visited Charlie Ramsay before they took on the Ramsay Round, and we were there to capture the adventure. 

THE LONG LEGACY OF THE RAMSAY ROUND

Over 270 people have officially completed the Ramsay Round in under 24 hours, and countless others have chosen to complete the round in a more leisurely way, taking several days to make their way around.

The route still begins and ends at the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, and runners can choose whether they go clockwise or anti-clockwise. Most take on the round during the summer. 

The women’s record is 16hrs 13mins by Jasmin Paris. The men’s record is 14hrs 42mins by Finlay Wild.

Charlie Ramsay’s legacy is not just the round which takes his name, but in his long presence on the trails, hills and mountains, and how he’s guided and inspired so many runners to follow in his footsteps.