Tag: Scotland

Why You Should Start Munro Bagging

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Group of walkers on a hill

Anyone know what the collective noun for a group of Munro baggers is?

Have you ever heard of the term ‘Munro bagging’? I’d hazard a guess and say probably not, unless you frequent the Scottish mountains or enjoy spending time in the pub with geeky hikers. But if you like a challenge, love exploring wild places and aren’t afraid of the infamous Scottish midge, then Munro bagging may be for you.

Here’s your guide to Scotland’s ultimate ticklist.

What Is Munro Bagging?

Let’s start with the basics, shall we? A Munro is a Scottish mountain over 3,000ft (that’s 914m in new money). There are 282 of them, at the last count. (This does occasionally change, depending on if someone has built a particularly big cairn, or a mountain has sunk.*) They’re named after Sir Hugh Munro, who first listed the summits in his ‘Munros Tables’ in 1891.

When you touch the top of the hallowed summit cairn of a Munro, you can say you’ve ‘bagged’ it. A Munro bagger is someone who has, or is trying to, ‘bag’ all the Munros. The species can usually be identified by their insistence to reach the top of the mountain despite the full force of Scottish rain, wind or snow. (Possibly all three – this is Scotland after all.) Once you’ve successfully completed all 282 Munros, you gain the official title of ‘Munroist’, or ‘compleatist’ (yes, that is spelt correctly, thank you very much, Grammarly).

*More accurate surveying methods have led to the demotion of a few Munros, notably poor Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean, which was taken off the list in 2009 for being just one metre too short.

Where Are the Munros?

If you hadn’t already guessed, they’re in Scotland. More specifically, in the northern part of Scotland. All 282 Munros lie (stand?) north of the Central Belt (that’s the bit with Glasgow and Edinburgh). There’s a nice map of all the Munros here. And for those who like to have some handy facts at their fingertips, here are the cardinal Munros:

  • Northernmost Munro: Ben Hope, which stands alone in the Flow Country of Sutherland
  • Easternmost Munro: Mount Keen, in the far east of the Cairngorms National Park
  • Southernmost Munro: Ben Lomond, many people’s first Munro, stands sentinel over the bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond
  • Westernmost Munro: Sgurr na Banachdich, part of the Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye

How to Bag Munros

Well, first you have to get a list of them! Steve Fallon has a handy spreadsheet that you can download from his website, or if you like sticking things on your wall, Harvey May Services do a chart of all the Munros and Corbetts. (I recommend plastering this on your toilet wall as a constant reminder of how many you have left to do.)

Then, it’s just a case of lacing up your boots and heading out into the hills. With appropriate maps, equipment and loyal companions of course. A tip from the wise: if you’re planning on this being a life-term venture, then you may want to look at the order in which you climb the Munros and not leave the longest walk-ins til last.

Speaking of final Munros, tradition has it that you invite all your Munro companions to join you for the walk up your final Munro. On the top of which, you celebrate with champagne, strawberries and chocolate brownies. (I can recommend this recipe as being tried and tested.) So, unless you really want your friends and family to suffer, I’d save a nice easy Munro to the end.

Why bother?

An excellent question. But humans have always loved a good ticklist. I bet even caveman came home to cavewoman and proudly scratched another line on their cave wall to tick off a new beastie he’d managed to kill with his bare hands.

Plus it gives Munro baggers (and their long-suffering families) plenty of excuses for holidays in Scotland. Not that you need an excuse to go to Scotland. (In my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful places on this planet.) But it’s always nice to have a reason to justify another long drive up north to your work colleagues who have just hopped off the plane from Majorca.

But perhaps the main reason is the encouragement to explore some of Scotland’s wildest and remote mountains. Mountains that, if they weren’t over the magic height of 3,000ft, your eyes would skim over on the map. Mountains which, in all likelihood, you’ll complete in solitude, perhaps with the odd mountain bird or deer for company. And on those (admittedly rare) days when the sky is clear, the views from the Scottish mountaintops are some of the most beautiful in the world.

But what if I’ve DONE all the Munros?

I hear your pain. You’ve reached the end of a hard-won race. (In the case of my Dad, a fifty-year project.) And as you gaze into the future, all you see is a vision of lazy days on sun-kissed beaches, a nice cold beer in hand. . .

But where there is a will, there’s always another challenge to be had. If you’re not totally sick of Scotland by now (and why would you be?) get your hands on a list of the Corbetts (that’s Scottish mountains between 2,500 and 3,000ft). There are 222 of them, though you’ve probably got a bit of a head start as you’ll have been up a fair few as part of your Munro marathon. And for the really keen, once you’ve ticked off the Corbetts, you can move on to the Grahams. If that’s not enough then there’s also the Donalds. Phew.

If you want to be really pedantic, you could also tick off the Munro Tops. These are mountains over 3,000ft that in another life would have been a Munro, but due to their overbearing brothers and sisters did not make the list. (Don’t you hate bigger siblings?) I feel quite sorry for these subsidiary summits — so close and yet so far. Perhaps we should start a fan club for the Munro tops. IS ANYONE WITH ME?

Then there are Murdos. These are summits over 3,000ft with at least a 30m (98ft) drop on all sides. (Why not make it 100ft for consistency of measurement? I DON’T KNOW.) So all Munros are Murdos, a Munro Top may or may not be a Murdo, and all Murdos are either Munros or Munro Tops. Are you confused yet? Good, because I am. Anyway, I’m a bit dubious about the Murdos and suspect they were just made up by a forlorn compleatist as an excuse to spend more time in the Scottish hills.

Some interesting facts about Munros

  • The Inaccessible Pinnacle on Skye is the most technically difficult of the Munros, requiring the bagger to complete a rock climb to touch the top and an abseil to descend.
  • Various peaks vie for the title of ‘most remote’, but A’ Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mor come out top of most lists. For most people ticking these peaks will require staying in a bothy or wild camping overnight.
  • The Revd A E Robertson was the first person to complete all the Munros in 1901. However, there is some dispute over his claim, as it’s not certain he reached the summit of Ben Wyvis and he definitely didn’t climb the Inaccessible Pinnacle. If the Rev isn’t allowed to take the number one spot, then he relinquishes it to another man of the church, the Revd Ronald Burn, who completed his round in 1923.
  • Hamish Brown completed the first continuous round of the Munros in 1974 which involved 1,639 miles of walking (and 150 miles on a bike).
  • The speed record for the Munros is held by Stephen Pike who set the record of 39 days and 9 hours in 2010, cycling and kayaking between peaks.
  • Perhaps equally impressive is the youngest Munroist, Daniel Smith, who finished his round at the tender age of nine. If you’re wanting your little ones to challenge his reign, you’d better get them training early!
  • Finally, if you love walking in torrential rain, howling gales and blizzards, you may be interested in the winter records. Martin Moran was the first to complete all the Munros in one winter season in 1983/5 and Steve Perry completed the first (and only?) continuous winter round entirely on foot (and ferry).

I don’t know about you, but it seems to me there’s a distinct lack of women on that list! Delving a bit deeper into the archives of Google, it appears the first woman to complete a continuous round was Kathy Murgatroyd in 1982. Kate Weyman and Lorraine McCall are also noted as having completed continuous rounds, in 113 days and 141 days respectively, but it looks like there’s potential for some fit ladies out there to make their mark on the Munro history books. Now there’s a thought. . .

Are You Ready to Take Up the Munro Challenge?

So there you have it, everything you ever wanted to know about Munro bagging and probably a fair bit more besides. Have I convinced you to take up the challenge yet? Yes? Great stuff. All together now, Sláinte!

Getting Off the Beaten Track in Skye

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A beautiful, deserted white-sand beach on Skye

The Isle of Skye is one of the most beautiful and best-known parts of Scotland. And where you get a well-known beauty spot, what else do you get? Sight-seers. Tour buses. Cameras/iPhones/iPads/electronic device of choice. I have never seen so many people crowded around a pair of bewhildered sheep on a single-track roadside, viewing the mountains behind through their camera lens.

But never fear, there are still many places where you can get away from the crowds and enjoy the best of Scotland’s wild, unspoiled landscape. It may mean you have to put on your walking shoes or brave the narrow, single-track lanes, but believe me, it will be worth it.

How to escape the crowds

Unfortunately, public transport is somewhat limited on the island, so some form of transport (two wheels or four) is a must for getting away from the tour buses. As with the rest of Scotland, Skye is a great place for motorhomes, with a choice of well-equipped campsites or wild camping spots. Just make sure you follow good campervan etiquette and don’t stay in one place for more than two nights. Cycling can be a great way to get around if the weather is nice, but be warned that the mist, rain and wind can descend at any point (even the height of summer) so come prepared!

Coaches and tour buses generally stick to the larger roads, so the easiest way to escape the crowds is to explore some of the smaller roads on the island. And yes, these are usually single-track roads with passing places! General etiquette is to pull in at the nearest passing place if you see someone coming towards you and, if you’re on a hill, give priority to vehicles coming up the hill. Drive carefully and look out for sheep and Highland cattle. Unless you really want to annoy the locals and other visitors, don’t park up in passing places.

Tourist hotspots (and the alternatives)

Don’t get me wrong – the places which attract the hoards are beautiful and worth a visit. But if you want to get these sites to yourself, you’ll need to get there first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Summer nights on Skye are short and as it stays light until after ten in June, there’s plenty of time to explore. But if you want to find a piece of Skye where the only company you’ll have is the odd sheep or moorland bird, then check out some of my favourite alternatives to the popular tourist traps.

Fairy Pools, Glen Brittle

The advent of Pinterest and Instagram have ensured the clear waters of the burn (stream) a firm place on the tourist route map. Many couples have picked this spot for their wedding elopement, only to find they themselves declaring their love to their spouse and twenty Japanese tourists (and their iPads).

A less-travelled alternative to the Fairy Pools is Coire Lagan. Park up at the end of Glen Brittle and hike up a good path for about an hour to reach this small lake, ringed by the imposing black peaks of the Cuillin mountains. Seen from above (you can scramble a short way up behind the lake) it looks almost like a heart. Cute. The clear waters are tempting on a sunny day, but it’s colder than it looks!

The Trotternish peninsula

The Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing are certainly impressive, but there’s no need to fight the traffic on the peninsular ring road. You can get dramatic views of the imposing cliffs from the little-known An Aird peninsula. Take the minor road that leads off the A87 to the south of Portree and continue down the coast until the road splits at Gedintailor. Follow a footpath that leads across a rough open area before the enclosed fields, down to a small dell and round to a stony beach. It’s a short walk around the peninsula, but you could easily take a picnic and spend a full day exploring the coastline, paddling off one of the two beaches and taking in the views of the Trotternish peninsula to the north, Raasay to the east and the Red Cuillin mountains to the south.

Neist point

This is another site which Instagram has a lot to answer for. The dramatic cliffs and easy access make for a trail of people pottering down to the lighthouse at the end. If you’re willing to put in a bit more effort, the Macleod’s Maidens offer a wilder and equally dramatic viewpoint. The three sea stacks (mother and two daughters) can be viewed best from the headland above. It’s a 17km round trip, but the spectacular views across Loch Bracadale will help keep you going.

Coral beach

A romantic stroll to a white ‘sand’ beach at the end of a headland; it’s not hard to see why people swarm to this beach north of Dunvegan. The ‘sand’ is actually small pieces of fossilised and sun-bleached algae – beautiful, if slightly spiky underfoot. But (and I’m about to let you in on a BIG secret) there are proper white sand beaches on Skye. And with a bit of luck, you’re get them all to yourself.

I came across one such beach on one of those Scottish days that started with torrential rain and then gave way to a beautiful, hot, sunny day. It’s said you can experience all four seasons in a single day in Scotland and from personal experience, I can attest to the truth of this.

I’m actually quite relunctant to tell you about this spot. It’s one of those beautiful spots you come across and secretly want no-one else to find. (So keep schmum and don’t go sharing this post all over the internet.)

Head down to Sleat, to the most south-westerly road on the island, and keep going until you can’t drive any further. There’s a small car park next to one of those art galleries where you just want to buy everything in the shop. Get your walking boots on and follow the track for a couple of miles as it winds its way down to the sea. Keep following your nose and the sound of lapping waves until you come to a perfect, white sand bay ringed by rocks.

Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints and act all mysterious when your friends enquire which Mediterranean island you’ve been holidaying on.

How to get to Skye

Most people arrive on Skye by car, either via the bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh or across the ferry from Mallaig. It is possible to get there by train, from Glasgow up to Mallaig (a beautiful journey in its own right) but once on the island, you’ll be at the mercy of the limited bus schedule. If coming from further afield, fly to Inverness (2 hrs), Glasgow (4 hrs) or Edinburgh (5 hours) and hire a car for the drive up.

There are plenty of B&Bs and self-catering accommodation on Skye, but it does get booked up during peak season so it pays to plan ahead. There are also a number of campsites with excellent facilities that accept campers and campervans/caravans.

What else do I need to know?

The Scottish midge is possibly the creature most feared in proportion to its (tiny) size. Though I seem to have particularly tasty blood and hence get eaten alive, I do have a slight fondness for the midge for its role in keeping Scotland relatively free of mass tourism. Take repellent, a head net (particularly if camping) and some antihistamine for when you inevitably get bitten.

Skye is pretty cosmopolitan as Scotland goes, but phone signal is limited in places and non-existent in others, which, depending on your perspective, is either a blessing or a pain in the backside.

The other reason people don’t flock to Scotland for their hols? The weather. That’s not to say it’s always bad. I’ve come back sunburnt from many a Scottish holiday. But it is somewhat unpredictable. When it’s good, there’s no better place on earth. And if it’s not so good? Well, that’s what waterproof clothing was made for.

Go to Skye. Find the places away from the crowds. Just don’t tell your friends.

The Etiquette Guide for Wild Campervan Adventures

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Campervan-etiquette

In my humble opinion, one of the best things about owning a campervan is having the freedom to park up in a remote location, settle in for the night then wake up for a morning run from your mobile doorstep. And a lot of the time it’s as simple as that. But if you want to avoid giving yourself – and other campervanners – a bad name, there are some essential pieces of etiquette you should know.

First up, the legal bit. The laws around wild camping vary depending which country you’re in. Remember that all land is owned by someone, even if it’s classed as ‘public’ land. So your best option is to get permission from the landowner before parking up for the night. In England and Wales, wild camping in technically illegal so you’ll need landowner’s permission to stop overnight. In Scotland, wild camping in tents is allowed, but the law around campervans is a little hazier. If you’re out of people’s way, not obviously parked on someone’s land and don’t make a nuisance then ‘informal camping’ is tolerated in most places. Across Europe and further afield the laws vary: there’s a useful guide here on which European countries do allow wild camping.

With that bit out of the way, if you fancy a bit of wild or stealth camping in your van, then here’s a quick guide to essential etiquette for wild or informal camping in your van.

Don’t ignore ‘no overnight parking’ signs

If someone has gone to the trouble of putting up ‘No Overnight Parking’ signs it’s a clear indicator they’ve had trouble with campers before. If you decide to stay regardless, you may get a rude awakening by an angry landowner, or even the police. A lot of local authorities in England are cracking down on previously frequented overnight stops. Even if you want to argue about the technical legalities of this, please don’t give campervanners a bad name by blatantly ignoring the signs.

If you’re struggling to find somewhere to stop for the night, it’s worth trying pubs (particularly in remoter areas). They may be happy for you to park up overnight if you eat and have a few drinks inside.

Park up late and leave early

No one’s likely to take much notice of a van that’s gone in the morning. Spending the day lounging outside your van with a barbecue and the awning out, however, is more likely to draw the attention of an unfriendly landowner. If that’s the kind of camping you’re after, then pay for a campsite.

It’s also a good idea not to stay in the same spot for more than two nights on the trot. After all, one of the joys of wild campervanning is waking up to a different view each morning.

Keep the noise down

As above, the best way to enjoy success with wild camping it to be unobtrusive. That means no loud campervan parties (unless you’re really in the middle of nowhere!). If you park up outside of towns and away from houses, you’re unlikely to have a problem and can karaoke along to your heart’s content. If you’re stealth camping in a town, you’ll need to be a bit more careful. Blackout curtains can help, as does accepting you’re in for an early night.

Leave no trace

It sounds obvious, but litter is one of the main gripes about wild campers, and in some places has resulted in wild camping being banned altogether. It’s easier in a campervan than a tent, so there are no excuses for not taking your litter with you.

Be considerate when toileting

I haven’t come across this so much in the UK, but I have in Europe, where popular campervan car parks are turned into open-air toilets. It’s not nice and it definitely gives van-dwellers a bad name. If you don’t have toilet facilities in your van, pick a pee-spot that’s well away from any watercourses. Carry a trowel and bury more solid waste, and bag toilet paper to dispose of in a bin.

Don’t run generators or engines late at night

Another thing that shouts, “Hello! I’m illegally camping here!” is running engines at night. And generators are most definitely a no-no. If you need to charge your leisure battery, do it during the day. If you need more electricity than that, consider paying for a site with a hook-up.

Empty chemical waste at a designated disposal area

If you’re lucky enough to have a toilet in your van, make sure you dispose of the contents appropriately. Most public toilets are not suitable for emptying chemical toilets, so you may have to check-in to a campsite for the night. Use it as an opportunity to have a hot shower before you hit the road again!

Be considerate, but have fun!

Wild campervanning allows you to spend time in some truly beautiful landscapes. Respect these landscapes, be considerate to other people and you’re guaranteed an enjoyable and memorable trip.

Wild Walks: The West Highland Way

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Inveroran-west-highland-way

Looking down to Inveroran on the West Highland Way

In this Wild Walks post, we explore the West Highland Way – Scotland’s most popular long-distance hike. The highlands of Scotland are (in my humble opinion) some of the wildest and most beautiful landscapes in Britain. If you’re looking for a multi-day hike that’s easy to access and allows you to explore the best that Scotland has to offer, this is it.

So what is the West Highland Way?

The West Highland Way is a 96-mile (154-kilometer) one-way, long-distance walk between Milngavie (a small town north of Glasgow) and Fort William.

Sounds good – tell me more!

Although the West Highland Way can be completed in either direction, it’s most commonly walked from south to north, beginning in Milngavie. In this direction you leave the city and towns of the lowlands behind as you walk deeper into the mountains, finishing at the foot of Britain’s highest mountain: Ben Nevis. Along the way you get to experience some of the best of Scotland’s wild landscapes, from The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond to the rugged wilderness of Rannoch Moor.

How long does it take?

Most people take 7-8 days to complete the West Highland Way, though it is possible to do it in less if you’re fit. If you’re after a real challenge, you could try the West Highland Way Race or the West Highland Way Challenge Race and attempt the full 96-mile trail in under 35 hours.

Highlights of the West Highland Way

Conic Hill provides one of the most spectacular views along the Way. Situated on the faultline between the Lowlands and the Highlands, it’s well worth taking a short detour to the summit to take in the views of Loch Lomond.

The beauty of Loch Lomond has inspired many writers and artists over centuries. The West Highland Way skirts round the east of the lake and is one of the tougher sections of the walk. It’s also isolated with no road access, so make sure you’re able to complete this section of the walk in a day.

Take in a bit of history at Tyndrum Community Woodland. On your way through, look out for the bench commemorating the Battle of Dalrigh, where Robert the Bruce was defeated by the English in 1306. A little further on you pass a lochan (small lake) where legend has it that Robert and his men abandoned their swords to hasten their escape.

Rannoch Moor is a desolate landscape that’s home to red deer, grouse and the Scottish midge. On a clear day, you’re rewarded with widespread views of the surrounding mountains, but when the mist and rain roll in it can feel truly remote.

Glencoe is often considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland. Although the West Highland Way doesn’t actually run through the valley, the climb up the Devil’s Staircase provides spectacular views of Buachaille Etive Mor which stands sentinel at the entrance to the Glen.

The long climb out of Kinlochleven rewards you with a great view at the top. From here the path winds its way through the Mamores before dropping down into the beautiful Glen Nevis. Then it’s a short walk to the finish line in Fort William.

How fit do I need to be?

You’ll need to be reasonably fit to manage consecutive days of walking with a rucksack. However, if you take it at a leisurely pace and employ a baggage service to carry your overnight kit, it should be achievable by most keen hikers. If you’re planning on camping along the Way and carrying your kit make sure you train for the hike with a pack of similar size and weight.

What about accommodation?

There’s a variety of accommodation along the West Highland Way ranging from campsites to guest houses and hotels. Accommodation in some areas may be scarce, and it’s definitely worth booking ahead during peak season (the summer months). If you’re planning a winter expedition, be aware that many accommodation providers close for the winter months.

Although wild camping is legal in Scotland, the Loch Lomond area has restrictions in place. The Park Authority website has further information.

Transport and logistics

You can easily get to the start and finish of the West Highland Way by train. Glasgow is easily accessible from most UK mainline railway stations, or you can fly to Glasgow airport and get a bus into the city centre. From Glasgow, there’s a direct bus and train service to Milngavie.

There are a couple of trains a day back to Glasgow from Fort William. The railway line runs in part alongside the West Highland Way, with stations at Ardlui, Crianlarich, Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy.

Find out more

  • The official West Highland Way website has information and advice on the route, accommodation and the natural history and communities of the landscape you pass through.
  • The Walk Highlands website has a detailed description and photographs of the route.
  • Harvey maps sell a lightweight single sheet, 1:40,000 scale map of the Way. This saves having to buy multiple OS maps to cover the different stages of the walk.
  • Various companies offer baggage transfers between your overnight accommodation, with prices around £40-45 per bag. AMS Scotland, Travel-lite and Ginger Routes all offer a similar service, and run from Easter to October.
  • If you prefer two wheels to two feet, you can also mountain bike the West Highland Way. It’s not an easy ride, and you’ll end up shouldering your bike for part of the route. There are quite a few write-ups by bikers who’ve completed the challenge, including this comprehensive description on the Trail Scotland site. If you prefer some back up support, TrailBrakes offer a 6-day link up of the West Highland Way and the Great Glen Way taking you from Glasgow up to Inverness.

If you enjoyed this post, you may like the others in my Wild Walks series: the Dales Way and the Routeburn Track. Got a favourite walk you’d like me to cover? Get in touch and let me know, or drop a note in the comments below.

9 Things I Learnt from Running My First Ultra

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Setting off into the hills on the final stage of the West Highland Way


Two days ago I completed my first ultra. The ultra I got roped into trying just ten weeks ago. My friend Telle asked myself and my fiance, Sam to keep her company on a ‘training run’ she wanted to do along a 41-mile section of the West Highland Way. Technically I think this classes as a ‘social ultra’ as it wasn’t an organised race, but hey, I’m still taking the tick!

The plan was to run from Tyndrum up to Fort William (the official finish of the West Highland Way). Off-road, with over 2,500m of height gain, it was not a straightforward first ultra. And it was November, which in Scotland could mean weather conditions ranging from driving rain and gales to snow and ice.

In the days leading up to the run, friends sent me photos of snow-covered landscapes and reports of icy, treacherous walking conditions on the route. But in the end, we were lucky with the weather. It was a cold, but (mostly) dry day with barely a breath of wind, and the snow underfoot was crunchy, not icy. We were also lucky to have a support crew in the form of Telle’s fiance, Liam who met us with spare kit, water and food at the 7, 18 and 26 mile marks.

Setting out I honestly didn’t know if I’d make it to the finish, and I had my doubts on the way round. But we made it! And here are a few things I learnt along the way.

It will hurt

Yeah, sorry to break that vision you had of running for miles and miles with fresh legs. Obviously the more you train the easier it’s likely to be. But really, training just puts off the aches and pains for a bit longer. They will come. Remember, when you’re doing your first ultra, you’re pushing your body hard. You’re making your legs go further and for longer than they’ve ever been before. And all that pounding takes its toll.

You are stronger than you think

Everyone will have a low point on the run – a point where the first niggling doubts set in. For me, this was after our first decent rest stop, around 18 miles in. We’d been running for four hours – the longest I’d run for in training – and my body decided that it was time for a post-race nap. (Yup, even in the snow.) My hips were aching and after switching shoes to give my feet ‘a break’ my arches had started hurting.

The truth is, I wasn’t suffering half as badly as many people do. And looking back on this time made me understand – really understand – what endurance athletes mean when they say that it is all a mental game. Because you can keep going. It’s just a case of continuing to put one foot in front of the other until you reach the finish line.

So be prepared for it to hurt, and be ready to grit your teeth and push on through, even when you think you can’t go another mile.

If in doubt, eat

When I asked Telle for some last minute tips the night before the run she told me this: “If you feel crap, eat. A lot of the time it’s a fuelling thing.” She was right.

I found that the time passed a lot quicker than I thought it would. I’d planned to eat about every 45 minutes but often checked my watch to find over an hour had passed since my last snack. This was particularly the case towards the end when it’s tempting to focus purely on getting to the finish. You’re burning way more calories than you can physically consume and if you don’t keep eating, you’ll pay for it at some point.

Also, remember to eat AFTER you’ve finished. This was the one big mistake we made. In training we would always have a protein recovery shake or bar as soon as possible after our long runs. But when we finished the ultra, we were too wrapped up in the joy (and pain) of having done it to remember to eat. We then rushed around getting checked into our hostel for the night, having showers and stretching, so by the time we finally sat down to eat it was about two hours after we’d finished the run.

Just as our food arrived, Sam said he felt sick, staggered a few paces and collapsed in the doorway of the gents’ toilet. (He does like a bit of drama.) We’re pretty sure this was his body demanding payback for not having given it recovery food. (And yes, by the next day he was fine.)

Don’t run the full distance in training

Running an ultra is a huge mental challenge, so save that mental strength for the day of the race. It also puts a huge stress on your body which takes time to recover from. If you try and build up to running 30 or 50 miles in your training runs, you’re more likely to end up injured, or burning out too soon.

One great tip a friend gave me was to do some ‘pre-fatigues’ before your long run. This is essentially a set of exercises that works the big muscles in your legs (e.g. squats, lunges, jump squats etc.). Completing 4-6 sets of these before you run means you’re starting out with tired legs and simulates what you’ll feel on a much longer run. For more tips on training, check out my post on How to Train For Your First Ultramarathon.

Look after your feet

In my experience, people tend to fall into two camps: those who get blisters, and those who don’t. I’m one of the lucky ones, but I do get foot pain from pounding (particularly on long walks) and on this run, a pain in the arches of my feet.

Whichever camp you fall into, taking care of your feet will make the whole ultra experience a lot more pleasant. If you’re prone to blisters, get used to where your hot spots are and tape, tape, tape. Possibly the best tip of all is to carry spare socks (or have them stashed in your bag at support stops). There’s nothing like a nice dry pair of socks to make your feet feel better.

Break it down into stages

During my low point of the ultra, Telle told me we’d just passed the half-way point. She said it to make me feel good, but it just made my heart sink. How could we be only half way? If this is how I feel now, how can I possibly keep going for another six hours?

Sometimes contemplating how far it is to the end of the race is just too much. It’s much easier to focus on the next milestone or checkpoint. After all, you have to make it there – there isn’t another option. So I asked Telle to just let me know how far it was to the Kinlochleven checkpoint and focused on just getting to that point. After that, the final stage was easier as the finish was in sight.

But always aim for the finish

When we got to the end of our run, I swore I couldn’t have gone another mile. But is that really true? Or was it just that I had that 41-mile distance in my head. If there had been another ten miles to go I probably could have done it. It would have been hard, painful and slow, but I could have pushed on that bit longer.

If you tell yourself that it’s ok if you only make it to 30 miles and anything after that is a bonus, then you will only make it to 30 miles. So even when you break the race down into stages always have that final figure in your head: the finish is your ultimate goal.

It won’t all be fun, but it will be worth it

I spent quite a lot of time on the run asking myself why I was doing this, or coming up with mantras to get me through the next mile. There were some amazing parts: the stag silhouetted against snow-capped mountains and the mountains glowing in the pre-dawn light. But I can honestly, hand on heart, say a lot of it was not particularly fun at the time. But was it worth it? Hell, yeah.

You may not be able to stop at one

I hesitate to write this, only two days following the run. Normally it takes me much longer to forget the pain and even contemplate going through it again. But I wouldn’t be the first person to find that their first ultra is most definitely not their last.