RING OF INVERPOLLY

The idea was one of those that wormed its way into my subconscious over a number of years after first reading of Alec Keith’s round, completed in 1998. Rather unexpectedly, and in what might generously be described as sub-optimal condition for such a route, I found myself setting out to repeat this, the most northerly of the long distance rounds documented by Scottish Hill Runners, almost exactly 27 years after Keith’s inaugural round.

Weather conditions were also sub-optimal and in thick clag atop Cul Mor, the first summit, I had little in mind other than getting over the next top, Cul Beag. I’d assess the weather and my fitness as things progressed.

In fact the weather cleared, for a few hours at least, the day becoming hot and humid as I toiled over Ben More Coigach and worked slowly down towards Stac Pollaidh. After that it was mixed with passing showers and cloud on the tops, which slowly enveloped the moor enroute to Suilven. By which time the night and rain was upon me.

Making a complete hash of the descent from Canisp in foul weather put any hope of completing in less than 16 hours out of reach though I cared little at the time. And even in retrospect, while I know in better shape I might well have finished in something much closer to 14 hours, I’m more than happy simply to have repeated the round (solo and without GPS or other support). That I am only the fifth person to do so (or at least that I and others have been able to find any record of), speaks volumes - the are few such rounds that are so relentlessly rough and while the hills are small in comparison to the Munros, the climbs are steep and each is made from near sea level.

While Alec Keith completed the round in 13hrs and 12 minutes, the record now stands at a very fast 11hrs and 41 minutes (Francisco Javier Cabrera Valdes & Luke Taylor). I suspect it will stand for some time.

Interestingly SHR notes a distance of 37m for the round, though all records of completions since Keith’s are over 40m, mine being 40.8m. Total ascent is approx. 15,500ft.

A more extensive account of my own run with much better images is set to be published in the Fell Runner later this year, the pictures here being the best of a poor selection taken on the day on my phone.