The Big Rounds

Jump to: Our Verdict / Features / Specifications

Guidebook to walking and running the ‘Big Rounds’ – The Bob Graham, the Charlie Ramsay and the Paddy Buckley. Includes practical information and advice, notes on access and environmental impact, tales from the Rounds, plus insights and strategies from the likes of Jasmin Paris, Nicky Spinks, Charlie Ramsay, Jim Mann and Paddy Buckley.

Cicerone says

Guidebook to walking or running Britain’s three most challenging long-distance mountain rounds: the Bob Graham Round (Lake District), the Paddy Buckley Round (Wales) and the Charlie Ramsay Round (Scotland). Includes practical information and advice, notes on access and environmental impact, plus insights and strategies from the likes of Jasmin Paris, Nicky Spinks, Charlie Ramsay, Jim Mann and Paddy Buckley.

Designed to inform and inspire, this larger format book is aimed at both walkers and runners (against the clock, or otherwise) keen to discover these epic and extremely challenging routes. Showcasing spectacular photography, tales from the Rounds, and the history of each – as well as invaluable information to help with planning and preparing – this book is a must for anyone embarking on one (or all!) of these iconic Rounds.

Known to mountain runners as three of the most difficult 24-hour challenges in the world, each Big Round is a long-distance classic in the history and culture of ‘fell’ or hill running. Collectively, the ‘Big 3’ take in 113 mountain summits (including the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland), over 25,000m (83,000ft) of ascent and nearly 300km (183 miles) across three of Britain’s most distinct mountain ranges – the Snowdonia National Park in Wales, the Lake District National Park in England, and a vast area of Lochaber in the highlands of Scotland.

Our Verdict

For nearly 50 years Cicerone have been producing guidebooks on recognised treks, regions, areas and general tips for hikers.

We have used them countless times and they’ve always provided excellent insight and knowledge that you only get through experience, giving you the edge to make your trip a success and more enjoyable too.

If you’re a gram counter you can easily remove sections of the book to take with you making your own ultra-lightweight guidebook with only the essential sections that you require.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Seasons: Predominantly spring and summer, but with advice on timed round attempts in the winter from the current record holder, Jim Mann
• Centres: England – Keswick/Ambleside/Wasdale Wales – Capel Curig/Blaenau Ffestiniog/Betws Coed/Llanberis/Ogwen Scotland – Fort William/Fersit
• Difficulty: Each of the three rounds is presented as a 24-hour running challenge, and a week-long backpacking circuit. Both of these options are genuine challenges for experienced outdoors people. However, there is additional information for those who prefer a more relaxed pace. All of the routes are also described as day trips and/or as ‘sections’ of smaller running or backpacking routes
• Must See: The Big Rounds – running and walking the Bob Graham, the Paddy Buckley and the Charlie Ramsay rounds – is a guide to Britain’s three most challenging long-distance mountain rounds, and the people who love them. These routes are grand, circular tours of the Lake District, Snowdonia and Lochaber, and the book includes a full guide to each round for both walkers and runners, the history of each round, and advice from running and backpacking experts

Specifications

• Weight: 560g
• Published: 8 Aug 2019
• Edition: First
• Number of pages: 192
• Size: 24.0 x 17.0 x 1.5cm

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
What are the Big Rounds?
Using this book
The book’s approach
Mountaincraft and personal safety
When to go
Who to go with
Equipping for the Rounds
Environmental impact and leave no trace
Access and the right to roam – differences in law and in practice
The Bob Graham Round
Leg 1 Keswick to Threlkeld
Leg 2 Threlkeld to Dunmail Raise
Leg 3 Dunmail Raise to Wasdale
Leg 4 Wasdale to Honister Pass
Leg 5 Honister Pass to Keswick
Practicalities
Getting there and around
Water
Suggested backpacker’s itinerary
Alternative ways to complete the Bob Graham Round
Places to stay and resupply
Support for runners
Rules for runners
The history of the Round
A runner’s story: Rob Bushby
The Paddy Buckley Round
Leg 1 Capel Curig to Nantmor
Leg 2 Nantmor to Pont Cae’r Gors
Leg 3 Pont Cae’r Gors to Llanberis
Leg 4 Llanberis to Ogwen YHA
Leg 5 Ogwen to Capel Curig
Practicalities
Getting there and around
Water
Suggested backpacker’s itinerary
Alternative ways to complete the Paddy Buckley Round
Places to stay and resupply
Support for runners
Rules for runners
The history of the Round
A runner’s story: Sue Walsh
The Charlie Ramsay Round
Route guide
Leg 1 Glen Nevis to Luibeilt via the Mamores
Leg 2 Luibeilt to Fersit – the valley section
Leg 3 Fersit to Glen Nevis YHA
Practicalities
Getting there and around
Water
Suggested backpacker’s itinerary
Alternative ways to complete the Charlie Ramsay Round
Places to stay
Support for runners
Rules for runners
The history of the Round
A runner’s story: Jasmin Paris
Advice, insights and strategies from the hill running community
Paddy Buckley
Wendy Dodds
Charlie Ramsay
Nicky Spinks
Helene Whitaker
Jasmin Paris
Jim Mann
Mike Hartley
Keri Wallace

Appendix A: Hills and their heights
Appendix B: Distance and elevation at a glance
Appendix C: Firsts on the Rounds
Appendix D: Round extensions, and other eye-wateringly long challenges
Appendix E: Further reading and viewing