Main image: Charlie Ramsay at home | Credit: David Lintern
Charlie Ramsay, perhaps best known for creating the classic 24-hour Scottish mountain marathon which bore his name, died peacefully and at home in February 2025 at the age of 81, after a short illness.
Charlie was an all-rounder – a keen time trials cyclist and swimmer who would escape the chlorinated atmosphere of his work at Edinburgh Commonwealth pool by running up Arthur’s Seat in his lunch hour. One thing led to another: The journalist Tom Weir pointed him to the Ben Nevis Race, and then to Philip Tranter’s circuit of Glen Nevis. After successfully running the Bob Graham Round in the lakes, Charlie went on to extend Tranter’s round and create his own equivalent of the Bob Graham in Scotland. In July 1978, he ran his heart out: 24 Munros and 58 miles in 23:58 minutes, a record that would stand for the next 9 years. He later compleated his Munros in 1991 on Sgùrr nan Gillean, becoming number 1003 on the Scottish Mountaineering Club list. Although personal markers are not formally recorded by the Club, it’s likely that Charlie Ramsay was the first person of colour to compleat the Munros.
Charlie was a sportsperson in the classic mould. Competitive? Of course. Proud of his Round? To a point, but not for himself, it seemed – more for what it meant to others. In conversation, he was genuinely honest and modest about his trailblazing achievements in a way that gave everyone else permission to have a go. He kept the records of sub 24-hour completions and supported dozens of attempts: Always with unbridled enthusiasm and advice, often with his wife Mary, and cake! He took immense joy in encouraging people of all ages, creeds and colours out into his beloved Lochaber hills, regardless of whether they ran them or not. In his working life, he established a comprehensive learn to swim programme, introduced ‘mums and tots’ classes, and developed teacher training and the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification. I’ve never met anyone more delighted to pass the baton.
I first met Charlie through The Great Outdoors. He was a regular reader, and after some photos for his talks. I was plotting my first backpacking attempt of Ramsay’s Round, so was excited to meet him and happy to help out. We arranged a small piece in the magazine to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the round. He was known and loved for a direct, no-nonsense approach that was galvanising, encouraging… sometimes challenging. As his daughter Ashley tells it, he would instruct her to ‘Take a line!’ But there was no edge to this, it simply begged the question – why not? What have you got to lose? I loved Charlie’s spark, his energy, his invitation to try. There was just a hint of anarchy there. He’d done it, after all. He believed in you!
There it was, then. We’d better believe in ourselves…
That infectious positivity powered my own glacially paced mountain marathon, a book celebrating the 3 Big Rounds across Scotland, England and Wales – of which Ramsay’s Round is one. The hill and fell running scene is not short of inspiring people, but it was Charlie’s steadfastness and spirit that were the engine and inspiration for my own efforts. We remained friends and stayed in touch – although like many men, not as often as we should. I’m grateful that we spoke shortly before his death, but now suddenly he’s gone, leaving a very tangible legacy both on and off the mountain. For myself and so many others, he was an instigator, the embodiment of the Scots expression of support, ‘Gaun Yersel’. He set records, but more importantly, he set an example, always generous with his time and community spirited. Whenever I’m in doubt, I try to make the point of asking – ‘What would Charlie do?’
Charlie is remembered by his wife Mary, two generations of keen runners and hill goers in the family, and many friends in the sports and outdoor community. Plans are underway to find a new home for the record keeping on Ramsay’s Round, so Charlie’s legacy can continue.
