KYQ4: Running Scotland

Start at Kirk Yetholm

Cape Wrath

I have just returned from Cape Wrath, where Gregor ended his mammoth marathon-a-day run from Kirk Yetholm on the border with England to Cape Wrath. 420 miles in 17 days was a big ask, and, according to the lady in the cafe at Cape Wrath, it was the first time she was aware that anyone had run the entire Great Scottish Trail. The Cape Wrath Trail is the more usual long-distance run, but it starts at Fort William, which was Day 9 of Gregor's run. Running Scotland was in memory of Aileen and to raise funds for the Starthcarron Hospice. They had provided carers for Aileen for 12 weeks after she was discharged from hospital with terminal cancer, and where she spent her final days.

Gregor had spent several months planning the event, which was intended to be solo and working on a plan of roughly a marathon a day. Until Crianlarich (Falls of Falloch), it would be possible to get overnight accommodation with friends, relatives, at home or with me. I would drop him off in the morning and/or collect him at the end of most days. Hostel accommodation was booked in Glencoe, Fort William, and the Great Glen. Beyond that, it was difficult to find accommodation, so we hired a camper van for the final week. I returned from Fort William to collect the van from Glasgow and headed up to the Cluanie Inn, where Gregor had ended Day 10.

On ten of the days, Gregor ran solo, but running friends, upon hearing of the Run, offered to accompany him on some of them. He had a couple of ultra runners with him on Day 3 over the Pentlands. An Edinburgh friend from the Scottish International team joined him along the Forth Clyde Canal on Day 4, and a schoolmate ran with him from the Falkirk Wheel to Denny. Another running friend accompanied him from Carron Valley Reservoir to Balfron on Day 5. His sister cycled with him on Days 9 and 10 as far as Kingie, and a Glasgow running friend accompanied him on Day 10 over the mountains to the Cluanie Inn. On Day 11, he was joined by an ultra runner from Argyll for the second part of the Day from Morvich to Killilan. On Day 12, a running acquaintance on holiday in Plockton who had been following his Instagram daily posts joined him for the Killilan to Strathcarron section. Thereafter, he was solo for the final 5 days

Kirk Yetholm to Cape Wrath in 17 Days

Date Route Distance Ascent Time

14 May Kirk Yetholm - Bowden 39.9km 759m 3hr 19min

15 May Bowden - Peebles 39.5km 923m 3hr 32min

16 May Peebles - Almondell, East Calder 38.2km 688m 3hr 32min

17 May Almondell - Denny 42.2km 169m 3hr 33min

18 May Denny - Milton of Buchanan 42.4km 531m 3hr 22min

19 May Milton of Buchanan - Falls of Falloch 42.9km 1075m 4hr 22min

20 May Falls of Falloch - Kingshouse 42.6km 987m 3hr 51min

21 May Kingshouse - Fort William 34.8km 998m 3hr 22min

22 May Fort William - Glen Garry 36.1km 312m 3hr 10min

23 May Glen Garry - Cluanie Inn 41.6km 994m 4hr 7min

24 May Cluanie Inn - Killilan 37.6km 938m 4hr 14min

25 May Killilan - Kinlochewe 42.4km 917m 4hr 5min

26 May Kinlochewe- Inverlael 38.7km 775m 3hr 57min

27 May Inverlael - Glen Okyel 42.1km 1032m 4hr 4min

28 May Glen Oykel - Duartmore Bridge 42.2km 1030m 4hr 51min

29 May Duartmore Bridge - Oldshoremore 35.7km 970m 3hr 10min

30 May Oldshoremore - Cape Wrath 22.8km 589m 2hr 21min

Totals 661.7km 14721m 62hrs 52mins

The weather was not kind, although the first three days were dry with sunny periods. The day to Denny was a succession of heavy rainstorms; the Loch Lomond section was perpetual rain, as was the day from Kinghouse to Fort William. And the next four days had rain showers with low cloud on the hills. Days 13 to 15 were blessed with sun, great visibility, and temperatures climbing to 23 °C by Day 15. They coincided with sections through the very best of Scottish Mountain scenery. Gregor took a deserved rest during the hottest day, having run from Okyel Glen to Inchnadamph. We retreated to the Elphin Tea Room for a couple of hours to escape the searing midday sun with good food and highland hospitality. It worked; Gregor's batteries were recharged for the long run to Kylesku and then 4 kilometres further to Duartmore Bridge. We headed to Scourie to the campsite to spend the night and fill up with water.

Finally, two dullish days in the wild, remote coastal areas of Sutherland with a glint of sunshine from Sandwood Bay to Cape Wrath. On these days, the hardest part of the day after the run was posting the day's account on Instagram and Strava. He had committed to including text, photos, drone shots and music. And then the complications were charging the phone, drone, AirPods and watch from the camper van battery. Most nights, we were parked in wild locations that I had found close to the end of the sections.

On the final day, I dropped Gregor at Oldshoremore, where he had finished the night before we had retreated to Kinlochbervie to eat at the excellent Quay House in the transformed Seaman's Mission. I drove to the Kyle of Durness to get an early place in the queue for the 12:15 ferry for myself, Emily and Amy, who were driving up from Aviemore to be at the finish. The tiny ferry across the Kyle of Durness resembles a large tin bath and dropped us at a jetty where we waited for the minibus and the 13-mile ride to Cape Wrath through the MoD shooting range on a track that is little more than a linear pothole. Gregor got there before us, and after photos and a coffee in the cafe, we returned to civvy street.

Miles had been run, and funds had been raised, over £17,000 as I write this. Gregor had shown immense determination and perseverance to capture memories that will last a lifetime. An Instagram Log of the trip can be found on Tossachs_Trails, and an interview on young hearts run free podcast.