Black and Red Cuillin Round. 21st July 2002. 16hrs 46mins.

Don’t know who first thought of using the term `solo and unsupported` as a way of describing a runner’s journey across some of the hilltops of Britain. Could be a good way to describe say Andy McNab behind enemy lines in a foreign country but I think it’s a bit over dramatic for a hill walker on a day out.
Long days out in the hills are challenging and can be rewarding and very satisfying. This one certainly was for me, without being too long, enjoying daylight hours and a good mixture of walking scrambling, climbing and downhill running.
A fast time on the Cuillin maybe wouldn’t be so much fun esp. as a lot of the ridge is not ideal terrain for running on and it’s worth admiring the scenery which is second to none.
Since it was national poetry week recently I felt inspired, but found it’s not that easy and promise I won’t subject you all to much more of this kind of stuff.

Black and Red Cuillin Round.

I put brickie’s labouring my training aside,
I’d got myself fit on the ladder I climbed
Gars bheinn I found easy without compo or block
Before it was sun up I stood on the top

As I crossed Sgurr nan Eag I looked down on the corrie
Where us Lochaber runners once decided to bivvy
Ross,McAndrew,Paterson,Shaw,Macrae Cant,
And Dignan,who from the outset was a little bit damp

The Black Cuillin traverse had been our intention
On that day we soon found it was out of the question
The In Pinn was as far as we travelled that day
On descent mist confused us we came back the same way

TD gap, King,s chimney,In Pinn,Mhadaidh tops
Some parts of the ridge make it difficult to cross
Druim nan Ramh,An Caistel,Am Basteir and Gillean
These peaks lay ahead and a problem was looming

LAC were around,they raced the Glamaig
The campsite at Slig was coming slowly awake
Morning passed by and on Bruach na Frithe
Kate she did call in search of a key

Onto Am Basteir, now I was going
If I didn’t catch Stuart the car wasn’t moving
A rope I new well the rock it was on
Above on the top sat none other with Dawn
I looked out my mobile and gave it away
And carried on, hoping I’d helped save the day
Lost all the height from Gillean to Slig
Found a pool in the river, had a dip and a swig

Slog up Glamaig, glad I wasn’t in the race
As I would certainly be well off yesterdays pace
Great scree run to Deargs the best of the day
Very fast progress, an exhilarating way

Recovery track from 80’s in my head
One of Runrig’s finest `S Tu Mo Leannan` it said
`World of Maclean’s words, sure most people know it
Just respect for the great Gaelic poet

Marsco’s summit, the last of the Red
Granite and grass made a nice change instead
Garbh bheinn, Blaven, the Black outliers next
So much gabbro that day, fingertips were wrecked

Onto north ridge of Clach Glas
Looked down route called Penelope
Ritchie climbed it one winter and had me for company
The descent by head torch we made off the top
Darkness meant we could sense but not see the big drops

Clouds were by now gathering across in the west
Gars bheinn, The Dubhs, Sgurr Alasdair’s crest
Down to the Putting green up the wall past the corner
I had to move fast, weather wouldn’t hold for much longer

Blaven’s tops were the last of the day
22000ft in the legs, felt I’d come a fair way
The ridge to the sea, fast losing height
Camasunary bothy, a welcome sight.



Mark Shaw