SWIFT HALF
A pint-sized challenge to climb half the Munros in Glencoe in half a day, finishing with a swift half at the inn!
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Distance 22km approx.
Ascent 2450m approx.
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The Route
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Starting and finishing at the Clachaig Inn, the Swift Half round lies at the very heart of Glencoe. The route takes-in the dramatic Munro summits of the Aonach Eagach (Meall Dearg, 953m and Sgurr nam Fiannaidh, 967m) and Three Sisters of Glencoe (Bidean nam Bian, 1150m and Stob Coire Sgreamhach, 1072m). The route includes exposed scrambling (Grade 2), steep scree and tons of vert, so it packs quite the punch over just 22km! – supported by SILVA
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Purchase a Swift Half map in 2024 to help support the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team’s Crowdfunder, raising funds for an extension to their base in Glencoe village (£6 per HARVEY map incl postage).
Rules of the Round
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All checkpoints to be visited in a closed loop from the Clachaig Inn
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Clockwise or anticlockwise
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Route variations not permitted (extensions only)
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No wings or wheels
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Time limit 12h
Complete the round within 12h to add your name to the completions table (simply email your GPX, Strava link or equivalent to info@girlsonhills.com). Suitable for hill walkers and runners! Rounds completed in 2024 (summer conditions) will automatically be entered into our prizedraw*​
Route note - The round must start and finish at the Clachaig Inn. Use of roads (A82/Clachaig Road) is not permitted. From the Clachaig Inn, take the trail alongside the Clachaig Burn to the bridge across the River Coe, and into the An Torr carpark. From here, the new 'Greenway' trail allows access to the glen (out and back). Please see route map for full details Glen Coe.
2024 Completions
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​• Robin Downie 29/07/24 M 3:38:16 Clockwise, unsupported pair
• Ewan Thorburn 29/07/24 M 3:38:16 Clockwise, unsupported pair
• Huw Oliver 12/08/24 M 4:29:00 Clockwise (?) unsupported
• Al Docherty 19/07/24 M 4:51:49 Anticlockwise, solo unsupported,
• Sarah Macdonald 13/07/24 F 4:56:20 Anticlockwise, solo unsupported (*use of Clachaig road)
• Ali Rose 22/07/24 M 5:18:29 Anticlockwise, solo unsupported
• Matt Brown 25/09/24 M 5:38 Anticlockwise, solo unsupported
• Emma Holgate 05/09/24 F 5:48:00 Clockwise, solo unsupported (*alt start/finish, Signal Rock carpark & A82)
• Keri Wallace 19/09/24 F 5:51:00 Anticlockwise, solo unsupported
• Raeanne Miller 20/09/24 F 6:23:33 Clockwise, solo unsupported
• Sam Jones 06/09/24 M 6:27:23, Clockwise, solo unsupported (*one-way use of Clachaig road)
• Hannah Francis 24/08/24 F 6:51:07 Anticlockwise, supported (ran as pair)
• Sam Burns 31/08/24 M 7:15:00 Anticlockwise, solo unsupported
• Hannah Godden 17/09/ F 24 8:09:19 Anticlockwise, solo unsupported
• Graham 'Beardy' Kelly 23/09/24 M 8:12 Anticlockwise, solo unsupported
• Claire Gordon 05/09/24 F 9:40:00 Anticlockwise, solo unsupported (*extended to inc Stob Coire nan Lochan)
• Michaela Trojanova 11/08/24 F 10:42:31 Anticlockwise, solo unsupported
• Kasia Sadaj 18/09/24 F 10:50:49 Clockwise, unsupported pair (*alt start, extended through An Torr woodland)
• Alan O'Callaghan 18/09/24 M 10:50:49 Clockwise, unsupported pair (*alt start, extended through An Torr woodland)
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History of the Round
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The Clachaig Inn dates back to the 16th century and marks the start and finish of the Swift Half round. This award-winning outdoor pub has provided accommodation and hospitality for travellers, climbers and mountaineers over the centuries and is still the first port of call for those descending from the crags and summits of the glen, in need of a hot meal or well-earned pint!
The Clachaig Inn has been owned and run by the Daynes family since 1984 and currently rests in the safe hands of brothers Guy & Ed Daynes. Ed is an accomplished mountaineer and die-hard Lochaber Athletic Club (LAC) member, who has been a valued member of the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team since 1986.
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“When I was about 19 years old, I used to fill the gaps in my working day by heading up the hills. I came to know these hills like a shepherd would. Eventually I decided to try a link-up involving Clachaig Gully and along the Aonach Eagach ridge to Buachaille Etive Mor, then up Curved Ridge and over Bidean to finish down Coire nam Beith. I ran this line in 1986 with the aim of getting it done and making back to work for my 5pm shift at the inn! There were others who also saw the appeal of this loop around that time but I believe Cameron McNeish reported my round in Climber magazine at the time’ – Ed Daynes
In 2015, the Salomon Glen Coe Skyline came to the area, bringing elite runners, international athletes and big brands to the glen. The 52km/6000m skyrace was part of the ‘Extreme’ Skyrunning World Series in 2016 and for a while the rugged peaks and technical trails of Glencoe gained notoriety among mountain runners on a global scale. The final race took place in 2023 and at present is not set to continue.
In 2018, local runners Keri Wallace and Nancy Kennedy set up Girls on Hills in Glencoe - a guided running company aimed at empowering women with the skills and confidence necessary to become more independent in the mountains. The company soon became official recce providers of the Salomon Skyline Scotland races and created a number of local mountain rounds of their own during the Covid years. Amongst these was the Glencoe Corbetts Round, Six Ridges of Buachaille Etive Mor and the (Ken Wilson) Glencoe Classic Rock 24h Challenge. Keri also set a women’s first/fastest known time (FKT) of 12h 09mins for the ‘Round of Glencoe’, established in 1980 by Bobby Shields but extended by Peter Duggan in 2006. The male record is currently held by local legend Finlay Wild, who completed the 38km/4400m round in 6h 35mins!
Keri Wallace has long been fascinated with mountain rounds and has recently written the book Running Challenges with Vertebrate Publishing that is now available for purchase online.
Both Keri and Nancy are affiliated with the Glencoe Mountain Rescue team, with Keri a previous volunteer (2012-2015) and team secretary, while Nancy has been the voice on the line (‘callout girl’) since 1989.
Fundraising
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When you buy a Swift Half map, produced by HARVEY, all profits go to Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team to assist in fundraising for their centre extension in the village. *Anyone completing the challenge in 2024 (summer conditions) will automatically be entered into our prizedraw to win a bundle of gift vouchers and goodies from Girls on Hills, the Clachaig Inn, Vertebrate Publishing and SILVA worth more than £250 RRP. This prize will include a free copy of Running Challenges.
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You can also donate to Glencoe MRT via JustGiving at: Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team’s 2024 Crowdfunder
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To improve access to the mountains for women facing additional barriers, please also consider donating to the Girls on Hills not-for-profit Access Fund via Crowdfunder.
Ethos
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‘The idea of the Swift Half is to make a loop of the most iconic part of the glen, blending running with scrambling in ‘skyrunning’ style, travelling over the notoriously technical terrain. Our aim is to recreate some of the Glen Coe Skyline magic but in a shorter and more accessible format that is attainable by walkers/fast-hikers and hill runners alike’ – Girls on Hills Founder, Keri Wallace
Run solo, supported or as a team. Race it, recce it or relish it, just make sure you have fun!
A Note on Safety
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The Swift Half is not a fell running round. It requires technical mountain running and scrambling experience (and ideally a head for heights!) The Aonach Eagach ridge, is an exposed Grade 2 scramble and is a committing ridgeline, which is not easily escapable.
Please exercise caution on the hillside between the summit of Sgurr nam Fiannaidh and the A82. The top section is extremely loose/steep scree and the trail is intermittent. The safest line is to ascend/descend via the trail for the Pap of Glencoe (trail junction is NN124585). Extensions to the challenge route provided are permitted but no short-cuts! Also note that the loose trod on the W side of Clachaig Gully is a notorious accident hotspot and is not recommended. There are two other areas of steep, loose scree which are indicated on the map.​​
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Glencoe’s north-facing corries often hold snow late into spring, which can make them impassable. Please check conditions before starting out on the round.
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As a ‘challenge’ rather than an event, Girls on Hills and partners cannot be held responsible for any accidents, damages or injuries that occur during an attempt on this round. If you take on the Swift Half challenge, you do so at your own rishk. In case of emergency, please call 999 or 112 and ask for Police and Mountain Rescue.
If you are unsure whether this challenge is for you, consider hiring a mountain leader from Girls on Hills to undertake a guided recce first (email info@girlsonhills.com).​
Visiting the area
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Please park responsibly and leave no trace when enjoying the mountains in the Glencoe National Nature Reserve (which is owned and managed by National Trust for Scotland). Please note that parking at the Clachaig Inn is for customers only and long-stay parking is not permitted. There are no toilet facilities in the glen (the visitor centre and main village car park have public toilets).
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To learn about the history and management of the Glencoe area, visit the Glencoe Visitor Centre on the A82 just outside of the village. For information on local food and accommodation providers see Discover Glencoe.
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The glen can be accessed on foot or by bike on the new Glencoe Orbital Track, known as the Greenway. This links the village to the Clachaig Inn and connects to the route of the Swift Half challenge.
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You can support the management and upkeep of Glencoe by donating towards the Lovetheglen campaign.
