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10th June - I don't think the weather will be like the photo below but it's an improving forecast for the coming weekend and I have gathered enough support to go again. I am starting at 8am on Saturday from Fort William with a ACW round so finishing at the YHA on Sunday morning. Then I'll take a short break before setting off on a CW round. Once again I have a Garmin InReach tracker which is shared to my MapShare page Nicky Garmin MapShare page This will start at 8am and track me round both circuits.

Since this is a huge challenge for me I feel I can ask for help in raising money for the two charities that are close to my heart. Odyssey I have supported since I had breast cancer and Galloway Mountain Rescue who I hope never to have to call upon but I know of the hard work and dedication this team (and all MRT teams) put into being there for us when we need help in the outdoors, especially in the mountains. My fundraising page was set up a few weeks ago and I hope to reach my target when I finish! Please donate no matter how small, it's the though thats counts for me and everything will help those two charities Give as you Live.com -Double Ramsay Round - 20 years after having cancer

2nd June - Well I didn't get very far on the Double Ramsay on Friday as you might have seen on the tracker. The weather forecast was mixed and when we set off I had real reservations but I've seen attempts go ahead and succeed when the weather is better than the forecast. As we climbed onto the first top we headed into clag but that wasn't a worry. The wind picked up and had a real bite to it. I was glad that I had spare layers. As we did a few tops the rain started in earnest and we put on more layers, hats and gloves. I was making sure I was eating well and overall we were making good progress. The real crunch started as we traversed along the Devils Ridge as the wind was sidelong and the rain felt more like sleet / hail. I was glad to get to the top and turn round. On the return I ducked my head against the hail and tripped over. It hurt my knee and ribs and I was very annoyed but I was able to run ok on it. We carried on and overall we were coping with the conditions and warmed up on the run across to Am Bodach. From there it's a bit of a trek to Stob Coire A'Chairn and reaching the summit the wind was getting stronger. We descended to to the col and were blown all over. Heading up the little path to An Gearanach we both had to hang onto rocks otherwise we would have been blown off the path.

We both hung on and then I made my way round to the sheltered side of the ridge. I had been along the ridge only a few weeks before and knew it wasn't an easy path - a lot more scrambling than the Devils Ridge. James was lovely and we just sat for 20 minutes while I just came round to the fact that it was over. I knew a way down from aborting in the same spot with Billy Reed and so we made our way back to the col, and off down the side of the mountain. It was awful contouring around the side of An Gearanch and I did wonder whether it was worth heading back up the path and then back again. But no I knew that was a silly idea. We had managed to get one message out and made our way down to the top carpark where we saw our truck. I did wonder how Steve was getting on and didn't expect him to be in the vehicle. But to our great delight he was! So we all headed down the valley and updated the supporters as soon as we had signal.

So that was it. At least no-one had travelled up and I was back home myself on Sunday, nursing a swollen knee, sore ribs and my wounded pride. It didn't take long before I was motivated to do something about the situation and started sending out messages asking for support. This time I'm hoping to have support for more than one weekend allowing me to delay if the weather looks iffy.

2nd May - I travelled to the lakes to support a Bob Graham for Jack. It was a lovely low key attempt with me, Emma and James supporting on Leg 3, Emma carrying onto Leg 4 and me / James on Leg 5. The weather wasn't great with thick clag over Leg 2 and all the way across Leg 3. This combined with some drizzle made navigation hard and the rocks slippery. Jack did really well eating and keeping going but we lost a bit of time navigating and on the rocks. He was strong though and across Leg 4 made up some time and the clag cleared completely by Pillar. We were waiting in sunshine at Honister for him to arrive having changed into shorts and teeshirts! Jack arrived and drank something that didn't agree with him, so he threw up and we got going as soon as we could. Jack was very strong on the climbs and although he said he felt poorly we made good time all the way to the Moot Hall. He finished in 23.16 hours and it was a small but very happy group of family and friends that saw him finish in 23.16 hours. Photos I took of Jack's BG

25th / 26th April - I've been reccying the Ramsay a lot this year as I decided after the Tyndrum recce with Emma that I really didn't like the rough descents and climbs on the round and that I just couldn't get excited about doing it. Maybe I will return to it as I have enjoyed exploring a new area and feel like I know it well. However I was thinking about another round and wondered whether I could get round the Double Ramsay again. So I have been heading up there whenever I can. This weekend I drove up on the Saturday and ran from Kinlocheven in warm sunshine for 4 hours onto the Mamores. I felt great and was really encouraged. I didn't sleep well and set off on Sunday in cooler conditions, but as soon as I started to climb I felt shocking. This continued all day and I was glad to finish after ten hours. Monday I went up Ben Nevis and although my legs felt stronger I still wasn't on full form and when we reached the clag and slushy snow I knew I wouldn't be heading off the other side! We had the summit to ourselves but it was cold, windy and claggy so I didn't stay long. The dogs absolutely loved the slushy snow and slid on their bellies down it whenever they could. I wasn't so pleased to have to negotiate it either up or down! Photos of all three recce's  

18th April - I did an Easy run each day but my cold had returned and also spread into my sinus above my eye so I was feeling a bit rubbish all week however by Friday I felt better and really wanted to do the first SHR Champs race, Ben Chonzie, so that I had one counter in the series. I travelled up to Crief and registered for the early start. I set off very steady as there was 3 miles of track but I felt a lot better than I thought I would on the track. It was very undulating which helped. Then we got onto the hills and it was technical and even a section of peat bogs (just like the Peak District). I really started to enjoy it and my legs were happy off track! The route was flagged which made navigation easy and I just kept passing runners now but didn't want to lead! There was a long section down a wet valley and then a steep climb to the last hill checkpoint before we ran back on the same tracks we ran out on. I finished in 3.07 hours and was very happy.

11th April - Bruce's Crown race. Emma and I set off last, at 9.30am on Saturday morning and headed into a cold wind and snow on Lamachan. There were clear views right across to Curleywee, Corsorine and Merrick but we soon caught other teams which was distracting but once we were clear we kept our heads on navigation. It’s great running with Emma as I run harder than I would alone. Emma was having a great time and we had a good first leg to CP where lovely MRT were there to meet us with food and soup. A quick stop and off up Darrou we went. A rubbish line up (my fault!) had us cursing but we were soon up and off along the Rhinns of Kells. We kept getting glimpses of a team up ahead which could only be Bogdashians. But they disappeared and we didn’t think we’d see them again, especially with a long fast track section coming up. CP11 is a very welcome food stop. The soup was amazing and we topped up with food. Along the track Emma jogged while I ran along behind. I was glad when it ended though and we could do some big and forest bashing to the top of Sheil hill. When we summited we could see the other team ahead. That gave us a boost. I felt fairly strong so we pushed on. We were catching them and on Shallock we arrived together. The wind blew us all over suddenly and we got blown like rag dolls down the other side. Off to Tarfessock and then Kirrieroch we went as fast as possible. Up Kirrieroch my legs stopped working. I’ve never felt like this before. They were so heavy and wouldn’t lift my feet up. It was so steep and Emma led. I was glad to get to the flatter slope and onto the Spur of Merrick next. Emma said it would great to get to Merrick in daylight. We pushed on and were happy to summit and be heading off. We found the path and ran hard. MRT were hiking up and congratulated us. I wanted to get some distance between us and the team behind. So we flew down to the gate and then the tourist path. Up to Bruce’s Stone and off down the path and road. It was so fantastic to be running up to the finish, in First place and under 11.30 hours. Me and Emma so happy. We won the trophy @hillsandharbour.spirits

The results are here on OpenTracking - BCR2026  There is a full set of photos here Bruces Crown - Gallery

4th April - the rest of March was spent in poor weather getting ready for the Bruce's Crown and Heart of Granite races, reccying that route and also heading to the highlands when I can to be on the Ramsay route, although the snow and the weather had other ideas. I'm looking forward to doing the Bruce's Crown with Emma Stuart and hopefully we don't get any adverse weather!

In March I also reccied the Ramsay when there was way too much snow and a bitterly cold wind on the first day. I had to abort one climb then made it to the top of the other but the dogs weren't happy in the wind and we came down. The next day I ran with Keri at lower levels which was good. Photos. And I met up with Jo and Helen in the Lakes to recce the BG. We had a very long day from Honister doing Leg 3 from Angle Tarn then onto Leg 4 and back to Honister. The weather was amazing!  BG recce Photos

15th March - Quite a lot going on with the Knockodhar wind power station application with a busy week next week with the meeting on Tuesday, the drop in on Thursday and now the MP for this area, Elaine Stewart is having a surgery on Saturday 21st March in Barrhill and we've got an appointment with her.

So in between all that stressfulness I've been running and training lots as it's good for me. I went up to the Highlands last weekend and met up with Keri and Fiona Horsefield for one day. The snow was in varying states of unpleasantness but I had a good three days on the mountains around Fort William with the weather being generally nice to us. Photos here Highlands - March 2026

Then yesterday I went out on the Bruce's Crown route as the forecast was pretty good and it actually was right! I had ten hours with Bruce and Flynn, doing varying amounts of running and tussock bashing. On the route out of Caldons there are always goats but this time they had about 6 kids with them. The goats leapt the stream but the kids didn't so we made a hasty exit. The sun shone and it was clear all day (after 9am!). Apart from being wet underfoot the vegetation is really low and that makes for nice and faster running. I've put all the photos up here March 2026 - Legs 1 and 2

2nd March -  I have been down to the Lakes twice to meet up with friends there, to run on the hills in generally rubbish weather and spend time catching up in between. I reccied the Heart of Granite with Ryan is really wet weather where we only glimpsed a view once. I have also been up Merrick a couple of times and on the Bruce's Crown route to check the route in case of more fallen trees etc. The Bruce's Crown and Heart of Granite races are progressing and I'm hoping for more entries into the BC. The HoG entries are steadily growing which is really good news as it helps support the BC. Photos from Feb - Lakes and BC recce

The Knockodhar wind power station has been taking up a lot of my energy and is very time consuming however the community are gathering and working together to fight the application, which along with South Ayrshire Council's objection response, is encouraging.

13th February - The Northern Spine was four weeks ago now and recovery is going well. I have started my write up and will post that up next week. This weekend I'm off to the Lakes to meet friends and run - hopefully in lovely weather (well Saturday anyway). My plans for 2026 are changing as I realised when I was on the Tyndrum round a couple of weeks ago that I haven't got the strong desire to finish that will be needed as it's a very hard round. I have entered the Swiss Peaks Legend 397km and am considering which races / rounds to do this summer.

6th February - I don't know where time goes. Well some of it was spent racing on the Northern Spine and then recovering from the Northern Spine. I will be writing this up hopefully very soon. Then last week I had a busy few days with a S&C course in Edinburgh, a few days battling the weather in Tyndrum and then a talk with Helen Rennard in Edinburgh. So there's not been much time for updating the website. I promise it has moved to nearer the top of the To Do List! Photos from Jan and early Feb

6th January - Happy New Year!!! Christmas and New Year was in great weather overall so my apologies for no updating but I've been on the hills and outside in the sunshine. Unlike the rest of the country we've not had any snow but it's been generally very cold and sunny here. A summary of my holidays! And the photos are in the gallery Christmas and New Year

1)  I've been doing a lot of training with Bruce and Flynn (although Flynn is perfect when it comes to heel!).

2) I went for a run where I saw Galloway Mountain Rescue out on a call which just made me more conscious to be vigilant with extra clothes and letting Steve know (via Garmin LiveTrack) where I am. Well done to GMRT. I've uploaded some general photos here of my activities

3) I cleaned and sealed our kitchen flags which might seem a weird Christmas job but I've wanted nice flags for years and after trying varying products I've found one that really works.

4) Steve found me a new Bird Table tree trunk to replace the told one which was slowly rotting and leaning.

5) I did the Screel Hill Craig Christmas Cracker which is always a great hard little race. And saw all GMRT there supporting as well.

6) Charmian and Steve came to stay and we had a hike up Merrick in sunshine and then up Shallock on the Minnock in clag and rain!

7) Now of course it's the Northern Spine which starts this coming Sunday at 6pm. A changed start time from 2025 which was 8am meaning more darkness for everyone but it will be great to see High Cup Nick in daylight for once. I'm all packed and ready to head to Hardraw at the weekend. The Opentracking link is here https://live.opentracking.co.uk/spinechallnorth26/