The Paddy Buckley Round, also known as the Welsh Classical Round, is a long distance fell running challenge in Snowdonia, Wales. The route is a circuit of just over 100 km long, taking in some 47 summits. The Round has the reputation of being somewhat tougher to complete than its English Lake District equivalent, the Bob Graham Round.
Although no official time limit is set, an arbitrary 24 hours is applied, although the first completer exceeded the original aim of 24 hours.
Runners may start at any point on the circular route (finishing at the same place) and may run the course in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. The route takes in the well-known high mountain ranges of Snowdon, the Glyderau and the Carneddau, as well as the slightly less visited ranges of Moel Siabod, the Moelwynion, Moel Hebog and the Nantlle Ridge. The route was devised by the eponymous Paddy Buckley and first completed in 1982 by Wendy Dodds. The selection of summits that must be visited is somewhat arbitrary and no rules appear to have been applied in selecting them . Generally, it takes in the major peaks of the ranges that are being crossed, then any minor tops that are passed along the way are also included. Some of these tops really are just bumps on the ridge and not really summits in their own right at all.
The fastest known completion of the round was, for many years, by Mark Hartell in 18 hours 10 minutes. On 4 May 2008, this time was matched by Chris Near of Eryri Harriers.The Fellrunner Magazine, Summer 2008, pages 108-110 - Record matched 2008 This old record was broken in July 2009 by Tim Higginbottom, who completed the Round in a time of 17 hours and 42 minutes.Tim Higginbottom blog This was further reduced in 2019 by Damian Hall with 17 hours 31 minutes, and again on 30 August 2020 by Matthew Roberts, with a time of 16 hours 38 minutes.Martin Stone, "Long Distance Round Up", The Fellrunner, Autumn 2020, 88-93. Kim Collison set a new best time of 16 hours 20 minutes in April 2021.UKClimbing: New Paddy Buckley Record for Kim Collison. A year later, in April 2022, a new record was set by Finlay Wild, who completed the round solo and unsupported in a time of 15 hours 14 minutes.Finlay Wild breaks Paddy Buckley Record: April 26, 2022.
The women's record is held by Lizzie Richardson, with a time of 17 hours and 22 minutes, set in 2023.The Fellrunner, summer 2023, 23-26.
A double Paddy Buckley Round was first completed by Nicky Spinks in May 2019 in a time of 57 hours 57 minutes, completing her trilogy of double rounds of the UK's big 3 rounds. The double record now stands at 52 hours 52 minutes set by Ajay Hanspal in June 2024, being the second person to successfully complete the double. Both double rounds were supported but differed in both direction and start point: Nicky Spinks opted to start in Capel Curig going anti-clockwise, then clockwise; whereas Ajay Hanspal opted to start in Llanberis, going clockwise, then anti-clockwise. The double Paddy Buckley Round is considered to be 2-4 hours slower than the double Bob Graham Round.
The book "The Welsh Three Thousand Foot Challenges: A Guide for Walkers and Hill Runners" "The Welsh Three Thousand Foot Challenges: A Guide for Walkers and Hill Runners", by Ronald Turnbull and Roy Clayton. describes a version of the route which avoids the slate quarries, which the fastest line utilises, and also suggests attempting it as a four-day backpacking (lightweight camping) excursion rather than a one-day run.
Route
Below is a list of the summits to be visited, in a clockwise direction, if starting from Llanberis.
Summit Grid reference Altitude/m Approximate cumulative distance/km LlanberisSH58259810501Elidir FachSH60361379532Elidir FawrSH61261392443Mynydd PerfeddSH62361981264Foel GochSH62861183175Y GarnSH63059594786Glyder FawrSH642579999117Glyder FachSH656582994128TryfanSH66459391714 Ogwen CottageSH649603300169Pen yr Ole WenSH6556199781810Carnedd DafyddSH66363010441811Carnedd LlewelynSH68364310642312Pen yr Helgi DuSH6986308332513Pen Llithrig y WrachSH71662379927 Capel CurigSH7215822003214Carnedd Moel SiabodSH7055468723615Clogwyn Bwlch-y-maenSH6795425483916Carnedd y CribauSH6765365914017Cerrig CochionSH6625105504318Moel MeirchSH6615026074419Ysgafell WenSH6644876504620Mynydd Llynnau'r CwnSH6634856694621Three TopsSH6674816724722Moel DrumanSH6714766764723Allt-fawrSH68147469848 Bwlch CwmorthinSH6654624705124Foel DduSH6694594585225Moel-yr-hyddSH6724546485226Moelwyn BachSH6604377105527CraigysgafnSH6594446895528Moelwyn MawrSH6584487705629CnichtSH64546668960 AberglaslynSH59446256730Bryn BanogSH5764575297031Moel HebogSH5644697827232Moel yr OgofSH5564786557333Moel LefnSH5534856387434Y GyrnSH5525004527635Mynydd-y-Ddwy-elorSH5495044667636Trum y DdysglSH5445167097837Mynydd Drws-y-coedSH5485186957838Y GarnSH55152663379 Rhyd-DduSH5705251908239Craig WenSH5975086088640Yr AranSH6045157478741Cribau TregalanSH6055369319042SnowdonSH60954310859143Garnedd UgainSH61055110659244Moel CynghorionSH5865636749545Foel GochSH5705636059746Foel GronSH5635656299847Moel EilioSH55657772699 LlanberisSH582598105104
Route profile Below is a profile of the route, again starting and finishing at Llanberis, running in a clockwise direction.
References