Paddy Buckley Round - My footprints on the Buckley
A Legendary Challenge in the Welsh Mountains
The Paddy Buckley Round is one of the great fell running challenges of the UK—less famous than the Bob Graham Round, but every bit as gruelling. Conceived by Paddy Buckley, a mountain guide, in the 1980s, the circuit takes in roughly 61 miles (98 km) and 47 summits, with over 8,500 m (28,000 ft) of elevation gain. Unlike the fixed clockwise tradition of the Bob Graham, the Paddy Buckley has no set start point, direction, or order, which adds another layer of strategy to an already demanding undertaking.
It’s often called the toughest of the three classic UK big rounds (the Bob Graham, Ramsay, and Paddy Buckley), not just because of the distance and ascent, but because of the rugged, sometimes pathless terrain and unpredictable Welsh weather.
On 8 August, I took on the challenge in my local mountains, setting out from Capel Curig at 9 am. What followed was 23 hours and 35 minutes of highs, lows, mishaps, and unexpected moments that I’ll never forget.
Leg 1. Not the start I wanted
The first climb up Moel Elio should have been straightforward—a chance to find rhythm and settle into the day. Instead, a simple communication error meant my support runner and I became separated at the summit. Suddenly, I was facing the early sections of the round without easy access to water or food.
The miles ticked by, I was running well, albeit on my own and the legs felt fresh, I’d managed to get 500ml of water from a passing hiker but I could feel a deficit growing. The Moelwyns are rugged, boggy and unforgiving, its a leg I have guided and ran so many times but they took their toll when they shouldn’t of. I was running on not enough fluids or food earlier than expected. It was a stark reminder that on these challenges, even the smallest logistical slip can snowball into a major issue. I was reunited with my support runner before the Moelwyn Bach and a friendly face had popped out to say hello which was a much needed psychological lift so I was able to start getting back on top of my fluids and nutrition but I got to the first road checkpoint worried.
Leg 2. Survival on the Hebogs
By the time I reached the Hebogs, things weren’t looking great. On the top of Moel Hebog I was longingly looking down the valley, thinking of how I could just turn down the mountain, finish with this days running. I was lost in thought pondering if I was going to bounce back and how things had gone wrong so early. I had carefully prepared a variety of food options in advance, but at that moment, nothing was appealing. Home made gels made my stomach turn, my go to malt loaf induced mild gag reflexes and every bar I pulled out just seemed wrong, all no doubt due to dehydration.
Then came the unlikely saviour: Kendal Mint Cake. Normally, I can’t stand the stuff—it’s too sweet, too brittle, too medicinal. But when one of my support runners offered it, I first hesitated but somehow, in that moment, it was perfect. The sharp minty sweetness woke me up, cut through the nausea, and gave me the mental lift I desperately needed. I had slowed considerably over the second leg but was needed to get rehydrated and start getting food into my stomach. It was great to see another couple of friends on the summit of Y Garn, bopping their heads up and down from behind the large summit cairn, a nice bit of humour, again lifting my spirits.
Leg 3. Nightfall, Wind & Rain
Snowdon loomed as the third major section, and as I ascended, daylight began to fade. By the time I reached the summit, darkness had closed in, bringing strong winds, poor visibility, and drizzle. It was a brutal combination that certainly slowed me down—the rain soaked through my layers, the rocks and grassy slopes turned slick, and the swirling mist made navigation tricky.
This was where the round stopped being about physical effort alone. It became a battle of focus and resilience. There were moments when progress seemed painfully slow, but I kept reminding myself: this is all part of the journey. A big success came in this leg when I finally went to the toilet for the first time on the round, showing that I was finally getting hydrated.
Leg 4. Music, Momentum & Mental Tricks
Before setting off on the Glyderau I was mentally focused and knew exactly what I needed and wanted from my amazing road side support. My body wasn’t sore but my energy levels were still lower than I would of hoped. This is where I reached for one of the simplest but most effective tools: music. My music of choice while running is drum and bass, it has a perfect cadence for running and as I train with it a lot as soon as it was on it released much needed endorphins that pushed me up that first beast of a climb through the quarries.
With the beats in my ears, the climbs and descents became a rhythm. The distraction dulled the tiredness, the beats pushed me forward, and the familiar tunes carried me through the grey hours when the temptation to slow down crept in.
Sunrise in the mountains is always special and being on Tryfan as the morning broke with close friends and so many peaks behind me was magical. It was the first time I started to let my mind consider that completing the round was possible. There are two lines down Tryfan and I had decided to go on the steeper race line, that technical and slippy. Maybe I had switched off or maybe it was the the tiredness finally crept in but missteps, slips and falls ensued and I got down to the road support feeling bedraggled and tired.
The Glyders weren’t easy—loose rock, awkward ground, and relentless up-and-down—but mentally, I knew I’d turned a corner. They were less about speed and more about getting through the night—and about holding it together long enough to keep the round alive. It was no longer about whether I’d finish, but about the time I would finish in.
Leg 5. The Final Push – Racing the Clock
The last section was all about the clock. I’d asked not to be told how I was doing time wise, as after the first two legs it felt todays attempt was about completion not about a time. However on top of Craned Daffyd I was told I was close for a sub 24 hours but I’d have to push.
After a minute or two of contemplation I decided I wasn’t about to let the 24-hour barrier slip away from me. I pushed into a new gear, moving well, unhindered, flowing and feeling fresh. After the last summit (Pen Llithrig y Wrach) I was hammering out 3- and 4-minute kilometres racing to the finish.
It hurt—every muscle was screaming, lungs burning—but it also felt incredible. To be moving fast, after nearly a full day on the legs, was a reminder of just how much determination you can draw out of the human body. We got to the road and I ran with a big smile, content I’d done everything I could with how the day had worked out and the conditions to get over the line in under 24 hours.
When I finally arrived back in Capel Curig, my watch stopped at 23 hours 35 minutes. Just 25 minutes inside the cutoff. I had done it.
A Huge Thank You
Of course, none of this would have been possible without my support crew. From being at every road crossing with everything I needed (and everything I couldn’t stomach!), navigating tricky sections in the dark, to carrying bits of kit, to offering food (even the mint cake!), they were the backbone of this round. Every time my spirits dipped, they were there with encouragement, practical help, and the reminder to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The Paddy Buckley might of been run on my two legs, but it was completed with the strength of the whole team—and I’ll be forever grateful for their time, energy, and belief in me.
Completing the Paddy Buckley Round was more than just a tick on the list—it was an adventure in my home mountains. It tested every aspect of me as a runner, embracing the unexpected, pushing through when everything started falling apart and mental toughness. It is a journey that will live long in my memory.
Dean Russell is the founder of Adventure Awaits who put on recce’s of the Paddy Buckley, offer guided services and supported rounds. We use local runners that know the area intimately and can show you the fastest lines so you can concentrate and enjoy your running.
