Siobhan Killingbeck has set a supported Fastest Known Time for an endurance challenge in north-west Highlands known as the Martin Moran Round. She is also the first female to record a completion.
Siobhan, 35, of Gairloch, completed the round of nine Munros and eight Corbetts in 20 hours, 23 minutes and 13 seconds. She was faster than the previous supported Martin Moran Round record set by Ian Stewart in 2025 in 21 hours and 45
minutes.
Her GPX of the route shows a distance of 84km and 8445m of total ascent.
In the same week, James Gibson, from Cumbria, set a new solo and unsupported Martin Moran Round FKT in 20:38. While only 16 minutes slower than Siobhan, James carried all his food and water supplies. Fresh from the round, Siobhan said: “James’s solo and unsupported time is very impressive.”
What is the Martin Moran Round?
In August 2022, Robin Downie became the first person to complete a Martin Moran Round in the Torridon mountains.
His clockwise route of 90km and 8890m of ascent, starting and finishing in Torridon village, included nine Munros and six Corbetts:
- Beinn Alligin (2 Munros, Sgùrr Mòr & Tom na Gruagaich),
- Baosbheinn (Corbett),
- Beinn an Eoin (C),
- Beinn Dearg (C),
- Liathach (2 Munros, Spidean a’ Choire Lèith & Mullach an Rathain),
- Beinn Eighe (two Munros, Ruadh-Stac Mòr and Spidean Coire nan Clach),
- Beinn Liath Mhor (M),
- Sgorr Ruadh (M),
- Fuar Tholl (C),
- Maol Cheann-dearg (M),
- An Ruadh-Stac (C),
- Beinn Damh (C).
- Since Ian Stewart’s Martin Moran Round FKT in 2024, extra two Corbetts, Sgòrr nan Lochan Uaine and Sgùrr Dubh, have been added to the round.
The round was inspired by the mountains of Martin’s youth and his subsequent record-breaking round of the Munros in winter. In 1984, Martin, a mountain guide, became the first person to complete a round of all the Munros – there were 277 then – in a single winter. He was supported by his wife Joy.
Martin died in 2019 while attempting to climb India’s second highest peak Nanda Devi.
Robin wanted to create a challenge that would raise funds for the Martin Moran Foundation, a charity set up after the adventurer’s death to promote the positive impact of mountain adventure on young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The Martin Moran Foundation provides all-expenses-paid training programmes for 16 to 18 year olds across the UK.
At the time of the first Martin Moran Round, Robin said: “These were Martin’s local hills. He knew them better than anyone and shared them with many of us throughout his life.
“Martin spent lots of time investing in the community he lived in, especially in the young people. Hearing about his adventures and reading his books has inspired me to push and challenge myself even further in my love for hill running.”
Siobhan’s Martin Moran Round FKT
Siobhan, who has two young children and works as a climate scientist, chose to do the round in the opposite direction to Robin. She said: “When Robin did the round he finished on his local mountains of An Ruadh-Stac and Beinn Damh and he said it was like he was running home.
“It was the same for me, but the other way around. I know Beinn an Eoin, Baosbheinn and Beinn Alligin really well because they are close to where I live. I decided it would be good to leave these until the final mountains of my round.”
Siobhan reveals she was inspired to do the route when she first heard about Robin setting the challenge in 2022. She said: “Back then, I had recently had my first child, Skye, and I thought it was such a beautiful route and the perfect way to remember Martin Moran, who spent so much time in the north-west mountains. I knew then that I wanted to try to do the round, but I had a baby – and then I had another child, Finlay, who is now almost two. It is not easy to organise these sorts of challenges when you have children and work full-time.”
Yet, at the same time, Siobhan says she has become good at “grabbing opportunities”. She said: “When you have children and you work, you become an optimist and an opportunist. At least this is how I feel; when the chance arises to do something, I always try to take the opportunity.
“This week had actually been hectic with the Glamaig hill race on Skye on Saturday [Siobhan was second lady], then another mountain outing on the island on Sunday. My husband James and friends Doug Bartholomew and Sarah Stretton had also been out on a mountain rescue call out on the Tuesday night.
“But I could see a weather window mid week and I asked if they would all be happy to support me. I think they were not so keen but they said yes anyway.”
Early energy on Siobhan’s Martin Moran Round
Doug, who previously held an FKT for the Martin Moran Round solo and unsupported in a time of 21:43:36, completed the first few mountains with Siobhan. They set off from Torridon at 1am on Thursday July 17.
Siobhan, a member of Highland Hill Runners club, said: “I felt amazing at the start. I am so used to being sleep deprived and low in energy but, for some reason, I felt fresh and energised. I think it was because I had wanted to do this round for so long and I was so happy to be starting it.
“Doug came with me for the first three summits and it was great to have his company. The sun-rise was fantastic that morning.
“Doug then had to dash off to take his son to nursery and then do a day of work, while I carried on. The next bit was the hardest part of the round for me., reaching seven summits on my own. Doing the Munros, Ruadh-Stac Mòr and Spidean Coire nan Clach, on Beinn Eighe felt really tough.
“I know Beinn Eighe well, especially because I recced it so I could support my sister Eilidh Prise on the Celtman! but it felt so hard during my round.” [Eilidh Prise won the Celtman!]
Despite being very familiar with the Beinn Eighe ridge, Siobhan found it challenging. She said: “It was so hot and the paths are white stones and they added to the heat by reflecting the sun at me. At 8am it was 21C and I am not good in the heat.
“I also knew I wasn’t even half-way and so I found this section really tough.
“It was only when I got to Liathach that I started to feel better. James met me there and it was so good to see him.”
Heading to the finish
Reaching the final mountains of the round felt even better for Siobhan. She said: “I know the mountains closer to my home very well and even by the last Munros on Beinn Alligin I was still feeling okay.
“Sarah had also joined James and I for Alligin.
“But then came the hardest part of the round. We realised, on the last summit, that I was well ahead of my schedule and we worked out that if I sprinted down the mountain I might set a new record.
“I had to throw myself down and sprint hard to get back to Torridon village hall. It destroyed me.”
New Martin Moran Round record and first female
Siobhan, who won the West Highland way Race in 2019, is delighted to have had the opportunity to complete the round. She is also happy to have set a new fastest time. She said: “I think that having given birth to two children, I now think I can do anything.
“Before children I would schedule and plan things but now I have children, I take every opportunity I can to get outdoors and I love challenges.
“I need quite a few things to align to make it work, including support, good weather and my parents to look after our children.
“I think that women can do anything that men can do and it’s really great to have set a new fastest time overall for a supported Martin Moran Round.
“Now having done it, I can say it truly is a beautiful round. It’s every bit as amazing as I thought it would be – and it raises awareness for such a good cause.”
See Siobhan’s route.
See Siobhan’s Just Giving page to raise funds for the Martin Moran Foundation.
To learn more, see Martin Moran Foundation Martin Moran Round