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The Mountains are Calling: Running in the High Places of Scotland
Longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year
Jonny Muir was a nine-year-old boy when the silhouette of a runner in the glow of sunset on the Malvern Hills caught his eye. A fascination for running in high places was born – a fascination that would direct him to Scotland. Running and racing, Jonny became the mountainside silhouette that first inspired him.
His exploits inevitably led to Scotland’s supreme test of hill running: Ramsay’s Round, a daunting 60-mile circuit of twenty-four mountains, climbing the equivalent height of Mount Everest and culminating on Ben Nevis, to be completed within twenty-four hours.
While Ramsay’s Round demands extraordinary endurance, the challenge is underpinned by simplicity and tradition, in a sport largely untainted by commercialism. The Mountains are Calling is the story of that sport in Scotland, charting its evolution over half a century, heralding its characters and the culture that has grown around them, ultimately capturing the irresistible appeal of running in high places.
Jonny Muir was a nine-year-old boy when the silhouette of a runner in the glow of sunset on the Malvern Hills caught his eye. A fascination for running in high places was born – a fascination that would direct him to Scotland. Running and racing, Jonny became the mountainside silhouette that first inspired him.
His exploits inevitably led to Scotland’s supreme test of hill running: Ramsay’s Round, a daunting 60-mile circuit of twenty-four mountains, climbing the equivalent height of Mount Everest and culminating on Ben Nevis, to be completed within twenty-four hours.
While Ramsay’s Round demands extraordinary endurance, the challenge is underpinned by simplicity and tradition, in a sport largely untainted by commercialism. The Mountains are Calling is the story of that sport in Scotland, charting its evolution over half a century, heralding its characters and the culture that has grown around them, ultimately capturing the irresistible appeal of running in high places.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2018
22 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 9, 2020
Enjoyable read, particularly liked the history bits. Good motivation to do some cool things when we can get back in the hills.
January 16, 2019
This was a bit hit and miss for me.
I loved the descriptions and interviews, but there was also so much pure info dropping which felt really boring to me. Who ran on what day, in what year at what time in what location and how often did they do it before and how many others did it before them...
I loved all the parts about how it felt, why people do it, how races changed over time, experiences on the mountains, life's stories and interviews. I just wanted to cut all the figures and dry numbers down quite a bit for my personal taste.
All in all I did like it, and enjoyed getting to know so many different runners (funnily enough right the day I read about her one of them set a new record!).
I especially enjoyed seeing all the names of places we saw when we hiked the West Highland Way and the Rob Roy way!
I loved the descriptions and interviews, but there was also so much pure info dropping which felt really boring to me. Who ran on what day, in what year at what time in what location and how often did they do it before and how many others did it before them...
I loved all the parts about how it felt, why people do it, how races changed over time, experiences on the mountains, life's stories and interviews. I just wanted to cut all the figures and dry numbers down quite a bit for my personal taste.
All in all I did like it, and enjoyed getting to know so many different runners (funnily enough right the day I read about her one of them set a new record!).
I especially enjoyed seeing all the names of places we saw when we hiked the West Highland Way and the Rob Roy way!
September 11, 2024
Not saying I'm going to try and run a Ramsey Round or anything insane after listening to this but this weekend I'm off for a run through the woods for the first run I'll have done in about 4 years. A very inspiring and interesting book.
Some of the pronunciations are a bit jarring to the ears but other than that, an excellent book indeed.
Some of the pronunciations are a bit jarring to the ears but other than that, an excellent book indeed.
June 19, 2022
Isn’t it wonderful when you meet somebody who shares your esoteric passion? I love being in the hills and mountains, but hardly anybody I know personally shares my love. So to immerse myself in a book where everyone loves being in the mountains was an affirming experience.
But I know very little about fell running, or mountain running, as the Scottish prefer to call it. I know even less about the mountains of Scotland. The hills I know and love are in the northern England region. I ventured for the first time into the mountains of Scotland only last month. And seeing the grandeur and beauty of the Glen Coe mountains immediately captured my heart.
And this book captured my imagination.
In fact it was during my visit to Scotland last month when I was given this book by a good friend. And through its pages, I have come to admire the athletes who run up and down and along these mountains.
In the last few years, I have started running. But my running has been on roads or footpaths. I’ve never really contemplated running in the hills. In my many walks over the years, I’ve seen fell runners go pass me but thought they were mad and going far too fast to appreciate the scenery in the way I was. But this book helped me see that runners love the hills as much as I do. And I’m seriously thinking of running in their footsteps. But only if I can get fit enough.
I read this book on my Kindle and had the OS app open on my iPad. To trace the Ramsey Round from the strange Scottish mountain names on the OS map was an eye opening experience. The distances covered staggered me. When I return to Scotland in the future and start to explore its Munros, I will visualise these running heroes disappearing off into the distance reaching mountain tops that I can barely see.
But I know very little about fell running, or mountain running, as the Scottish prefer to call it. I know even less about the mountains of Scotland. The hills I know and love are in the northern England region. I ventured for the first time into the mountains of Scotland only last month. And seeing the grandeur and beauty of the Glen Coe mountains immediately captured my heart.
And this book captured my imagination.
In fact it was during my visit to Scotland last month when I was given this book by a good friend. And through its pages, I have come to admire the athletes who run up and down and along these mountains.
In the last few years, I have started running. But my running has been on roads or footpaths. I’ve never really contemplated running in the hills. In my many walks over the years, I’ve seen fell runners go pass me but thought they were mad and going far too fast to appreciate the scenery in the way I was. But this book helped me see that runners love the hills as much as I do. And I’m seriously thinking of running in their footsteps. But only if I can get fit enough.
I read this book on my Kindle and had the OS app open on my iPad. To trace the Ramsey Round from the strange Scottish mountain names on the OS map was an eye opening experience. The distances covered staggered me. When I return to Scotland in the future and start to explore its Munros, I will visualise these running heroes disappearing off into the distance reaching mountain tops that I can barely see.
February 16, 2019
Muir’s book is aimed firmly at fell-runners, or mountain runners as the Scottish would prefer to call them. It’s an in-depth look at the sport in Scotland and it’s greatest performers.
Some chapters are much more interesting than others, notably Chapter 6 on the Bob Graham Round, and Chapter 9 on the elites of the sport. It is the sort of book that chapters could me skipped though.
I listened to this as an audio book, and found the narrator a bit annoying, his extra care with accents and Scottish pronunciations, some of which I have since been told are incorrect.
There are times also when Muir’s language doesn’t quite fit with the event he is describing. However, there were some wonderful anecdotes, and I gathered considerable information from having (patiently) heard it.
Some chapters are much more interesting than others, notably Chapter 6 on the Bob Graham Round, and Chapter 9 on the elites of the sport. It is the sort of book that chapters could me skipped though.
I listened to this as an audio book, and found the narrator a bit annoying, his extra care with accents and Scottish pronunciations, some of which I have since been told are incorrect.
There are times also when Muir’s language doesn’t quite fit with the event he is describing. However, there were some wonderful anecdotes, and I gathered considerable information from having (patiently) heard it.
February 26, 2023
A well written and researched book describing the unique history and culture of Scottish Hill Running, and the would-be celebrities who've featured in popular trail races and challenges.
The stories of these mini-celebreties are interwoven with the author's own relation with hill running, and his rich descriptions of the Pentland hills will be familiar to anyone visited. Whilst this book is probably best enjoyed by the keen or aspiring trail runner, I feel that the anecdotes of the author and histories of the characters featured here would make it an entertaining read for all
The stories of these mini-celebreties are interwoven with the author's own relation with hill running, and his rich descriptions of the Pentland hills will be familiar to anyone visited. Whilst this book is probably best enjoyed by the keen or aspiring trail runner, I feel that the anecdotes of the author and histories of the characters featured here would make it an entertaining read for all
January 9, 2024
'The Mountains are Calling' is a book about the sport of hill running in Scotland. The people who spend days running up and down the hills and munros of the Highlands, pushing the limits of human endurance and spirit.
The passion of these people is certainly admirable, and I do understand some of what they say their reasons are - it's a basic, primal, but punishing sport that connects you to the land and makes you feel like you're really engaging with the nature and beauty of the mountains. On the other hand, I can't imagine a worse way to spend my day than running up hills, potentially in the dark, sometimes for 24 hours in a row. Part of me gets it, but a larger part of me knows you could not pay me any amount of money to do that.
The stories are inspiring but get a bit repetitive. Once you get the jist, it's just introducing the reader to more people and more stories of the same sort. I didn't particularly warm to the narrator's commentary on gender in the sport, either.
Some of it comes across a bit clique-y, this community of people can seem insular. But it's an interesting look into their world, even if I never want to join it.
The passion of these people is certainly admirable, and I do understand some of what they say their reasons are - it's a basic, primal, but punishing sport that connects you to the land and makes you feel like you're really engaging with the nature and beauty of the mountains. On the other hand, I can't imagine a worse way to spend my day than running up hills, potentially in the dark, sometimes for 24 hours in a row. Part of me gets it, but a larger part of me knows you could not pay me any amount of money to do that.
The stories are inspiring but get a bit repetitive. Once you get the jist, it's just introducing the reader to more people and more stories of the same sort. I didn't particularly warm to the narrator's commentary on gender in the sport, either.
Some of it comes across a bit clique-y, this community of people can seem insular. But it's an interesting look into their world, even if I never want to join it.
March 27, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Muir's story of hill running in Scotland and those who do it was infectious and engaging. It was inspirational too... to a point, as I'm not sure the majority of us will be running outside to try to complete a Ramsey Round any time soon.
Muir's interviews with his fellow hill runners who were achieving superhuman feats were enlightening. And it was hard not to find the people he spoke to incredibly endearing, as they talked modestly about their achievements but more of their passion for the hills and the outdoors.
Muir's interviews with his fellow hill runners who were achieving superhuman feats were enlightening. And it was hard not to find the people he spoke to incredibly endearing, as they talked modestly about their achievements but more of their passion for the hills and the outdoors.
February 10, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It inspired me to run more, reminded me why I love being in the hills and introduced the reader to some quietly inspiring people. I did however find all the names difficult to keep up wuth. Names of runners and names of races. At times I was also a bit disoriented as to the time frame of the book. That said I would recommend to friends and read another of the author's books.
February 16, 2019
Inspiring read
Story is very well 'stitched together' and weaves through an impressive array of geographical and endurance triumphs! Even if you are not a runner, this is a great read on the outdoors and hills of Scotland (and the UK..)
Story is very well 'stitched together' and weaves through an impressive array of geographical and endurance triumphs! Even if you are not a runner, this is a great read on the outdoors and hills of Scotland (and the UK..)
August 13, 2023
Brilliant, but it was always going to be brilliant to a hill runner. The Ramsay route got studied several times, however my last big run amounted to a quarter of that and I was absolutely burst. Dream on!
January 24, 2021
A Scottish version of 'Feet in the Clouds'. Was nice to hear accounts of running in familiar hills but it lacked a gripping tale that made me want to turn page after page.
June 19, 2021
Great in depth knowledge and insight of the hill running community in Scotland.
Particularly enjoyed the stories but jumped around a bit. Hard to keep up with the runners mentioned.
Particularly enjoyed the stories but jumped around a bit. Hard to keep up with the runners mentioned.
January 20, 2023
Fascinating and beautifully written
June 27, 2018
The first point to make about Jonny Muir's book is the clarity and quality of his writing. The book's subject is 'running in the high places of Scotland' which gives him a huge scope, range and landscape to cover. It is significant that he lives in this environment, and runs in it, for pleasure and competition. But it is the people that he meets and their stories that give such a great counterpoint to his own experiences that fascinated me most. Muir considers the origins of running in the hills, the beauty of it, and also the recent commercialisation of the sport (which definitely grates with him and some with whom he speaks). Running through the narrative, but not dominating it, is the Charlie Ramsay Round, which he seems fated to attempt - and finally does. The storyline does jump about a bit, and visits Scottish mountains some readers may not know so well, but his writing is so crisp and engaging that it draws you on and into what may be the unknown. His chapter titles are well chosen and three will suffice to give both a feel for the subject (Mountain Madness) and yet Muir's feeling for hill running (Beautiful Madness; and Epiphany). Read and be inspired.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews