‘It feels like the end of a big adventure with my dad’ – Inverness girl Quinn Young completes second Munro round aged just 12
ACTIVE OUTDOORS: Fiona Russell speaks to Quinn Young who said she didn’t want to stop after becoming one of the youngest to finish the Munros aged 10
It takes most so-called Munro baggers an average of two decades to reach the summit of all of Scotland’s 282 tallest peaks.
Incredibly, this weekend a 12-year-old girl from Inverness ticked off the final top of her second Munro round.
In less than nine years, Quinn Young has run and walked to every Scottish mountain of at least 3000ft (914.4m) twice over.
The Munros are spread across Scotland, from Stirlingshire in the south to Sutherland in the north, east to Angus and west to more than a dozen peaks located on several islands.
In doing so, the Culloden Academy pupil has ascended an equivalent total estimated to be more than 25 times the height of Mt Everest.
She previously completed her first Munro round aged just 10 – and became one of the youngest to achieve this feat in October 2022.
On Saturday, as she sat on the airy Bolster Stone atop the Inaccessible Pinnacle on Skye’s Cuillin ridge, she claimed the title as the youngest to finish two Munro rounds.
Records maintained by the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) reveal that some 7971 people have completed one Munro round, while fewer than 500 people have recorded a second round.
Reflecting on her accomplishment, which she has done exclusively with her dad Ian, Quinn said: “I am really happy and proud of myself.
“I was happy when I became one of the youngest at the age of 10 to do a round of Munros but I didn’t want to stop.
“Dad asked if I wanted to keep doing Munros and I said yes straight away. We then decided to try to do this before I became a teenager.”
Quinn’s second round has taken less than two-and-a-half years. This equates to an average of more than two Munros every week.
Quinn said: “I have had lots of good times with dad and I have enjoyed almost every Munro apart from some times when the weather hasn’t been so nice.
“My dad is really cool and we get on well so we always have a good time together.
“But I am also a bit sad to finish my second round because it feels like the end of a big adventure with my dad.”
Quinn, who carries her own rucksack of clothes and safety kit, has completed many big outings, such as a 26-mile route with 10,500ft (3200m) of ascent to bag nine Munros, including Ben Alder, in the Highlands, and a 25-mile route with 13,300ft (4053m) of ascent to reach 11 Munros, including Ben Lawers, in Perthshire.
She most enjoys ridge traverses, such as Liathach, the Aonach Eagach and An Teallach.
The youngster said: I like high ridges and also scrambling on rocky tops. It was great to finish my second round on the Cuillin Ridge because this is one of my favourite places.”
Ian, who has completed three Munro rounds himself, aims to avoid unnecessary risk in the mountains. He assesses weather forecasts before heading out and uses safety ropes where necessary.
In addition, Quinn has a sports watch to keep track of her health and fitness.
Ian said: “Some people might think that Quinn is doing routes that are too far, too tough or dangerous for her age but she has built up her strength, fitness and experience over many years.
“Her mum Fiona and I monitor her activity on her watch and our aim is to maintain good strength and cardio rather than doing something too far after a long break.
“Quinn would tell me if she didn’t want to go on another mountain adventure and I don’t think you can push kids to do these sorts of things if they don’t want to.”
He added: “The Munros are just something Quinn has always done and she takes it all in her stride. She is very capable and I go at her pace, although there are many times now when she is out front, skipping along.”
Ian revealed his pride in his daughter after Quinn had abseiled off the In Pinn, a narrow rock formation atop Sgùrr Dearg, on Saturday morning.
He said: “It is amazing and we were very lucky with the weather. There are no words to cover how proud I am of Quinn, although I don’t think she really appreciates what she has achieved.
“One day she will better understand exactly what she has done.”
Jamie Aarons, who holds the record for the fastest round of Munros in 31 days and 10 hours, expressed her amazement at Quinn’s attainment.
She said: “Completing not one, but two rounds of Munros at any age is an achievement to be proud of, but to finish two rounds before even turning 13 is absolutely incredible.”
