Rucksack Club members Frank Williamson and Philip Brockbank are credited with the first traverse of twelve 4000' peaks (Munros and tops) as a long distance walk in a time of around 52 hours in 1954. Later there were traverses by Stan Bradshaw and John Eastwood (1967), John Richardson and Mike Cudahy (1977) and Alan Heaton (1980) before Chris Dodd (Dark Peak Fell Runners) broke the 24 hour barrier in 1980 with a time of 23 -14 with an east-west traverse (see article below ). This was improved on first by Stan Bradshaw Jr (1982) and then by Martin Stone (1986) in a solo unsupported run of 21-39. In 2007 Stephen Pyke (Staffordshire Moorlands) lowered the record to 20-23 (see article below). 

Initially there were some variations in the start and finish points as well as the peaks included. The route is now considered to be some 83 miles with 17000 feet of ascent starting at Glen Nevis Youth Hostel and finishing at the Norwegian Stone near Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel. In between it takes in the four  Munros of Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg, Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag before heading east for some 50 miles to bag the Cairngorm Munros of Cairn Toul, Angel's Peak (Sgor an Lochain Uaine), Braeriach, Ben Macdui and Cairngorm.  

Another notable traverse of the 4000's was that by Ian Leighton (Holmfirth Harriers) and Robin Price (Clayton-le-Moors) in 1983.  They completed a Scottish Coast to Coast route from Inverie to Montrose which incorporated the 4000's plus a further 10 Munros and 15 tops. Their 230 mile run involving some 35000 feet of climbing took them just 4½ days (see article below).

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Route

The start is from Glen Nevis Youth Hostel  GR 128 717 and the finish is at the Norwegian Stone, 100m from Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel (formerly Glen More YH) GR 977 098. The 9 summits listed below must be visited.