With the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) today celebrating its 80th birthday, we look back to soldiers raising funds for the Army's official charity in June as they tackled one of the toughest long-distance treks in the world, the infamous Cateran Yomp in Scotland.
ABF beneficiary, Mark Harding, completes his 150-mile walk from Carlisle to Blairgowrie ahead of the 2024 Cateran Yomp
The 3 SCOTS team successfully reach Checkpoint 2 Bronze during the 2024 Cateran Yomp
The 1 RANGER SPS team passing Loch Beanie during the 2024 Cateran Yomp
Nearly 1,000 ‘Yompers’, including soldiers, veterans, and civilians, walked shoulder to shoulder in a 24-hour trek along the historic Cateran Trail, through the stunning foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains in Perthshire.
Shorter distances of 36 miles and 22 miles, for silver and bronze medals respectively, were also an option. However, teams of four or more serving soldiers had to complete the full 54-mile circuit in less than 24 hours to achieve the exclusive military ‘Gold Distinction Award’.
More soldiers than ever before successfully completed the 54-mile gold route through some of the most remote and wild parts of Scotland. The Army teams watched the sun go down, continued through the night, and saw the sun come up the following morning.
The ‘Yomp’ has entered military slang and comes from the Royal Marines’ long-distance march carrying full kit, and as such, the Yomp takes every ounce of grit and resilience that participants possess.
I am extremely grateful to every single yomper; all of whom have demonstrated exceptional mental and physical resilience, and an evident sense of teamwork. In so doing, they have made a tangible difference to our ability, as the Army’s national charity, to be there for soldiers, for life.
The Yomp weekend began in style on the Friday night at Basecamp in Blairgowrie when Yompers were treated to live music as well as the famous ‘Pasta Party’. There was also a chance to hear from the Army Sergeant Major, Paul Carney, and the 2024 Yomp Ambassador and ABF beneficiary, Mark Harding.
Reflecting on an extraordinary weekend, Major General Tim Hyams CB OBE, Chief Executive of the Army Benevolent Fund, said:
“The Cateran Yomp forms a significant element of the Charity’s annual fundraising efforts, and this year has seen a record number of participants cross the start line.
"I am extremely grateful to every single yomper; all of whom have demonstrated exceptional mental and physical resilience, and an evident sense of teamwork. In so doing, they have made a tangible difference to our ability, as the Army’s national charity, to be there for soldiers, for life.”
Every team that enters commits to raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund, the Army’s national charity whose mission is to be there for soldiers, for veterans, for their families, for life.
Over the years, the Cateran Yomp has raised millions of pounds for the ABF, with donations funding everything from wheelchair ramps for soldiers’ homes, to respite care and personal recovery plans for injured soldiers returning from the frontline.
The Allied Forces Foundation (AFF) brought their largest team ever with more than 80 wounded recovering soldiers and veterans from all over the world.
RMR Scotland, a Royal Marines Reserve unit, provided “real life support” to the AFF team to get them to the start line, providing accommodation, food and transport for the competitors and support staff.
Registration for the 2025 Cateran Yomp 7 to 8 June next year is already open, and excellent early-bird discounts are available on entry fees until the end of November. Search ‘Cateran Yomp’ online, or visit https://events.armybenevolentfund.org/cateranyomp