Ultrarunner Dies During Cape Wrath Trail FKT’s Attempt to Honor a Fallen Friend

dAvid Parrish, a 35-year-old elite athlete from Dumfries, Scotland, died while attempting to establish a new FKT on Scotland’s Cape Wrath Trail. The 243-mile route, known for its isolation and technical difficulty, is often considered one of the most challenging routes in the UK.

Parrish, a former Royal Marine, was navigating the rugged section of the trail through the Kintail region of the north-west Highlands when he died from an unknown cause. Police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Parrish was a formidable force in the community during his brief ultrarunning career.

After taking up running to manage the stress of military life, he quickly won the 2023 Cape Wrath Ultra and the prestigious Dragon’s Back Race in 2025. Parrish, who is based in Glasgow, frequently traveled to the Highlands in his van with his fiancée, Jade Lau, and their dog, Munro. The couple had hiked the Cape Wrath Trail together in 2021.

According to BBC Scotland, Parrish and Lau were scheduled to get married in just two weeks. Having become engaged during a hike, the couple was in the final stages of wedding preparations when Parrish set out on what would become his final journey.

Lau last heard from Parrish when he entered Knoydart Forest. After his GPS tracker remained silent for an extended period, Lau drove north to Highlands, where police notified him that Parrish had been declared a high-risk missing person. She identified his remains the next morning at the Kintail Mountain Rescue Base.

Parrish was using his FKT attempt to raise money for Scottish mountain rescue in honor of his late friend and fellow Marine, Luke Ireland, who died of hypothermia at age 20 during a trail race in 2014. Volunteers from the organization had been part of Ireland’s search effort and ultimately helped recover his remains.

The community has responded with overwhelming support, with donations exceeding £32,000. Lau told BBC Scotland that Parrish would have been «thrilled» by the volume of support, much of which has come from anonymous donors moved by his story. David Parrish leaves a legacy of immense resilience, a heart of service and a deep commitment to the Scottish mountains.

Featured image: Loch Hourn on the Cape Wrath Trail photographed in March 2016. Photo by Masa Sakano.

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