With doors to the Corridor and main Hall, as well as steps down to the Cellar, the newly-built Excuse Annex offers time-out from the bagging wheel. Views from the Annex may be limited, but it can provide welcome respite for those recuperating from injury or needing more time for other activities. There is no time limit and no need to justify being there, but some choose to anyway...
I have in fact ventured into foreign territory in the past, i.e. the Lake District, New Forest, south-west coastal path, but without doing any tops. I just couldn't handle the crowds, with dog walkers round every bend. I'm not anti-social but I do like to try and get hills to myself. The sub-2000ft Marilyns of Scotland are excellent for getting away from it all. I can remember Tom Weir being asked if in his long career of tramping around all the hills and glens of Scotland there were any places that he still hadn't been to. He replied that it would take at least two lifetimes to explore all of Scotland. And that from a man of 86 years old. So I think I'll probably stick to north of the border and enjoy the almost limitless variety on offer.
I finally got back to the UK after a 17-month hiatus, but between lack of time and the foot-and-mouth closures, the only Marilyn I was able to bag was Crowborough. Still, no complaints. To paraphrase a great quote I once heard about fishing: 'The worst day spent peakbagging is better than the best day at the office'.
