I don't really see myself as a Marilyn bagger, although I have become more interested recently. Most of my mountain walking has been don solo and I have tended to keep a low profile. I completed the Munros in 1983, having first visited Scotland in 1974. My efforts were helped by being a school teacher, and in those less stressful times I was able to spend six to eight weeks a year in Scotland. All these holidays were backpacking trips, as at that time I was car-free. After completing the Munros I started on Corbetts, but not with the same vigour, as I still preferred treks over the Munros. In 1994 I was introduced to the Grahams by Eddie Dealtry, whom I met in Cannich youth hostel. By that time I was looking for something extra rather than repeat Munros, especially with the increase in both footpaths and crowds.
I only became aware of Marilyns through Richard Webb, whom I used to see at orienteering events in the Midlands. I bought a copy of RHB towards the end of 2002, since when I have been ticking off the hills I have done. Most have been the higher hills, as I have only really gone for the lower ones when the weather was bad or they could be combined with something else. Some have been climbed during orienteering holidays, such as Moray in 2003 and mid Wales in 2004. I have some glaring omissions, especially in central and southern England. For instance, I have orienteered over The Wrekin on at least five occasions but never claimed the summit. Meanwhile I have still not completed all the Corbetts, having not yet been to Rum or Jura. I have also avoided the summit rock on The Cobbler, although Ronald Turnbull's recent article in TGO might encourage me to go back.
Colin Kinnear (left) hits 600 on Dun Coillich, with Brent Lynam
