I started the year with a determination to improve on my paltry total of five Marilyns in 2004. I also felt sure that I could get past 700 Marilyns and reach my 100th Graham. Not only that, but with only 17 Corbetts left to do, there was a fourth goal. In the end I made do with three out of four.
Easter in Torridon and Glen Shiel gave a total of eight Marilyns including a sunny but cold Beinn na Feusaige (13B) on my 50th birthday, en route to Glen Shiel and evening celebrations at the Glenelg Inn. Best of the eight was the delightfully rocky Sgurr a'Gharaidh, whilst a beautiful sunny day enlivened the walk-in and ascent of Beinn Dronaig (12A).
My next visit to the Highlands was in May, when the campsite at Ullapool was bitterly cold but the sunsets stunning. A memorable ascent of Suilven was made on the only decent day, although indifferent days allowed ascents of Beinn Eilideach (15A), Beinn a'Chaisteil (15B) and Beinn an Eoin - the latter a race against time to beat the incoming front from the west.
In the summer I contrived to reach my 100th Graham and 700th Marilyn on the same hill; Meall Mor above Loch Glass. The long march up Strath Mulzie saw the cloud lifting pleasingly off Seana Bhraigh, with the enticing line of the ridge to Creag an Duine always in view. This brought back memories of doing Seana Bhraigh ten years previously, when I had walked the six miles from Oykel Bridge to Corriemulzie Lodge only to discover a sign pointing to 'all walkers car park'. The same mistake was not made the second time round, needless to say. A brief lunch at the bothy at the stunning location of Loch a'Choire Mhor left a 90-minute tramp to the summit, only to have the cloud descend over the tops with just 500 metres to go.
Much better weather in Knoydart allowed four Corbetts to be bagged in as many days. All the walks seem to finish at the Old Forge, and it was great to sit outside the pub in the afternoon sun and not be pestered by midges. Ben Aden was the best hill of the year. A perfect summer's day started with a boat from Inverie to the jetty at Torr Cruinn near Camusrory, then alongside a placid River Carnach and up the south-west face of the hill. The boat was a one-way trip so I had to walk back to Inverie, which meant 500 metres of re-ascent over Mam Meadail, but the beautifully constructed stalkers' path made the climb delightfully easy, and I was in the Old Forge by 7pm.
So 2005 was a much better year than the previous one. Perhaps 2006 will see me complete my remaining eight Corbetts?
