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Little Feat
Andrew Templeton (+9=907)
Last year's small bag gave me a scant 171 for the noughties, with new hills having taken a back seat during the decade as I steadily accumulated a second round of Munros and Corbetts.
Revisiting 40 high tops took me to spectacular locations - views of the Isle of Man and Ireland from Merrick in spring, Skye in May, a long weekend at Barrisdale, an exquisite cloud inversion in Torridon, and snow-capped Ben Starav in November.
The new Marilyns also included some top moments:
- Cross Fell in January, catching a beautiful weather window of about seven hours between westerly gales, and improbably back home in Fife by 4pm.
- Knock Hill (21A) - a pre-breakfast stroll from our nearby holiday farmhouse, enjoying the rare company of both kids and great views around the Banffshire countryside and across the Moray Firth.
- Pillar and Kirk Fell, as part of a magnificent traverse from Wasdale, finishing on the previously-climbed Great Gable, leaving just the Old Man for a complete set of English Corbetts. Superb visibility across Cumbria and once more to the Isle of Man on the horizon.
Two other trips stand out, both to islands below 150m:
- Bass Rock: having missed the successful fourth attempt, I was thrilled to manage the unexpected extra trip in what was perfect weather. Amazing to witness the recently-arrived gannets that diverted us off the main path.
- Soay (17C): from Elgol on the Aquaexplore RIB, landing at the whaling station and topping out on both halves before a pick-up from Camus nan Gall. A real thrill to finally look up at the Cuillin, having looked down on the island many times from the main ridge.
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