My interest in Marilyns began... when I came across them in The Angry Corrie. I bashed round the Munros at breakneck pace. As I entered my 40s, I realised that on a day when the rain and hail was flying horizontally I could choose something lower. I still choose to have an epic as often as not. My wife raises her eyebrows at another hour's 'quality time' at some remote spot. She tolerates this behaviour and has become quite well read.
My favourite Marilyns are... those with a view of the bigger hills or those with superlative views. For example, Arnside Knott when the sun is setting. Any hills that demand a bit of cunning and guile. Give me a forested hill any day and I'll have an entertaining time. We often adopt the 'diretissima' tactic of climbing anything in a straight line between starting point and summit.
Martin Cole on Creag Mhor
My least favourite Marilyns are... any rounded lumps in the back of beyond which are an exercise in endurance. A few hills in the Borders spring to mind. To relieve the boredom, some of these have been tackled with a 7-iron and a handful of balls. Also, try seeing how many steps I can walk with my eyes closed before I fall over.
Do I keep Marilyn bagging a secret? Nope.
I... as a student, climbed all the statues in Aberdeen only getting apprehended once (not really Alain Robert standard). I have climbed a Moai in Easter Island, cycled from home to Bilbao, came across a ghost piper on A'Bhuidheanach Bheag and have a wee cask of Bruichladdich maturing at the distillery on Islay.
