Not quite such a productive year as 2010, probably due to a combination of the poor summer weather and an extended trip to New Zealand for the rugby world cup in the autumn. Mount Oxford in the Canterbury high country and Foggy Peak at Porters Pass were ascended with wonderful views of the western Alps.
January saw Cruach Neuran climbed in deep soft snow with the initial track treacherous because of blanket ice, not the first hill where my ice grips proved to be helpful.
Beinn Chreagach on Ulva enabled us to see the deserted village of Ormaig with views to Ben More. Creich Bheinn on Mull is another fine Graham with extensive views.
April with its dry and settled weather was productive, starting with a visit to Doune on Knoydart for a friend's 60th birthday celebrations. We had access to a boat which took us on the first day to Loch Coruisk where an attempt on Sgurr na Stri was thwarted when we failed to cross the river just up from the loch. The second day was much better as, having been taken to the head of Loch Nevis, we climbed Sgurr na Ciche and Gharbh Chioch Mor in perfect weather.
The long bank holiday weekend around the royal wedding saw us at Dundonnell, where I have never seen so many cars parked at the start of the Coire Hallie track to Shenaval. Beinn Eilideach proved to have a panoramic view out to sea beyond Ullapool and of the nearby Coigach peaks.
July was occupied by cycling in the French Alps but August found me back on my bike for the long cycle along Loch Arkaig to climb Mullach Coire nan Geur-oirean followed by the long walk from Glen Moidart to arrive at Croit Bheinn with a fine view down Glen Aladale to Loch Shiel.
Croit Bheinn (photo: Alan Dawson)
Two days later found us cycling up Glen Elchaig to Loch na Leitreach to climb Meall Sguman above the Falls of Glomach the walk up Allt a'Ghlomaich is spectacular, with some scrambling available and some unusual alpine plants. There is another waterfall similar to Glomach to the north-east of the main falls.
England beckoned in August, with Great Baugh Fell and Black Mountain climbed. An evening walk up Caer Caradoc was followed by a great day climbing Long Mynd, Heath Mynd, the craggy Stiperstones and an evening ascent of The Wrekin. Returning home, we left the M6 towards Sedbergh and climbed Aye Gill Pike, which was defended by a difficult mixture of barbed wire fences and high dry-stane dykes. Spartleton and Dirrington Great Law provided quite remote moorland in November, the latter having a good population of common and jack snipe. The 70th and last Marilyn of the year was Carleatheran which was descended in the gloom of a late December afternoon.
Plans for next year are to finish off the Grahams (three left) and also the Marilyns over 2000ft in England.
