The bagging year of 2012 began in early January with seven Humps, including the Marilyn, Great Orme. This is my largest total of hills in a single day, with more daylight I would have bagged more. There followed a mopping up of hills in 30E, 31B and 38A, the most notable of which was a very enjoyable ascent of Brown Clee Hill in warm spring sunshine accompanied by the song of skylarks. At the end of March there was one of only two day-trips to Scotland, with ascents of Belling Hill, Rubers Law and Black Hill, in the company of Mark Trengove and Jonathan de Ferranti. Another day out with Mark Trengove to the Lake District yielded Kirkby Moor, Great Burney, Top o'Selside and Caw. Caw was the finest hill of 2012 for me: steep, rugged and with a fine view into central Lakeland. It was so rugged I thought it would not be out of place in Knoydart.
Whilst June was a washout, it did give me the hill with the best view of the year. One Sunday morning I had an enjoyable ascent of Buckbarrow and Whitfell, and their attendant Subdeweys. The afternoon saw me toiling up Black Combe from Millom, in the warm sunshine.
Caw (photo: Jim Fothergill)
The view was amazing, taking in Winter Hill, Ashurst's Beacon (a P30 only six miles from my house), the Isle of Man, Bengairn and the Galloway hills. It was one of those views I could hardly bear to leave.
In August, I had my only trip away, to mid Wales, Herefordshire and Shropshire, when I climbed twelve Marilyns in three days. There were two milestones on this trip, on the same day: Marilyn number 500 came on Cefn Cenarth and my 600th Hump was on Aberedw Hill. This hill was notable for the friendly farmer I met, who gave me directions when I lost the path and wandered into his field. On the way down I passed his house and was invited to enjoy a drink and a chat in the garden.
The majority of my bagging during 2012 was undertaken with my two-year-old son, James. In May I bought a carrier which would enable me to take James with on my bagging trips. We tried Harrock Hill first, a P30 only a few miles from home. This was so that if it proved a total disaster it would not be far to go home. The trip was a great success, James walked for a bit and even fell asleep in the carrier. Daughter Holly was born later in the month and she was six days old when I decided to try James on a Marilyn bagging trip. I chose Kinder Scout and the Dewey, Brown Knoll.
Although I had not climbed it before, Kinder Scout is a special hill for me as it was my dad's tales of climbing Kinder, Bleaklow and Blackstone Edge in the 1940s that got me interested in hillwalking. I chose a hot day during the brief May heatwave, so the Kinder bogs were dry. James had a whale of a time, opening the door to further trips. A surprising number of ascents were done in wind and/or rain: Corndon Hill and Heath Mynd in early July, Grey Crag, Tarn Crag and Branstree in mid July, Hard Knott and Harter Fell in late September, Foel Cae'rberllan and Gamallt in November, and Nine Standards Rigg and Hoove in mid December. James took it all in his stride and just got on with it.
There was an aborted attempt on High Street with Mark Trengove, when the weather was just too bad for a toddler. We also accompanied Mark on Great Coum in July, Mynydd Bodafon, Mynydd Eilian and Holyhead Mountain in October, and Bengairn in November. I found that hot days were a struggle with a toddler on my back, particularly in September on Moel y Dyniewyd and Bwlch Mawr. At times, James walked a long way: Stingwern Hill, Garreg-hir and Bryn Amlwg was a notable day when he walked about three miles. I find he is better walking downhill rather than uphill, and he needs a good track to walk on - off piste is too much for him at the moment. Holme Fell, in December, was notable for our finishing in the dark, which James thought was great fun. This was after we had tarried on Claife Heights. The best day was on Great Snockrigg, Robinson, Hindscarth and Dale Head in October, great hills, great weather and lovely autumn colours.
Our first hills of 2013 were Whin Rigg and Illgill Head, with sunny weather and fantastic views. However, I slipped on a patch of frozen ground and broke my wrist. I managed to get us back to the car, although it was dark by then, and to drive a hundred miles home.
After I get over my wrist fracture I will have a dilemma to deal with. James will soon be too big for the carrier but too small for hill walks. The challenge will be how to accommodate this situation with my remaining English and Welsh Marilyns.
Climb the long grassy track to the top of Winter Hill
Climb the real rocky track to the top, I'll see you back
I'll see you back on Winter Hill
- Doves
