On 2 January 2012 we joined friends, Tony Rogers and Dee Lacy, for a short walk to Cracoe Fell, Tony's final English Marilyn. It was a breezy day with snow showers, but sheltered behind a large gritstone outcrop we presented Tony with a shop-bought fruit cake on top of which Frances had placed her hand-drawn commemorative label. We parted company on the descent in order that Frances might also add Sharp Haw. The year had started well with two new Marilyns for Frances; unfortunately that was the annual total.
Great Blasket from Dunmore Head (photo: Peter Wilson)
We did, however, add more to our tally of Irish Marilyns, although it was with the Irish Hewitts that we had hoped to make greatest progress. The Dingle peninsula, Kenmare and the Burren were the focus of our summer bagging, and the highlight was the trip across to Great Blasket with its deserted village and Marilyn - Croaghmore. Five boats were needed to complete the return crossing - if you have been you will know why - and I am just glad that the sea was not particularly rough.
Another two Dingle Marilyns were also claimed and our week based in Kenmare allowed us to push the Hewitts along by eight and Marilyns by ten. A final few days in the Burren added another three Marilyns. We now need 30 and 34 Hewitts respectively to complete that list and our Marilyn totals stand just under the half way mark of 228.
