I added 19 Marilyns to my total in 2013 - a meagre total by the standards of many, but very much in line with my achievements in recent years. There was a notable variety of hills including summits in Shropshire, south and north Wales and the length of Scotland from Ullapool to the Borders, with some Perthshire Corbetts in between.
The best view of the year was from the smallest Marilyn - the stunning Meall an Fheadain, above Achiltibuie. It was a hot and sunny day in late May with good visibility despite haze over the sea, spilling onto the coast as haar in places. This unusual view of the hills of Skye, Torridon and Fisherfield to the south and Coigach, Assynt and Sutherland to the north was mesmerising - and all for a short walk on the track serving the mast below the summit.
I did not pass any major milestones in the year, although I reached the halfway point of the Marilyns in England and Wales, on Callow Hill (the high point of Wenlock Edge in Shropshire). The next day I had an enjoyable outing on the rough terrain of the Arenigs, including the good viewpoint Arenig Fawr, which was my highest remaining Marilyn south of the border.
I have enjoyed nearly every Marilyn I have done and aim to keep plodding along next year - at the current rate of progress, I should enter the Hall of Fame in ten years time.
Arkle, Sutherland (photo: Nicola Howarth)
