For another year 2013 was low in quantity but abounding in quality. We had a great holiday in snowy Yorkshire back in February, enjoying climbing Dodd Fell Hill and Pen-y-Ghent. In May, on the Lleyn peninsula, I bagged the easy Carneddol and later in the week entered the Corridor on a solo evening ascent of Garn Boduan. I also did the superb Mynydd Rhiw, with great sea views, with James (my middle child), while the rest of the family enjoyed the National Trust gardens and great ice cream.
The highlight of the year was the trip with James and friend Jeff, in a heatwave, to complete three of my last four Munros. We climbed Meall Dearg from Caolasnacon via the north ridge, to enjoy fantastic views of the Aonach Eagach ridge and Glen Coe far below. Two days later we climbed Sgurr Mor from Strathan. We climbed through the early-morning fog and reached Glen Kingie before the sun broke through. The climb up to a col and over Sgurr Beag seemed to take forever in the searing heat. Eventually we summited after about seven hours. The views of the Sgurr na Ciche range were superb and we celebrated Jeff's 100th Munro with lunch and a bit of a kip. The walk back was exhausting and the ice-cold lager back in Spean Bridge was amazing.
My last but one Munro was also an epic. We took the small ferry from Mallaig to Inverie and camped at the beach. We set off early next morning and after an exhausting gully climb from the upper glen, finally reached the summit of Meall Buidhe. We descended the same way in some light drizzle, but the weather soon brightened up again for the rest of the day. We celebrated with venison burger and a couple of pints at the Old Forge.
Meall Buidhe and the hills around Inverie (photo: Phil Dant)
Next morning I took the above photo of the loch and mountains behind in the wake of the boat, as we sped off back to Mallaig for a superb cooked breakfast at the Mission cafe and then the long drive home.
At the end of summer I finally achieved a long-held ambition of mine to climb up Ilkley Moor. On the way back down I sang 'On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at' out loud - having checked there was no-one around. I did this on the way to a D of E course for school and also climbed Ingleborough during the course.
So, one Munro left - Ben More on Mull in May 2014 hopefully. Then I had better get on with my Corbetts - a pitiful 13,so far.
