The relatively large tally of Marilyns in 2013 was spurred on by the possibility of reaching 1000 on Druim na Cluain-airighe in Knoydart in August 2014, when I also hope to complete a second Munro round on Ladhar Bheinn.
I finally broke my English duck in 2013 during a grand three-week trek from Land's End to Bristol in March and April, traversing Dunkery Beacon and Wills Neck. The presence of a persistent cold east wind for the entire coastal section to Barnstaple was at least preferable to rain. This walk was the first part of a Land's End to John O'Groats marathon which I hope to complete over the course of a few years. The next section to Edale, the start of the Pennine Way, should happen in 2014.
The bulk of the new Marilyns were climbed during the summer and autumn, when domestic circumstances allowed multiple visits to the Lake District, another first. Striding Edge on Helvellyn and Sharp Edge on Blencathra were just a few of the delights which previously were mere names in a book. Regions 21, 27 and 28 also proved fruitful.
The usual annual Skye bash at Camasunary in July gave only one new hill - Ben Lee - memorable for leaving the car door wide open with the keys in the ignition at Sligachan for the three-hour duration of the climb. The highlight of the week was the traverse of the Blabheinn - Clach Glas ridge for the umpteenth time - my favourite mountain route in Scotland.
Blabheinn and Clach Glas (photo: Andrew Fraser)
The stand-out trip of the year was an October week in the Western Isles during a prolonged spell of high pressure when the combination of warm sunshine, sparkling sea views, magic hills and rough gneiss slabs and no midges was mesmerising and memorable. The day spent on the traverse from Griomaval to Laibheal a'Tuath in West Lewis was the highlight of the year.
A trip to the Julian Alps in September was enjoyable but a partly damp squib as poor weather plagued us for much of the week. A proposed three-day ridge walk and an ascent of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, failed to materialise, but we still managed some excellent hut-to-hut walking and climbed a few minor summits.
The year was put to rest in grand style, staying in a Highland lodge near Glen Affric for a week with a crowd of eight adults, two kids, one baby and four dogs. A fourth ascent of Tom a'Choinich on 31 December was a fitting end to a fine year.
