It was a very satisfying year in 2013 for collecting Marilyn hills, visiting the Isle of Man, Mull of Kintyre, Orkney, Shetland, mid Wales and Aberdeenshire. All areas were new to me with the exception of mid Wales, which I visited primarily for a family get-together and to introduce our youngest generation to the hills.
Starting the year in early March, I climbed Carn a'Ghobhair (10D) which proved to be an exciting ascent in 10cm of fresh snow. The views north into Knoydart across Loch Nevis were exceptional.
Our first visit to Orkney did not quite go according to plan, with the car misbehaving; oil in the cooling system proved to be no joke. This involved a tow home from Kirkwall to Stirling thanks to the AA breakdown service. At least we were in the tow truck cab while the poor dogs in the car were on the trailer at a zany angle and somehow survived the homeward trip.
I managed twelve new Marilyns on the mid Wales trip. Welsh minor roads would appear to be narrower, steeper and bendier than in other parts of the UK. This often results in the really exciting part being the drive to the starting point rather than the intrepid hill walk to achieve the objective.
My year total of 49 new hills was reasonably respectable. In late August I climbed Beinn a'Chaisil and An Sleaghach (18C), on the peninsula east of Lochaline, which completed region 18.
Arriving home in Stirling the next day I realised all was not well with my right leg. This restricted my hillwalking activities for two months during which I had my first and hopefully last sciatic nerve spasm resulting in my calling 999 for the first time. At A and E sympathy was not in the equation and I was summarily kicked out. Life lesson learned - make sure when admitted to hospital it is with something really serious.
