In the previous Marhofn I reported it was our intention to push both British and Irish Marilyns along and so it happened that 2014 was a good year for us. In addition to the new British Marilyns, the Irish totals went up by 13 and 14 and now stand at 237 and 236 respectively. So adding our totals gives us 910 and 871 - but that is not allowed.
Easter on Mull gave good weather and that is where we each gained seven. With the cloudless skies of Easter Sunday we decided to repeat Ben More, this having been my final Munro on a day in August 1990 with weather that is best forgotten. Our Easter ascent was marked by views across the sea to Northern Ireland (home) - it usually being the other way around. After that we got on with the job in hand; separate routes to Speinne Mor and Tom nam Fitheach, the long walk around the north side of Ulva to Gometra (we had previously acquired the Ulva summit), the Grahams of Corra-bheinn and Cruach Choireadail, and Beinn na Sreine and Coirc Bheinn. Another day was spent on hired bikes visiting Tobermory and the traffic signals at Ardnamurchan Point. I can imagine it would be chaos without them.
Law-abiding Frances (photo: Peter Wilson)
Before re-crossing the Irish Sea on the Cairnryan-Larne ferry we took in Cairn Pat above Stranraer (for Frances), watched the sun set behind the Antrim hills from Portpatrick, and visited the lighthouse and coffee shop at Corsewall Point, close to the entrance of Loch Ryan.
Most of our new Irish Marilyns were gathered on a summer trip to the deep south (Cork and Kerry). From a base in Kenmare we had intended to focus on the Hewitts and we did increase our totals by 9 and 11 respectively, but are still 20 away from completion. Several of our new Hewitts double as Marilyns, e.g. Crohane, Hungry Hill and Coomnadiha. The latter was tackled from Gleninchaquin Falls country park, with directions from the friendly entrepreneurial farmer. The highlight of the trip was probably going out to Clear Island for Ireland's most southerly Marilyn and a reasonably close view of Fastnet Rock and its Cornish-granite lighthouse. We sailed from Baltimore and I still do not really understand why this tiny coastal village is named after a big US city.
Having arrived in Kenmare on the day of the 160km Ring of Kerry charity cycle ride, in which the Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) competed and completed, we were inspired to do the route ourselves, but over two days and on hired bikes. En route for home we overnighted in Howth, just north of Dublin. Our attempt to bag Ben of Howth almost went pear-shaped when a Dublin-bay fog suddenly enveloped the hill. Luckily the tourist leaflet map we were using to navigate by was sufficiently accurate so we summited and descended unscathed.
