My Marilyn score for 2014 was miserly. I did manage to finish the Grahams in late April on Beinn na h-Eaglaise above Annat in Torridon, which was very convenient for our new home in Lochcarron. I have now shifted my focus to the Marilyns in Scotland between 450m and 600m. I managed 21 in 2014, bringing my grand total for these hills to 160 out of 249, which makes this category of hills (Donald Shiach and I refer to these as half-Munros) the largest of any 150m sub-section.
We now live 45 minutes from the Skye bridge and have the luxury of going to Skye only in good weather. Ben Tianavaig and Sithean Bhealaich Chumhaing are both magnificent hills with a Quiraing-like feel about them. Golden eagles were seen on both and a sea eagle on the latter. Ruadh Stac, south of Marsco, is another great Skye hill, with a superb view of the Cuillin ridge, although I failed to spot Danny McAllister cycling along it when we were there.
We also had two visits to Raasay, free ferry journeys thanks to our Highland bus passes, and a fine day to Dun Caan with impressive cliffs and equally impressive views over to Applecross. Once the weather deteriorated in the west we went through to Aberdeenshire to be met by a washed-out mounth path on Kerloch and deep heather on Creag Ghiubhais.
We enjoyed the Marhof annual dinner at Helmsdale but had to sleep in the camper van in the riverside car park for want of a campsite. The next day we enjoyed a good day out on Creag Scalabsdale with great views of Morven and Maiden Pap, slightly spoiled by the sign at the start of the track saying we were in danger of being shot for most of the year. The aims for 2015 are to tackle some more half-Munros and, hopefully, some more island Marilyns.
