A very slow start to bagging in 2014, due to persistent bad weather in Scotland and then a ski trip to Italy in March, meant that the first new hill was not completed until 2 April. This was Meall Liath Choire via the picturesque Glen Achall, north of Ullapool. The next hill was another long drive and then a short stroll to An Cuaidh before a quick trip down to England. With limited time, I managed to take the very busy path up to The Wrekin, and then on the way home I squeezed in Claife Heights at Windermere, with a lot of guesswork to find the route to the summit.
Better weather in late April meant an opportunity to bag all of the Marilyns on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. The horrible long narrow road was, luckily, not too busy.
In May, on four separate trips, I managed to finish all the hills around Cape Wrath. It took over seven hours to reach Creag Riabach and An Grianan from the south and then a weekend free of range bombing allowed an assault on the three most northerly hills. I took the busy Cape Wrath ferry and then the minibus before jumping off to do Sgribhis-bheinn, Fashven and Beinn Akie. I was back at the jetty around 4.30pm to find no-one else waiting and no boat. Luckily I had taken the mobile number of the ferryman and was able to ring him to get a lift back across to the car. The alternative long walk round was not very inviting.
In early June, Derrick Harman and I set off for the Uists so that I could complete my last Graham. We did all the Marilyns on North Uist over three days before driving down to South Uist. In glorious weather, we managed to do the classic round of Beinn Mhor, Ben Corodale and Hecla in a sweltering 8.5 hours. A fitting end to this trip was the sight of St Kilda in the distance. Priceless.
Ben Corodale, South Uist (photo: John Henderson)
In late June I finished off a few more hills around Altnaharra and Helmsdale, leaving only two north of Inverness. Derrick and I also had a short stroll up the new Marilyn of Creag an Amalaidh, with great views down to Loch Fleet. Another good-weather day in July was targeted for a look at the 'best view in Scotland'. This was the rocky peak of Sgurr na Stri via Camasunary, and the panorama of Loch Coruisk and the black Cuillins. It did not disappoint but there are many great views on the west coast - depending on what weather you encounter on the summits.
Macleod's Tables were also completed in July before a great week down at the Commonwealth Games in Mediterranean weather. I am sure they could have included some Munro bagging in the athletics schedule.
In August, Andy Lawson, Derrick Harman and I travelled over to Ireland for an attempt on the Irish Furths. Incessant heavy rain and gale-force winds allowed only four of the hills to be done safely. We drove home from Killarney to Forres, Moray, in a smidgen over 18 hours. Next time I will probably fly over.
My last trip of the season was in November to Orkney. Bad weather, range firing on a Sunday and limited ferries at this time of year contributed to only five of the nine hills being completed. Still, going back to Orkney is not such a bad proposition. Only 50 new hills therefore were completed in 2014, because two of my total were subsequently deleted.
Still, a fairly good year of hill bashing, Grahams completed and only 20 short of the Upper Hall.
