2015 was the first year since entering the Hall that I failed to gain 50 new Marilyns. This was largely because I have now climbed all my nearby hills and any new bag requires several hours travelling to reach. However, 2015 was a good year for landmarks, including passing the halfway mark, climbing my 100th English Marilyn and completing all British Marilyns over 900m.
It was also a good year for doing many of the fine hills of England and Wales that had passed me by while I had been walking up north completing Munros and Corbetts. These included Moel Siabod, Moel Hebog, Aran Fawddwy, Cadair Idris, The Calf, Fountains Fell, and also Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, which I did for the first time as a solo jog-walk of the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
Eighteen years ago I was heavily into bagging. However, Munros were the prize, and Marilyns, of the relative hill kind, were completely unknown to me. With no commitments, other than to complete a university degree, I had much more opportunity to enjoy such esoteric pursuits. Now, hill-bagging is an activity to be fitted around work and family life. Overnight trips away in the hills are a rare treat. Nonetheless, Marilyns now offer an opportunity to pick up a new hill in a few moments away from the car and open up completely new areas of the country that I previously would not have considered exploring at all.
Bidean nam Bian (photo: Alastair Swanston)
I was amazed and inspired to hear of the exploits of the Marilyn bagging elite on the stacks of the outer isles. When I first started on the Marilyns, it seemed unlikely that anyone could have the time and dedication to climb all the relatively obscure lumps and bumps of Britain, and yet have the skill and nerve to meet the challenges of the St Kilda archipelago and the luck of being there in the right conditions. Having seen it done, I am still keen to complete the round. Perhaps, in 20 years time, there may be a route scraped free of guano to the tops of the stacks, or a well-placed rope ladder or two would not go amiss.
