Having got to 600 Marilyns in December 2006, I decided to attend the dinner at St John's Town of Dalry in June. Speaking to other people with enormous totals of Marilyns convinced me that I must get to 700 in 2007. It was at the dinner that I heard about the Marilyn baggers' trip to the Shetland Islands in August, which I very much enjoyed.
Foula fulmar, Shetland (photo: Alan Dawson)
Most of my new Marilyns were in Scotland, where I spent ten weeks walking. I managed 41 Munros for my second round, 26 new Corbetts, 19 Grahams and 47 other Marilyns. Whilst in Galloway I did Craignell - the worst Marilyn ever (yet, AD) involving getting over much rough ground and old forest remains. Galloway was followed by Skye in absolutely glorious weather. I didn't think much of the ascent of Glamaig on loose scree, but the ridge to Beinn Dearg Mhor and the descent via the Druim na Ruaige ridge back to Sligachan was absolutely splendid. At the end of July I stayed in Blair Atholl for ten days, cycling in to the remote Corbetts in that area.
During 2007 I also made a return visit to the Isle of Man after 48 years. Another trip took us to Edinburgh where we combined some tourist attractions with two days walking in the Pentland Hills. An ascent of Arthur's Seat in the pouring rain was followed by the cheapest pot of tea in Scotland, at the Scottish Parliament building. There was an added cost of going through a security check, like you get at an airport, but Leki poles were not a problem. My 700th Marilyn was North Berwick Law, which we ascended in wind and rain.
