Marhofn 230.13 - May 2011

New Hall of Fame Members:

Charlie Scott (+109=630)

2010 was the year when I rediscovered the joys of exploring. Since 1994, when I finished the Donalds, I had hardly done a hill new to me, and I am dismayed that I left things so long to start again. However, as you can see, I have now got back into the swing of it. Here are a few of the many highlights:

• In May I stayed at the excellent Ariundle Lodge above Strontian, where I met HoF member John Owen. Ben Hiant was my favourite, closely followed by the ridge from Sgurr nan Cnamh to Sgorr Mhic Eacharna, with great views across to Garbh Bheinn.
• In early June I was in the Cowal peninsula and climbed Stob na Boine Druim-fhinn, which has the most extensive air crash site I have seen. This was just before I had a cataract operation on my right eye and my view of the world improved considerably.
• In August I did the four-day CalMac 'bagging cruise' from Mallaig - Canna, Sanday, Rum and Eigg. On Rum, Orval was the best and Mullach Mor was rubbish. It was great to discover that An Sgurr on Eigg was as good as it looked, and Glebe Barn was the most luxurious bunkhouse I have ever visited. At the end of that week I went across to Arran and did the excellent Beinn Bharrain ridge. Due to a miscalculation, I ended up doing the truly awful A'Chruach as my 600th Marilyn instead of the much nicer Fionn Bealach (AD: it's actually Creag Ghlas Laggan; Fionn Bealach was an error on the map on page 96 in RHB that doesn't match the name in the text).
• In September I did the Skye Grahams. Beinn Dearg Mhor was disappointing - just a big pile of stones - after I had climbed Marsco in the morning. Then on to the Angus Grahams based at Glen Prosen hostel - another gem. Hunt Hill was my pleasantest surprise of the year, whilst Mount Blair was spoiled by the phone mast.

Kerrera in October gave an awful thrash through waist-high bracken but fantastic views before, in December, my left eye cataract operation was completed. I received wonderful service from Edinburgh Eye Pavilion.