My interest in Marilyns began... bagging with Graham Illing. I was always into walking and climbing Munros, but following him up all sorts of other stuff got me ticking lists, plus the fact they take you where you would otherwise never go.
My favourite Marilyns on the islands are... Mingulay for its seals on the beach, remoteness and fantastic cliffs; Hirta, St Kilda, for the effort to get there; Mullach Buidhe, Shiant Islands, for its remoteness; Eaval, North Uist, for its landscape.
My favourite Marilyns on the mainland are... the double bag of Cul Mor and Cul Beag, which sticks in my mind as a classic. Then there is the obvious Buachaille Etive Mor as it is a classic and was my last Munro, and Slioch, just for its scenery. Last year I really enjoyed the Rois Bheinn horseshoe, for its character and views.
My least favourite Marilyn is... Sighty Crag - I really did not enjoy having my legs ripped apart from a load of dead trees, by the route Mr Illing took me and Tove up. There have been a few other boggy, heathery ones that I also did not find particularly inspiring.
Do I keep Marilyn bagging a secret? Not particularly.
I... was a Northumberland county badminton player for over twenty years - so that largely took priority over bagging, until I dislocated my shoulder skiing in 2006.
