One new-year resolution for 2000 was to do more local Marilyns in the Yorkshire Dales, south Pennines and Lake District. So a sunny new year's day saw me driving over from Leeds to Todmorden to be met by a wall of fog. Freeholds Top (36) was thus ascended with the sun always threatening to burn the mist away but never succeeding. A very agreeable start to the millennium nevertheless. Similarly Hail Storm Hill (36) on a clear and blowy day in April was equally invigorating, squelching across the boggy plateau deciding which bit was highest. The year finished locally with a fine ascent of Grayrigg Forest (34C) -a three-hour window of sunshine snatched from a very wet October -a superb complete double rainbow on Claife Heights (34D) on a showery Sunday in November (the walk being chosen because of ample tree cover), and a blustery day on Muncaster Fell (34D) when the Wasdale fells were locked in mist with gale force winds forecast.
The rest of the year's highlights have been in Scotland, where Beinn a'Chearcaill (13A) at Easter provided a summit consisting of a massive table of almost level sandstone nearly the size of a football pitch, with fine views over to the triple buttress of Coire Mhic Fhearchair, whilst Carnan Cruithneachd (11A) gave stupendous views up Glen Elchaig to the Mullardoch giants. What a fantastic summit! Interestingly, neither of these are Munros or Corbetts. Having completed the Munros in 1995, I have realised that I last went up a Munro in October 1997. In a way I'm glad I got them out of the way to leave time for quieter, pathless hills which are just as good.
A summer visit to Barra, South Uist and North Uist yielded some excellent lower hills and wild walking, with substantial drops between each summit. On the four Marilyns just north of Lochboisdale not only did I not see anyone else, I did not come across a single footprint on the hills. An afternoon of sunny weather after morning rain gave an excellent ascent of Beinn Mhor (24C), with an eagle soaring up onto the main ridge as I approached from the south. I should have included Ben Corodale and Hecla while the weather kept fair, but missing them out gives me an excuse to make a return visit.
Low points? Well none really -most hills are good hills. Mind you, Meall nan Tairneachan and Farragon Hill (2A) were particularly unappealing in fairly dismal weather during the spring bank holiday week. I managed to avoid all of the bulldozed track to the barytes mine by starting at Tomphubil, about 2km south of where the track meets the B846, but it cannot be avoided if one carries on to bag Farragon Hill as I did. The mine is a strange, unearthly and depressing place to come across, especially in dreich weather. I'm sure it is far better to do Farragon Hill separately from the south.
