I had a quick look back at hills climbed during the year and attempted assigning some to categories. Ended up with a high number of 'favourites', quite a few in the 'wet' category, but none down as 'dull'. The weather suffered over the year might be partly responsible, adding spice to even the worst hills. Or it could be selective memory loss. The least inspiring hill of the year was probably Carn Glas-choire (9A) but even this had some interest (other than the view of the Cairngorms across Strathspey). I've obviously come across the variety of bog where the ground behaves like a water-bed, but never on a slope before, nor so close to a summit.
The high spots of the year didn't involve climbing new (UK) Marilyns - am I allowed to admit this? My first big hills of the year were Rigi and Pilatus (Switzerland) in late January - snow, sun and dramatic views. First Marilyn came a week later and provided a dramatic contrast: The Wolds. Gales and left-over notices from FMD added a bit of spice to the 'ascent'. I had to wait until August for really good days in the UK: on the Cuillin ridge and a day doing all the Mamores. Who says the Munros are crowded? On average I met one person per Munro, on an accessible set of hills not really affected by stalking. Come September and a trip to Ireland, fortunately timed to coincide with good weather on Lugnaquillia. Particularly pleased with this having failed to reach the top on successive days a few years ago.
My favourite hills from the year were either those of fairly obvious appeal (Askival, Trallval, Todun, Ben Tianavaig) or those which provided pleasant surprises, e.g. access actively encouraged, cracking views, scrambling possibilities. Examples include 'S Airde Beinn (17E), Beinn Lora (3B), Beinn Corradail (24C), Carn Daimh and Ben Newe (21A). Largo Law would qualify too if it had more than a single access corridor.
No major access problems to report (other than St Kilda) but I avoided confrontation by adopting very early starts for the likes of Myarth and Carnmenellis - pre-dawn for the latter. Timed a visit to Mynydd Eppynt to coincide with a Six Nations rugby weekend (Wales playing at home). Cruach Lerags near Oban provided unexpected problems: the track shown approaching from NM837276 had a 'Private - keep out' sign but the owner of the campsite down the road (where I was staying) had no objection to me running up the hillside behind the site, though he questioned my sanity.
The weather between May and mid-August obviously resulted in a few soakings. The first was on Creag a'Mhadaidh (5A), when the thunderstorm which had been brewing for much of the afternoon finally rolled in just as I approached the top. Unexpectedly it moved on, so I was treated to the sight of the hill steaming in the sun which followed. Cnap Cruinn (4A) provided no such relief, just relentless heavy rain. But having got very bored with festering in Nevisport, I needed to do something positive. Galloway, mid-July, and a day which, other than for the green hue to the mist, could easily have been mistaken for a winter's day. Lowly, humble, Pibble Hill provided the second-worst soaking of the year. The worst of all was coming off Bidean: approaching from Beinn Maol Chaluim (interesting scramble), the cloud which had been gently drifting and building round the hills suddenly started to shoot upwards. Crossing the swollen Allt Lairig Eilde on the way off the hill proved chilly but didn't noticeably make me feel any wetter.
Most restricted view: toss up between Cademuir Hill (28B) and Hill of the Wangie (9A).
Most surreal experience: tracking down the Bedfordshire county top less than a week after that day on Bidean.
