Paul Caban: What's all the fuss about? As orienteers know, minimising climb is not always the answer. From the south: plenty of room to park, take one zigzag then navigate due north through 'white' forest, with the 'green' acting as a feature to guide you in to the summit. Radio reception for those so minded, and no crawling through the grot.
Edmund & Eileen Leonard: We have now climbed 555 relative hills, disregarding those before 1988 when we did not keep a record. Had a good summer, visiting Aberdeenshire, which we would not have done except for Marilyns. Hill of the Wangie trig point proved difficult to find. Spent three-quarters of an hour in aimless searching, but it is in fact to the west of the highest point, and is easily visible in a forest ride.
Helen McLaren: I didn't pick up a single pine needle using this route in 2002, though of course felling may have changed things in the meantime. Start at NJ118546 and follow the track to 138535, where it ends on the map but on the ground continues straight on. At this point follow a ride heading into the trees till you come to a wide ride, beyond which is a marked vegetation change from open to impenetrable. Turn left along this ride then first right (or maybe second right) where you will find the trig point standing in the ride; no sprucing necessary. I guess folk having epics approached from the track to the north.
Alan Dawson: I managed to screw it up from the west but I'm still not sure how. No problem finding a way through the trees to the summit area, just a puzzling absence of trig point on top, which an hour's heather-thrashing failed to rectify.
Andy Moffat: Anyone hoping to climb all the Grahams (or Marilyns) will sooner or later have to tackle An Cruachan. This is a very remote hill, and the route in from Iron Lodge involves a 52km round trip. However, in September 2003 I discovered a much shorter and easier route to this hill, which involves access from the east. From the locked gate at Struy Bridge (NH400405) it is possible to drive 15 miles up Glen Strathfarrar along an excellent tarmac road, and across two dams, to park by the power station at Gleann Innis Loichel (NH183379). Head off west along a well-constructed track which turns into a good footpath after about 1km then ends abruptly at Clach an Damh in some boggy ground. Continue west through a small area of peat hags onto more open ground where the going gets much easier underfoot. Gradually descending, make for a gap between two prominent stony outcrops. This lines you up with the lowest point on the ridge 1km north-east of the summit of An Cruachan. The stream crossings are easy enough except for Allt Riabhachan, which might prove a problem in spate. Once across, there is a small area of peat hags before reaching the grassy flanks of An Cruachan. Make your way north-west up easy grassy slopes to the col between An Cruachan and Beinn Bheag. From there it is a delightful walk on dry ground to the distinctive summit cairn, where the view is magnificent (though some rocky outcrops just west of the summit look slightly higher than the base of the cairn). The return is by the same excellent route, which is easier than the map would suggest, and at 20km is less than half the distance of the Iron Lodge approach. Note that the gate at Glen Strathfarrar is open between 09:00 and 18:00 from Easter to the end of October (though closed on Tuesdays and Sunday mornings). Permits are obtained at the gatehouse (phone 01463 761260) and only about 20 vehicles are allowed at any one time up the glen. It pays to arrive early, especially as the gate sometimes opens as early as 08:30.
Jimmy White: Do not try to get on this hill via the top road at Braes of Ullapool - stick to the lower road, but before reaching the house at NH147927 head off east to this wee gem of a Marilyn, with its rocky ribs and confusing geography (in high wind and torrential rain). The walk back offers atmospheric views down Loch Broom towards the Summer Isles.
Paul Caban: An ascent from the north has many deterrents: unfriendly signs, electric fences, excessive bovine enthusiasm and placements for red flags. On the plus side, there is a stile over the wall near the summit, and a descent westwards trending north along the ridge was pleasant.
Paul Caban: The south side of the hill is owned by the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust. There's a convenient carpark-ette on the north side of the minor road, in what may have been a small quarry. The oak wood is delightful to wander through on the way to the summit.
Jon Metcalf: Housedon Hill seemed very simple of access. Parked on a large triangular verge by Howtel, then straight up the farm track heading south-east followed by a traverse over a large empty pasture field to the west corner of the wood. I tend toward the view that the top is the high point of the wood edge, rather than David Robinson's view (in Marhofn 84) that the southern top is higher, although it is one of those visit-both-to-make-sure cases. Either way I agree with reports that the spot height on the Landranger map is a work of fantasy.
Ann Bowker: There is no right of way over the ridge on my map (Outdoor Leisure 4) although there is a good path. The 254m spot height just west of the wood edge at NY158318 has a tiny cairn, but there could be a higher spot about 100 metres further east amongst the trees and brambly undergrowth. A nice circuit starts from NY163329, where there is limited parking, and uses a permissive path southwards. Where this veers east, continue south to a hidden stile in the field corner (163319), giving access to a short steep path onto the two summit candidates and a slightly lower west top. Continue westwards on a pleasant grassy ridge until the forest finishes on the right, and return on the bridleway which forms part of the rarely walked Allerdale Ramble.
Brent Lynam: This was trouble free, approaching from the east. Parked off-road at SW704363 and followed the right of way below the summit until about SW699365, then tracked east uphill to the trig column. It's a bit rough in places but nothing too difficult, and it keeps you mostly out of sight of the properties to the south of the summit.
Brent Lynam: Starting from the minor road at TQ449111, the route is straightforward to the stile at TQ438106. Cross here and up a bit further to the fence at the edge of the golf course. Follow this to the right and round the corner by the 8th tee, then all the way along the 8th fairway to the last stile. Cross onto the course here and it's not far up the hill to the summit. Any golfers can be easily avoided.