I try to complete a list (however minor) every year, and this year was no exception. In December I went up Littleton Down, thus completing the English SubMarilyns (including the top of the Old Man of Mow). However, four separate visits to Scotland gave me a poor total for the year. A few days out were excellent, but driving rain and strong winds seem to have provided the pattern for the year, and I would be amazed if this is not reflected in other people's reports.
I visited Knoydart in late April and climbed Sgurr a'Choire Bheithe from Barrisdale, along the long but excellent west ridge. Other good days that week were spent on Beinn a'Chapuill and Beinn Trilleachan, all taking a little longer than expected. On my second trip, at the end of May, the weather was again dubious but the bonus was meeting Brian Ringland at Loch Lochy youth hostel, the day after he completed his mega-round (Munros, Corbetts and Grahams completed on the same day). On my third trip, in August, I did get two wonderful days, on Beinn na h-Eaglaise in Torridon and Ord Ban near Aviemore, before the weather changed. Finally, a visit to the Borders in September gave me two of my most wanted summits - White Top of Culreoch and Cairnsmore of Dee, though White Top seemed to take me three times as long as Hamish Brown reported in Marhofn 93.
