Another varied bunch of hills, from Beinn a'Bheithir to Dundry Down - a week apart in March, and quite a contrast. As my nearest unvisited Marilyn is now Criffel, over 180km from home, I have again resorted to opportunistic raids whenever possible. So I was on the Fife hills in February while my son had a look at St Andrews University (he chose Warwick in the end - couldn't the ungrateful lad have picked somewhere more helpful for his 'studies'?). In March I wangled Bredon Hill, Dundry Down and Beacon Batch (39) around a work course; in April a family holiday fitted in nicely with Wills Neck (41). I slipped quietly into the Corridor on Gyrn Ddu (30A) on 29 April.
The Fort Augustus meet was a fine excuse for a few more northern hills, including the delightful Beinn a'Bhacaidh (9B), and I succumbed to the temptation to include Alan Dawson's final Corbett, An Stac (18A), a very fine hill. An invitation to Aberdeenshire was too good to turn down, though I missed an easy opportunity to add Mona Gowan to a day out on Morven via the Slacks of Glencarvie (recommended). Bennachie was good on a showery day, and Harthill's cave on the Craigshannoch ridge is a fine place to sit out a downpour.
Jon Foote leads the way up An Stac (photo: Alan Dawson)
