Despite spending much of the year in Scotland, actual opportunites for bagging were limited by a visit to Alaska in May, a Bob Graham round in June and various hill racing commitments. A visit to Beinn Mhor (20B) on a rare quiet day in January opened my account on Islay. A second highlight from January was a grandstand view of the snow-splattered ramparts of the Cuillin from An Cruachan, west of Glen Brittle.
Jump forward to August and news of foot and mouth disease broke on the day I visited Beneraird, Knockdolian and Troweir Hill (27B). Though Surrey seemed so very, very far off, there was a worry these could be the last hills for a while. As such, each was relished, even the gentle, grassy (i.e. dull) slopes of Beneraird. Knockdolian, which looked potentially troublesome on the map, proved to be visitor-friendly and is very fine indeed. Worst wetting of the year was on Cairn Pat (27B) - as good a hill as any for a wet and stormy day. Quite a fair proportion of my travels have featured views of Ailsa Craig. Alas, work schedule and boat timetables were not in harmony. Sometime this coming year, perhaps.
'It really does get better every year'
Alan Castle
