There were many highlights during 2007. The year started with late Sunday-night drives to the Lakes, north Pennines or southern Scotland, a night's sleep in the back of the car and then six, seven or eight hills the next day. Dumfries and Galloway not only provided big hauls of completed hills but delightful solitude and tremendous variety for the winter months. The drive up Scar Water and onto Colt Hill on an icy March morning was a delightful example of the lonely landscapes of this area, apparently forgotten by most walkers.
I came to the conclusion that whilst the Pennine Dales are very pretty, the intervening summits are less attractive, Rogan's Seat being a case in point. Peat and more peat.
The spring and early summer was largely spent in North Wales. Rhinog Fawr stands out as one of the most attractive walks of the year. The hill seems to change character every few hundred metres, and that includes the drive from Harlech to the starting point. The views from the summit were outstanding. Two days later, in gorgeous weather, Barbara and I enjoyed a memorable trip to Bardsey Island, where we watched the choughs performing aerial acrobatics and the large colony of seals lazing on sun-baked rocks. The trip back to the mainland was memorable for other reasons (see page 15).
On a rare day of deplorable weather I decided to climb Moelwyn Mawr (30B), thinking it an easy bag. I totally under-estimated the hill. The summit is on the edge of the map and for some reason I had assumed it had a rounded top, only to find myself in thick swirling cloud on a distinct summit ridge above very steep slopes. A far more dramatic hill than I had planned for in the poor conditions.
I finished the Welsh Marilyns in August on a glorious day, climbing Moel Hebog before breakfast and Yr Aran in the afternoon. By this time I had become converted to the joys of Snowdonia and mid Wales. I found the path down through the Devil's Kitchen off Glyder Fawr to be one of the most stunning I have ever enjoyed.
On to the Lakes and remaining Pennines. I was making good progress until, on 5 October on the way back to Thirlmere from High Rise, my left foot fell into a hole and I broke my ankle, 17 short of my target of 900. Weatherwise, October and the first half of November was evidently splendid, but I saw little of it as I was confined to the house on crutches until a visit to regions 15 and 16 at the end of November. The ankle stood up very well and I completed the 900 on Wether Law (28A) on the journey south on 30 November. On a stunning clear morning in December I made my final walks of the year. High Street from Haweswater was even better than described by Julia Bradbury in the Wainwright TV series.
All in all a great year, and hopefully 1000 by the end of 2008 is on the cards. Unfortunately, Corbetts have been largely ignored with only three completed during the year, so I'm still 17 short of completion.
High Street, Gray Crag and Hayeswater (photo: Ann Bowker)
