Most of my new Marilyns were divided between Mull, Cowal and the Southern Uplands. Whilst pursuing Grahams I have been unwittingly ticking off Donalds as well, a pursuit that has found me ignoring new relative hills on more than one occasion. It's a good feeling to reach a 2000ft summit that does not possess a cairn of any sort.
In July a week on Mull started with an evening ascent of 'S Airde Beinn, which surely must rate as one of the easiest but most interesting hills, with some of the most rewarding views of any hill I've ascended. Ben More was picked out by the setting sun and it was an excellent start to the summer holiday. Despite Mull having the reputation as one of the wettest places in Scotland, a good week of walking followed with very little rain, although the summit of Ben More was rarely visible. The most satisfying day was doing the Grahams of Cruach Choireadail and Corra-bheinn (not forgetting its twin) from Loch Ba. Not the quickest approach, but a good round nevertheless, only slightly marred when I was accosted by a stalking party in full Victorian dress near the summit of Cruach Choireadail. In 30 years of walking in the Highlands this was the first time I'd been confronted by stalkers. Their manner was pleasantly unpleasant, but seeing that it was the month of July and the sign leading to Benmore Lodge said that stalking started in August (as I pointed out to them), they went off muttering about me disturbing the deer (which I did, but they just moved up the hillside a few hundred metres) and getting the sign changed. It was not quite a case of Get Off My Land, but they clearly didn't want me there.
Ben More, Mull (photo: Brent Lynam)
Coastal features were neatly incorporated with smaller hills. The superb Carsaig arches were included with Creachan Mor and Beinn Chreagach, whilst Mackinnon's cave became part of a round of Beinn na Sreine and Coirc Bheinn. I couldn't resist the lure of the Isle of Ulva, but too much time otter spotting left me insufficient time to bag Beinn Chreagach - in any case the bracken looked pretty unpleasant. (Is there a summer route that avoids the bracken?) Ulva is definitely a place to return to - possibly in spring and with a bike, so that Gometra can be included in the same day.
The following week was spent on the Cowal peninsula - a place devoid of hillwalkers, perhaps due to a lack of Munros or the proliferation of forest. I eventually grew tired of the trees, despite not having any sitka nightmares. Recent felling enabled straightforward ascents of Beinn Bheag (including the SubMarilyn Cruach Bhuidhe) and Creag Tharsuinn from Glen Shellish, whilst Cruach nan Capull gave an excellent round of Inverchaolain Glen, including Black Craig, and was completely treeless. Worst ascent of the week was Windy Hill on the Isle of Bute on a dreich day. I thought that there would be some sort of path to Bute's highpoint. I was wrong.
In August and October I was back in the Southern Uplands. Notable ascents included the notorious Law Kneis, which I approached with a certain amount of trepidation, but reached the top with relative ease, notwithstanding the huge, ugly track that has been bulldozed up the hillside from the Tima car park just south of Deephope.
