A bumper year, with six new Marilyns and one new Sub. Fair Snape Fell (36) was bagged in June and was followed in July by Beinn Tangabhal (Barra), Theisheabhal Mor (Vatersay) and Beinn Sciathan (Eriskay) while on a cycle tour through the Outer Hebrides. The others were December hills and would not have been gained if the weather had been better (we would have been on higher things). Walking along the track to Bonawe, after Beinn Duirinnis, we stepped aside to allow a 4WD to pass; slung across the trailer were two headless deer - so that was the result of the distant shooting we had heard earlier in the day.
Tower Hill on Dursey Island (photo: Peter Wilson)
The Irish Marilyn baglog went up by 16 and now stands at 204 (out of 455). This batch included Tower Hill on Dursey Island, which is reached by cable car. The two on Valencia Island were also ticked, although Geokaun cost four euros for the privilege of driving to the top. The highest point was at least 20 metres horizontally and 1m vertically from where we parked. When the heavy rain came on as we admired the view from the top, four euros seemed a small price to have paid in order to save the soaking we would have received had we walked up and down the road. The objective of this August trip had been to push towards completing the Irish Hewitts and was moderately successful, with 17 new summits gained. Only another 38 to go.
