I blame my friend Audrey for getting me embroiled with Marilyns - up until a couple of years ago I was happily content with Munros, Corbetts and the (very) occasional Ultra - but now I seem to have crawled into the Corridor, so I thought I'd better own up to my affliction.
Beinn Damh from Beinn Shieldaig (photo: Tony Kinghorn)
2007 was neatly bracketed by two superb wee hills - Ben Shieldaig (13B) on 1 January and Beinn Mhor (19A) on Hogmanay. In between were 45 new Corbetts, of which the best were Bidein a'Chabair and Carn Mor (10D) on a superb day in June, and the remote peak of Beinn a'Chaisgein Mor (14A). An exceptionally memorable trip was to Meall nan Eun above Barrisdale in August, where we canoed in from Arnisdale on a beautiful calm morning and enjoyed a day with spectacular views of Knoydart and Skye from the hill. (Incidentally, the 'official' east top seems to be distinctly lower than the 666m west top - perhaps because the east top appears to have been blasted by a lightning bolt?) The canoe trip back proved somewhat more exciting, as the wind rose to a westerly force 6 or so, resulting in the boat being abandoned overnight on the north shore of Loch Hourn - fortunately close to the path back.
Looking west from Meall nan Eun (photo:Tony Kinghorn)
2007 was also notable for an extracurricular completion - of the Munro Tops on Sgurr an Fhuarail (11B), in a torrential downpour. Many thanks to my good friends who were willing to put up with this particular lunacy, and for providing such a memorable feast afterwards.
