After a quiet start due to work commitments, 2008 was a year of variety, from the Inverpollaidh hills to the South Downs. My SYHA Torridon base provided excellent opportunities to progress the tally, with local unbagged hills in abundance. Favourites include Sgurr nan Lochan Uaine, Beinn a'Chearcaill and Fuar Tholl. Local hills Ben Shieldaig and Seana Mheallan are undervalued, and the number of visitors who have no interest in 914m Beinn Dearg continues to astound me. My highlight of the year must be a summer birthday first ascent of Ben Mor Coigach. Simply marvellous. Trips to Skye and Glen Affric, along with bothying in Knoydart and Inverlael, added more variety, as did camping in Glen Feshie and an incredibly dry Fisherfield. As the year grew old I moved to SYHA Loch Lomond and then Glencoe, so I met the Ben Bowie gnome before winter began early in the Mamores. Breaking trail on a snow-covered Beinn Maol Chaluim in Glen Etive on a perfectly clear Saturday, watching the hoards of folk on the Buachaille, was delightful. The mix of mountain and sea elevated Beinn Sgluich (3B) to weeish gem status for me.
Mat Webster enjoys some quality reading in Fisherfield
(photo: Michael Earnshaw)
With no work for most of December, a trip south was planned, with assistance from Michael Earnshaw (e.g. parking tips). I left Scotland via North Berwick Law and Spartleton and spent days on both sides of the Cheviots in very cold weather. With latitude decreasing, Bardon Hill proved interesting, which is more than can be said of the North Downs. Beachy Head and the South Downs restored faith, only for Crowborough to shatter it. With region 42 bagged (except IoW), my journey through corners of regions 41 and 39 took me to marvellous days in south Wales. Ysgyryd Fawr and Sugar Loaf were highlights. After a brief flirtation with mid Wales (Gorllwyn and Pen y Garn) I headed back north to Yorkshire for the festive season, ending my binge on Billinge Hill on the way. Even the gutter in Crowborough had more charm; it was a suitable moment to reflect on how lucky I am to live in north-west Scotland. I expect to be back in Torridon in 2009, so please say hello if you are in the area. Better still, book in and increase the hostel occupancy rate.
