To some extent a frustrating year, with only 33 added. Various factors were responsible; family responsibilities, other walking distractions and dire weather intervening at times. However, I cannot complain too much, as the year held many highlights, including a superb May week based in Glen Shiel, when I reached the dizzy heights (for me anyway), of 100 Munros, on A'Ghlas-Bheinn. Wonderful weather was present for much of the week, with just enough snow present to add that extra magic, especially on the ridge between Mullach Fraoch-choire and A'Chralaig, and on the Forcan Ridge on the way to The Saddle and other hills.
Later in the year, the Driesh and Mayar round went very quickly from glorious conditions to the thickest clag imaginable, while the traverse of Meall nan Tarmachan and its four tops gave quite the reverse; the sun burning off the early mist to give a day to remember. Other Scottish days included a lovely round of the Pentland Hills, my first visit, which did not disappoint.
Solving the problems of Newtyle Hill (6B) and Cademuir Hill (28B) proved to be fairly straightforward, or maybe we had luck with our approach. They were very satisfying in a strange sort of way. Garreg-hir (31A) and Garreg Lwyd (31B) were my only new Welsh Marilyns, the latter only just managed in the face of gales and two inches of rain during the day, but with the bonus of a dozen superb eggs from a farm on the way down. Other Welsh days were devoted to adding to my collection of Deweys, bringing my total to 251. Little progress in England, but during a long walk in the Lincolnshire Wolds I reached my 150th English Marilyn on Normanby Top. My totals are modest compared to some, but in all 118 new summits were reached, including Birketts, Yeamans and 23 summits in Mexico, Slovenia and Spain.
