I had earmarked 2009 as the year to make my entry into Marhof. My deficit on 1 January was 17 and, residing in Northern Ireland as I do, the most compact cluster was the Shetland Islands, which offered a possible 19 without too much distance between summits. The previous summer saw most of Britain deluged while Shetland basked in glorious sunshine. Would we be so lucky in 2009? No, was the short answer. The heatwave came to an end just as we arrived and the temperature in the car plummeted from 29 to eight degrees. However, Marilyn baggers are made of stern stuff (they need to be) and we carried on regardless, so I achieved my 600th with the 'ascent' of Saxa Vord on 15 July. The Official Secrets Act prevents me from detailing our route but, suffice to say, it was obscurity to fame in 30 paces and proved something of an anti-climax, as the wonderful views were obscured by cloud.
Frances Wilson browses Ronas Hill library (photo: Peter Wilson)
The final two summits on Foula were never achieved, as it was deemed too windy for the return flight, although the outward one was going. No seats were available for the remainder of our stay - another time maybe.
We met few other walkers and certainly no Marilyn baggers during our fortnight's stay, the majority of tourists being bird watchers. A fortnight gives ample time to see other highlights such as Hermaness, the Haroldswick bus stop, Mousa broch and Sumburgh Head. The memorial to the 'Shetland Bus' at Scalloway is also worth a visit. Other highlights were Fitful Head on a warm day, followed by a swim at Quendall beach, and Ronas Hill, where the cloud cleared just as we reached the cairn to give good views. We were able to read of the Marilyn baggers' 2007 expedition in the summit log book.
During a week on Arran in August I added another four ticks to my Marilyn list. There were far more of the insect variety. We had hoped to achieve all six unclimbed summits, but 24 hours of continuous rain washed out one day, another was spent on a repeat ascent of Goat Fell, and a circuit of the island by bicycle used up another.
