Not much of a total of new hills in 2009. I have a number of excuses, mainly my husband's medical problems - I seemed to be visiting more hospitals than hills. However, I did achieve one ambition in October, when I climbed Coniston Old Man en route to yet another hospital in Plymouth. Whilst there, I visited Dartmoor and climbed High Willhays and Kit Hill.
I had a very enjoyable evening at the Marhof meet at Strontian. It was great to see everyone again and to make some new friends. I achieved another ambition there; to climb An Sleaghach from Ardtornish estate office. This was a really superb day and one of the highlights of the year. The next day I had a great time on Druim Leathad nam Fias from Glen Scaddle.
I went back to Glen Scaddle in September and climbed A'Bheinn Bhan, another wonderful hill with a lovely lochan near the summit. Then on to Skye, where I enjoyed a chat with Jon Metcalf and his daughter Rachael on the way down from An Cruachan to Glen Brittle. I had previously met Jon on Gwastedyn Hill during the Builth Wells meet. I also visited Raasay and climbed Beinn na h-Iolaire - a lovely hill and a most interesting journey to it along Calum's road.
Other 2009 highlights included a short holiday in Sutherland, where I climbed a few hills including Beinn Akie and visited Cape Wrath. I will be back there this year to climb Fashven and Sgribhis-bheinn. I have a print of Fashven on the wall at home so have been keen to climb it for some time. Other great hills with superb views included Ben Dreavie (16A), with a lovely grassy path for the final section; Beinn a'Chuirn (10A), from Glenelg; Creag Dhubh Bheag (16B) from Loch Fiag; and Beinn a'Bhraghad (17B), with magnificent views of the Cuillin. Of course, I had lots of other enjoyable days on the hills all over Scotland. In the coming year I'm determined to concentrate on adding more to my total of Marilyns.
