I had plans to complete over 50 new hills during the year, but poor weather early on did not give me a good start. An April trip to Durness enabled me to finish section 16A, but whilst I was there, news of the fatal helicopter accident off Peterhead changed things completely. I had retired from my aviation job some ten years earlier, but I put in a call to my old office to see whether they could use some assistance in the aftermath of the accident. As a result, I have been back at work since then and it is playing havoc with my hillwalking plans. I did manage a successful trip to Islay, completing seven Marilyns there plus a worthwhile trip to Laphroaig distillery. I also had an enjoyable week in the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District in October, when the crowds were reduced.
