When I suffered a heart attack in 2005, I reckoned that my hillwalking days were over. I was in Orkney on a business trip at the time. A week later I flew back to Glasgow on a day of outstanding clarity. Looking to the west, all of the distinctive peaks of Sutherland stood out sharp and clear. Although I was extremely thankful that I was still around to see them, I did wonder if I would ever be able to stand on their summits again. I had completed the Munros many years before and was most of the way through the Corbett list. I climbed the occasional smaller hill but my time was mostly taken up with repeats. While I was recuperating, I found a reference on the web to Marilyns and saw that there was a book on the subject. I reckoned that even if the big hills were to be beyond me, I should still be able to climb some of the sub-2000-footers, so I sent off my cheque to Alan and bought the book. It was to prove an inspiration to me to keep going with my hillwalking and an encouragement to visit many areas that I had not previously walked in. I saw that reaching 600 summits entitled me to an entry in a Hall of Fame; what more encouragement could I have to get back to hill fitness?
A few months after my illness, I made my way slowly and tentatively up Dumyat from the highpoint on the Sherriffmuir road. The feeling when I reached the trig was almost indescribable - a mixture of relief and elation. My hillwalking activities were not over. During the next few months I added a few more easy sub-2000s, including some that I had not climbed before. I tallied up all of the Marilyns that I had climbed over the years, ignoring a few hills that I could not be certain of, and found that at the end of 2005 I was on a total of 471. Still a fair way to go, but 600 seemed an achievable target.
Initially, all my hills were achieved on day trips. I found that I had a psychological barrier to staying away from home. There was always a worry that something was going to happen again. However, this was gradually overcome and I soon felt confident enough to stay away from home for a few nights and was able to visit more distant areas. I pushed my total over the 500 mark in 2006, but obtained the greatest satisfaction by re-climbing four Munros, albeit easy ones. That now became the pattern; a mix of new Grahams, sub-2000s and previously-climbed easy-angled Corbetts and Munros.
By the start of 2010, the Hall of Fame was in sight. I don't like making a fuss and, as I do a lot of hillwalking on my own, decided that my 600th should be no different from any other hill. I had had no definite objective in mind; it was so good reaching the Hall of Fame that I was not fussed about the doorway! In the event, it turned out to be Deuchar Law in the Borders on 2 July. It was a pleasant walk, with the added attraction of a gorge and a wee loch.
So what now? Well, I still have a number of goals. I have started a blog (neilshillblog.blogspot.com) and hope to revisit as many hills as possible to get a photographic record of walking them. Of course, I want to push on with my Marilyn list; the next target is 600 Scottish Marilyns. It is unlikely that I will finish the Corbetts, but never say never. I have also got a springer spaniel puppy, Ben, who has started on his list. He has already done three sub-2000s and wants to reach 50 by the end of 2011. So there's lots still to do while I am still able.
