Not much in terms of quantity but twelve months of variety and interest. The year started with a trip down south, including the Isle of Wight. We reverted to Scotland in May with a crossing to Arran, which was well worth the visit, although the numerous potholes in the roads needed careful negotiation. After further trips to Scotland in June, September and October were spent in Wales and Ireland. We took the ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare and travelled west. Some great scenery, notably the cliffs of Moher, but not quite in the same league as northern Scotland. The Irish do seem to have a strange attitude toward dogs. On a designated walk up a minor hill overlooking Cahersiveen called Ben Tee (50), dogs were forbidden. Being an old codger, I usually take no notice of spurious official-looking signs, but it was difficult to ignore these, placed on way-marker posts at 100-metre intervals. The weather in Ireland was, as expected, rather mixed, but we kept a few fine days to explore the Ring of Kerry, unlike Terry Wogan on television, who insisted on being chauffered the wrong way round the circuit in appalling weather.
We are uncertain as to what may be in store for 2011, but our main target will be to conquer the vertiginous, unrelenting slopes of Crowborough and other mountains of the south-east. Finally, I should just mention that last year I did not see Campbell Singer once - presumably he has gone into hibernation.
