I made a really slow start to 2010, not climbing my first new Marilyn, Great Shunner Fell, until 7 April. However, this was at the beginning of a venture into the Yorkshire Dales, and a period of good weather saw me climb ten new hills in the next few days. These included the Yorkshire Three Peaks, although I did not climb them all in one day. I stopped off in the Dales again in July and added Yarlside to my total.
In Wales I had only climbed Pen y Fan, a hill I had wanted to climb since I saw it on a postcard long ago, and Fan Fawr when the weather deteriorated so much that I abandoned the holiday and went home. I look forward to returning in 2011.
I returned to England in October, to Appleby in Cumbria. On Dufton Pike I enjoyed a chat with Gordon Ingall, who was parked next to me at the start of the walk. I had first met Gordon at my first Marhof meeting in Fort Augustus in 2006. I completed this short holiday with enjoyable climbs of Cross Fell and Nine Standards Rigg.
I had some very successful outings to various parts of Scotland. These only added six new Marilyns to my total but gave me some memorable climbs, notably Beinn Bhreac, on the south side of Loch Awe, and Druim na Cluain-airighe in Knoydart, which ended with a wonderful sail to the head of Loch Nevis on my way back to Mallaig. I also returned to Caithness for the first time in many years and thoroughly enjoyed climbing Smean. It was great to walk there again, especially as I had the whole area all to myself.
I really enjoyed the Marhof meeting at Ullapool. It was great to see everyone again and to make some new friends.
