Despite my best intentions, 2010 proved to be worse than the previous year in terms of bagging new Marilyns, and the final count was derisory. Poor weather led to a later than usual start, with the first hill of the year being Hoove in mid March. More serious bagging started during a week-long holiday on Lewis in May, the highlight being a very close encounter with an otter on the flanks of Teinneasabhal during a circular walk to pick up three Marilyns and two Humps. Having arrived at the head of Loch Suaineabhal, I stopped and sat on a lump of concrete in a small stream to check bearings as it was turning misty. As I studied the map I was distracted by a movement at the side of me and looked around to see an adult otter about two metres away on the rough path by the stream. I don't know who was more surprised, but after a few seconds gawping at each other, it galloped off. By the time I got the camera out of my pack it had disappeared from view.
The rest of the week was uneventful in comparison. A couple of hills were bagged from Duag Bridge with Alan, before heading back south (AD: that'll be Meall Liath Choire and Cnoc Damh in 15A - I was struggling to place Duag Bridge, and I was there). After a foray to Birmingham to pick up Walton Hill, I had hoped to make amends by finishing off south Wales in October. The weather after the first day turned really wet and I headed back home with a sad bag of five Marilyns.
View west from Meall Liath Choire (photo: Alan Dawson)
