2012 began with a jaunt up Benbeoch on New Year's Day - no fences, warning signs or mining activity. The only pair of Marilyns to share a grid square were bagged on a day out to Amulree, in February. Blaeloch Hill was bagged with Douglas and Adrian following a fine trip to Wee Cumbrae. These were the only new Marilyns bagged on day trips from home.
I spent the last few days of February in Glen More, with a walk round Cairn Gorm and Bynack More in fine weather on 29 February being the highlight. A few days in the Dundonnell area, in late March, were notable for sunshine, hot temperatures, dry underfoot conditions and moorland fires burning overnight. This was good preparation for my main holiday, in May, which was mainly spent on the drought-stricken island of Lewis and Harris, where my total was advanced by 19. Forsnaval must be the easiest Marilyn, with a tarred road and concrete path leading to within a few metres of the summit - so easy that I went back up the following day, walking up from the bottom of the road.
I was lucky to experience another few days of sunshine around Kinlochewe, in October, before the weather broke. I bagged Slioch in the snow on 26 October, then rounded off the year by reaching the halfway mark the following day on Creag Dhubh Mhor, Strathcarron.
Overall, despite this being the wettest year on record, I was only required to put on waterproofs on seven out of 46 days on the hills, with one of these being for the choppy waters on the boat trip to Sanda. Thanks to Douglas for organising this. Thanks also to Alison Fox and Messrs Tibbetts and MacBrayne for organising other boats.
