The focus of 2015 was to get in to the Upper Hall of Fame and finish off the Donalds, which were duly achieved. There was also some mopping-up to do of relocated summits and adding up all the corrections, so only 41 new Marilyns were achieved in the year. In early April, I began by heading down towards Braemar to do the relocated Corbett summit, Creag an Dail Bheag, on a pleasant day. The new higher peak still looks lower than Carn Liath does. I think it is the higher ground in the background which gives this optical illusion, not a new phenomenon in the Scottish hills. I continued by tackling the many and varied hills south of Ballachulish and then completed my last hill up north, Creag nam Fiadh. It is definitely now 'Sutherland, no more'.
Creag nam Fiadh (photo: John Henderson)
In May I had a club meet on Arran that included a memorable visit, with Andy Lawson, to Holy Island and a stroll up Mullach Mor. With time to linger, we enjoyed an easy wander back along the western shoreline to see the colourful Buddhist murals on the rock faces. Worth a visit if you have not set foot on this unique small island.
At the end of May, Andy Lawson suggested it would great to do a joint 1000th Marilyn on St Kilda. We both still had five to do to get to 999, so I did a quick smash-and-grab raid on some outstanding non-Simm hills, including Conic Hill and Beinn an t-Sidhein around the Callander and Trossachs area. Unfortunately, the path up to Ben A'an was closed due to logging operations and so it was a wet muddy slog on the detour path and then on up to Meall Gainmheich. A week later, with club member Alan Duncan, we set off for Leverburgh in the hope that the weather and seas would calm down enough to make it all possible. Luckily, on our standby day, 30 May, the weather improved and we set off with Sea Harris for the big day. It was lovely as we pulled in to the bay at Hirta and it was a memorable stroll up to the summit of Conachair, although we did get the bonxie treatment on the way down. A fitting summit to complete such a landmark in hill bagging. The day out was enhanced greatly by the sea trip around the unbelievable rock shapes of Stac Lee, Stac an Armin and Boreray.
Mullach Mor (photo: John Henderson)
On a duller note, it was now time to tackle my remaining Donalds and New Donalds. In two excursions in June and July, I managed to slog my way round 29 of these big rounded, wet and often cloud covered lumps. The last Donald, in good weather, was Windy Gyle. I continued on the circuit via the superbly paved Pennine Way path to The Cheviot.
I still have ten New Donalds to finish but time and flagging interest in these hills will prevent a swift return. In September I managed to cross the river above the Falls of Glomach to do Meall Sguman, and then it was up to Gairloch to mop up the new Marilyn of Sithean Mor, via the waterfall path from The Old Inn.
In October a decent spell of weather tempted a week's visit to the Western Isles. I managed to finish off a dozen of the non-Simm hills around Leverburgh and some around the Harris/Lewis border. Two of the roughest hills were Heileasbhal Mor and An Coileach whilst Todun provided an enjoyable walk and a fact-finding mission for tackling the extremely remote Caiteseal and the hills of the Pairc area. A boat may be needed. My last trip of the year was in late November to do Earl's Seat in the Campsie Fells and then Duncolm in the Kilpatrick hills. Both were enjoyable walks, with great views of Glasgow from Duncolm. A wet, grassy and featureless trudge up to The Fruin near Helensburgh reminded me what willpower and sheer pig-headedness is needed to tick off these non-Simm hills.
A good year generally for hill-bagging exploits, mostly in Scotland, so perhaps I should nip over the border a bit more often. I might even have to do a few more Humps and Simms if I get bored.
'One day's exposure to mountains is better than cartloads of books'
- John Muir
