Shaken free of foot-and-mouth restrictions, I managed 60 this year, ranging from Land's End (Watch Croft) to Loch Maree (Slioch). Amongst the greatest prizes were a good dose of Knoydart hills (including the 518m Druim na Cluain-airighe) and a number of the mid-Wales hills of evil GOML reputation - all without incident.
Some of the most interesting hills of lesser height this year have been Welsh SubMarilyns. The twin-topped Bryn Brith (30F) is a particularly fine hill, and far superior to the neighbouring Marilyn Craig y Castell for the airy ruggedness of its south summit and magnificent view of the Mawddach Estuary from the north. Highly recommended. I am now well past halfway on my quest for all the Welsh Marilyns, and have had to ration new Welsh Hewitts so I can finish both together.
Perhaps the most memorable event of the year was my first failed attempt at Great Whernside (I got it later in the year). While sheltering from an almighty thunderstorm I watched lightning strike the ground I had been walking over a few minutes earlier. The thought of being stuck for eternity at only 208 Marilyns when I approached the Pearly Gates was a sobering thought. Perhaps St Peter would have turned me back to reach a respectable number. At least floating on a cloud I could bag the St Kilda six.
I advanced a few more steps up from the cellar with 54 Marilyns in 2002. Trips to north and central Wales enabled me to complete 30A, 30B and 30C (except for Hope Mountain), and to make serious inroads into 30E. A short trip to Scotland meant that I doubled my number of Munros by ascending Ben Lomond. Trips to Yorkshire and Herefordshire were profitable too, so I also completed 38B. Thanks to the Tips for the Tops in previous Marhofns I had no trouble with Seager Hill or Ruardean Hill, though the latter was a non-event (as was Hegdon Hill).
Lowlights of the year:
Highlights:
I also spent a pleasant morning doing Bradnor Hill (what a splendid viewpoint for the golfers) and Hergest Ridge. I also enjoyed the ascents and views from Mynydd Mawr (30B), Garn Boduan and Gyrn Ddu (30A). The ridge walk from Barbon to Calf Top (35B) was delightful, and visits to Cadair Berwyn (30E), Post Gwyn (a Hewitt) via Pistyll Rhaeadr, and to Kerrera for Carn Breugach were all most enjoyable.
Dave Hewitt's visit to Bristol in the autumn of 2001 finally nagged me to tie down my actual total of Marilyns. After going through various old diaries I found, with dismay at the final total, that I'd clocked my 100th on Long Knoll with Dave as dusk fell on a gorgeous (good as mid-summer) October day. This was after a hilarious GOMAS (Get Off My Archaeological Site) encounter with the landowner of Milk Hill (accused of using metal detectors, we were).
Carn Fiaclach (11B) was my only Scottish one last year but the summer holidays brought about some nice low-level hill days blessed with good weather with the kids down south. Highlights? The coastal top Golden Cap when doing Hardown Hill - the views are brilliant. In Pembrokeshire the Clement of Carn Lidi was rather good (wee scramble at the top). Ysgyryd Fawr is one of the best lower hills in south Wales - a pleasant mini-ridge with good views also. And I can confirm the top of Wentwood isn't that hard to find, but I was still relieved to find it.
Feelings at the end of another wee year of wee ascents - maybe it's time to set targets and aim for 150 by the end of 2003? But it was nice just to pick a few ascents and get the weather right, have good company and a good picnic - isn't that what it's all about?
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