At the dawn of 2001 I was well along the Corridor of Obscurity but still 18 Marilyns short of the Hall of Fame. Would this first year of the new millennium see me emerge from obscurity? The year started well enough with Beinn na Gucaig and Doire Ban (4A) on 01/01/01. Although the former had been done 23 years earlier I have little memory of that day, so the repeat was an enjoyable rediscovery for me and a tick for Frances. Beinn Lora, Na Maoilean and Airds Hill (3B) were added on 2 January. Both days were 'soft', as they say in Ireland, meaning wet overhead (and underfoot). A brief clearance on Beinn Lora hinted at the tremendous viewpoint this must be. Airds Hill was a thrash and a bash through conifers - both trig and higher ring contour were located. So, with two days gone and another four Marilyns done, things were looking good. Only 14 were needed.
We returned to Northern Ireland and began planning for the summer cycle from Land's End to John o'Groats. This was decided upon prior to FMD, but both reduced the scope for summer Marilyns. However, once a rough route had been sketched out, the nearest Marilyns were identified and it so happened that 14 lay close enough to the intended line to be feasible additions to the daily rides. Thus, a novel way of entering the Hall was devised - FMD willing. But it was not to be. Only four of the 14 were claimed. White Downs / Watch Croft on 30 June was the first - a day of 59 miles from Penzance via Land's End to St. Agnes. This was followed by Selworthy Beacon on 3 July - 42 miles from Ilfracombe to Minehead. Both hills involved some strenuous pushing of laden bikes up stony tracks. On 7 July we cycled up Ruardean Hill (38B) en route from St. Briavels to Leominster (50 miles). The gate leading into the compound with the trig point was closed but not locked. We walked in and reached the trig. As we came out, an angry man from across the road shouted at us, demanded to know what we were doing, told us we were on private land, etc, etc. It wasn't possible to make a reasoned statement of our presence, he wouldn't listen, so off we cycled. We were pleased to discover that Long Mynd (38A) was 'open', so a detour from our Leominster - Whitchurch route (73 miles) on 8 July saw us pushing the bikes from the road to another summit. The other ten intended Marilyns never materialised because of land closures, but LEJOG was accomplished.
A trip to the north of England in September allowed me to add Bainloch Hill (27C), south of Dumfries. We had tried this 18 months before but had followed the forest track from near Sandyhills Bay to its end at Laggan Hill, hoping for an easy passage along the hill crest. Excessively deep heather and a need to get to Cairnryan for the boat dictated that we retreat, and on the descent we noticed a tiny cairn at a bend in the forest track. Was this the key to a successful ascent? My September visit demonstrated that the cairn was built by someone with a warped sense of humour. The first 100 metres from the track were reasonable if rough, then head-high bracken was reached. I escaped up the steep hillside to the north, through scattered conifers and waist-deep heather, reaching the summit with more than a hint of perspiration and the odd swear word or two on my lips. I descended SW to the col and then down the line of the burn. This time there was no escape from the head-high bracken. I propose a renaming - Painful Hill would be more appropriate.
Christmas in the Highlands was the next opportunity to gain the remaining nine, but if the weather was to be a repeat of the previous Christmas that would prove difficult - days of sun and snow would see us revisiting Munros. December 22 was earmarked for several Grahams above Luss, before heading to Ballachulish for Christmas itself, but lack of parking in the upper glen forced us to go to Glen Douglas, from where we managed Tullich Hill and Beinn Bhreac (1E) - a day enlivened by finding both hills to have been rent by ancient rockslides. Beinn Sgluich and Beinn Donn (3B) on 27 Dec, then Beinn a'Mhonicag (9C) and Ardsheal Hill (3B) on 28 Dec reduced the arrears to three. Fraochaidh (3B) on 29 Dec gave us both Corbett and Marilyn, and on 30 Dec Meall Onfhaidh and Aodann Chleireig (10D) became 599 and 600 respectively. On the latter hill, I first kissed the cairn and then my wife (where have I read that before?). Frances, ever doubtful of my ability to count, suggested a couple more Marilyns before going home. So, on 2 Jan we parked on the A82 near Lochan na h-Achlaise and ascended Glas Bheinn (3A) and Meall Mor (3B), with superb views of Coire Ba, snow-covered hills and a setting moon over Clach Leathad. Needless to say the arithmetic was sound.
My pleasure at entering the Hall was doubled on discovering there are now three Wilsons listed (Dorothy and Alison being some way ahead of me). Frances is poised and may become the fourth. Having had a Wilson in Downing Street and another in England's 1966 World Cup winning team, it looks as if lunacy is rife amongst the sub-clan. (Frances wishes it to be known that she acquired the surname through marriage and therefore does not possess the genetic defects of pure-bred Wilsons. My apologies to Dorothy and Alison if that applies to them also.)
