January: A long, frosty walk to and from White Hill (36) failed to shift a cold, but provided a good day out. At the end of the month a cross-border dawn-raid captured Upper Park (31A) and Caeliber Isaf (31B). No more local, new Marilyns left - not until the emergence of Arnside Knott.
Work provided an excuse to visit Inverness in February: the return trip involved a sweep through Moray and Aberdeenshire. Reached Brown Muir (9A) easily enough from Millbuies Country Park, a previous visit having hinted at the drawbacks of a direct route from the vicinity of Netherglen, at least in winter. Had a little problem with forestry work on Meikle Balloch Hill (21A) but the other hills were very bagger-friendly. I had an old map to hand for Hill of Persie (6B) and so, emerging from the forest above Loch Mharaich, I headed first for the trig point and spot height of Knock of Balmyle. Hill of Persie is of course higher but doesn't have nearly as fine a view of Beinn a'Ghlo.
A combination of illness, work and races meant no more GB Marilyns until the end of May, although did I fleetingly visit three new ones in the Mournes. Trees, rain, and more trees dominated a visit to Meall Luidh Mor (4B). I took the forest road from Luiblea to a point where a likely-looking fire break led up eastwards. Where the trees started to thin and the fire break lose its identity, I turned left, pushing through straggling, clinging, wet foliage. Eventually, open hillside and the summit beckoned. Descending south-west, I found a track emerging from the trees, so followed this for about five minutes before a gap in the trees on the right led back to my route of ascent - if only I'd had faith in the fire break and pressed straight on. The following day was dry and fine, so I walked up Binnein Shuas, then wriggled easily down the through the cliffs and on to Binnein Shios to complete region 4. I made the most of the day by heading back over the three Munros to the south. At the end of the week, An Stac (10D) provided a fine excuse for a favourite walk, that through Glen Pean. An old path on the Loch Morar side of the watershed provided an easy escape to higher ground.
I headed to the far north in July, and tackling Beinn Lunndaidh (16D) from Golspie meant I could take in an attractive walk alongside the lower reaches of Golspie Burn. The monument on Ben Bhraggie provided a further point of interest on the ascent. The track down from Loch nan Caorach proved to be in a state of disrepair. Meall a'Chaise (16D) and Beinn nan Ramh (14B) competed for the title of my dullest hill of the year, though at least Beinn nan Ramh had some decent views to make up for the tedium closer to hand. Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill and Ben Hee (16B) provided a good day on a fine group of hills. Cleared up section 10D by visiting Mullach Coire nan Geur-oirean, a long name that reflects the length of the approach. I started at Fassfern, which allowed for a nice circuit via Meall a'Phubuill and a return via Gulvain. The summit of MCnG is a fine place to be.
Galloway provided the roughest going of the year, again. This time it was a combination of Colt Hill (27C) and Wether Hill from Cornharrow. The forestry plantations were more extensive and numerous than my map indicated. Ongoing forestry work proved to be a serious obstacle on Nutberry Hill (27A) - so serious that I gave up and went round to try an approach from the west, successfully.
Beinn Mholach (24A) would have been tedious but I had the good fortune to tackle it on a bright September evening. A weekend on Harris followed, clearing up stray Grahams. Bleabhal (24B) from the east provided a gentle outing after the rocky stuff, apart from a short section near the top.
