The year started off with a January winter-skills course in Wales where there was no snow, followed by a trip to Glen Clova in February where there was too much. Local stuff and some indoor climbing kept me going but it was not until March that I got to grips with some Marilyns when I tidied up the Dolgellau area.
Some time ago I reported being ordered off Ffridd Cocyn, so on this occasion I wondered how to approach the problem. As it was a breezy damp day I seriously considered a stealth approach but in the end I turned up at the farm to the south-west of the summit where a track begins. The farmers told me that the land opposite did not belong to them but as the owner was away for some time they could see no reason why I should not make an ascent, and yes, it would be ok to leave the car on the rough patch right outside the farm. Feeling smug at doing the right thing the ascent went very well.
On a camping trip to Buttermere in April, it rained all weekend but there was better weather on a trip based in Lairg later in the month. Creag Bheag (Kingussie) en-route, Ben Hee, Beinn Sgeireach, Meall Dola, Ben Loyal, Meallan a'Chuail and Meall an Fheur Loch were all new and there was even time for an excellent revisit to Ben Klibreck.
Sundry other things were done in late spring including revisiting Cadair Idris, some Berwyns and Arans as well as Pendle Hill, Swirl How and Lingmoor Fell.
In July I went on an Exodus trip to Bulgaria to the Pirin, Rila and Rhodope mountains. The main summits included Vihren 2914m, Malyovitsa 2729m and Musala 2925m. Excellent trip, I would certainly consider going again.
After my first ever short stay in hospital, at the end of August, I got back to some walking in October by gathering up my remaining Marilyns in the Skipton area before testing myself on Arran later in October. I did not do too badly but the weather was very testing - maybe the least good weather week in 40 years. Goat Fell was climbed along with a couple of sundry Marilyns but, very unusually, I finished reading my book.
The rest of the year ended up being just pottering with nothing particular to report except perhaps I managed to pick up another bout of plantar fasciitis in my left foot. As a consequence, it looks like 2015 will be off to a slow start.
