Cairn William, Hill of Foudland & Hill of Tillymorgan

Cairn William

This was the first summit I tested my new 2m yagi on. I was pleased with the summit to summit with Schiehallion around 112 km away.

I parked in a lay by just here, and walked up several mountain bike trails.

The first part was pretty muddy, but once up on the forestry track and beyond it was fine. It was a nice day if you looked south, but not so much to the north. The summit was in the clouds and somewhat damp.

The track is fairly easy to follow, just make sure to turn off the roadway on to the path, and the no entry signs are because the route is intended for mountain bikers.

Was fairly light breeze on the summit but nothing too bad, so it wasn't hard setting up the mast with the guys. They do get tangled somewhat so I might look at alternatives.

Spoke to a couple of locals on the HT, once I was within the activation zone, and then setup the yagi for SSB. Managed 4 on sideband - a first for me - and 2M0RVZ had his first 2m sideband as well. Both of us using the ic-705. I think Chris just used the RH-770 for his antenna on the radio!

I let Bill, GM0NRT, know I was going up some other hills later that day, so he was going to keep an ear out for me.

As I was packing up I met G0JSO (although now GM0JSO as he's moved locally) and we had a nice long chat about amateur radio. He's not been on the air in ages and was asking lots of questions. I sent him an email when I got home, and hopefully we will hear him on the air soon. It would be good to add him to the local SOTA chat for activator and chaser...but will see what happens.

Off to the next summit!

Hill of Foudland

Next summit of the day. A short drive up the A96 and off at Colpy to Hill of Foudland. I was approaching from the east so I was close to Tillymorgan but it's not a very exciting route. I think there's a better one from the east. I'd read on Walkinghighlands that there's more parking in the forest, beyond the limits of the public road. Not sure if this is really allowed or not but it seemed better than parking on essentially nothing, as I was out of the way. This also saved me some walking along a boring track. After the chat with G0JSO, I was 30 minutes later than planned, and so I wasn't sure if I was going to make it in time to get at the summit for the lunchtime 2m net.

As I was walking up I had my HT tuned into 145.550 MHz listening out for them. I managed to call into the net and said I was hiking up and I'd come back to them when I was at the top. I knew the top was quite flat, and watching SOTAGoat app I saw I was within the activation zone but still a good ~650 m from the actual summit point. At this stage I setup the telescopic pole between my legs with the slim G on the top.

On the way up, with the RH770, Bill and Paul couldn't hear me (nor I Paul), but once I had the slim G up on the 6m mast, everyone was a very good signal. So I had three from the net and Mike was trying break in but the other guys kept chatting! Eventually it came round to me and I was answering their questions and building up to bringing Mike in when the D72 died on me! Luckily I had the 705 and got that hooked up. I rejoined and explained, plus got Mike in. If I just had the KX2 I'd been annoyed about that one!

I was sat right in front of the towers but they were quiet on 145.550. I think the 705 had some issues with them but I turned off the pre-amp and that seemed to keep it calm. I said my goodbyes and turned back down the path to my third and final summit of the day!

Hill of Tillymorgan

A quick drive across the A96 and I was parked by the old church - Kirkton of Culsalmond Old Parish Church. The path is easy, straight up the road to the turbines and then either around them bypassing the fence, or past them and then finding a spot where the barbed wire fence has come down.

Doesn't take long and you're in the activation zone, but I wanted to get to the trig point. Turns out there's an old quarry here and you have to navigate it, but the trig offers lovely views all around once you do get there.

Decided to setup the yagi again and try it out, just on FM this time. The wind blew it around a little which caused signal reports to jump up and down. Managed across the water to the North to Helmsdale, about 100 km away...from the back of the yagi! I was 53 at first but when I turned it around I was 59 to him.

Just managed four in the log but that was enough, starting to feel the days activities now and it was time to be heading home. My shoes hadn't done well on Cairn William, and were soaked back then, and still wet now.