In reply to GW7AAV:
Hi Steve, I have just recently done them all around Christmas time, they are all pretty easy to do.
DC-002 Brown Willy is the longest walk in, its around 2.5 miles, but 2 miles is very easy walking along a track suitable for cars,and its pretty flat, however its access only for the farm etc. so park at the sign! If its a clear day you can see the trig point at distance so basically just head for it, if not it might be advisable be prepared with navigation equipment. It was a bit boggy on the climb up to the summit when I visited, so be prepared to get muddy!. I do have the tracks I used that I can send to you to upload to your GPS if you have one. Should mention, Brown willy is pretty rocky, there isnt a lot of flat area for HF antennas, but long as your prepared to pick your way over the terrain on the summit it should be ok.
DC-003 Kit Hill, is a doddle, you can drive to the trig point, literally, but in the spirit of SOTA you might want to park over the otherside of the car park, be prepared for lots of visitors asking what your upto, as there is a car park at the summit, its well used by visitors, I was there in the dark and rain and still had people asking me what I was upto!
DC-004 Hensbarrow Beacon, this is a around a half a mile walk pretty easy going, should have no problems, long as the weather is ok, I say that as it was awful when I did it and it throws a whole new prespective on things.
DC-006 Carmengellis, this too is not too taxing, you park your car by the clay workings, plenty of room, and walk to the trig along a defined path, 10 mins. should get you there!
DC-007 Watchcroft, If you get down that far, again is pretty easy to get to, you park your car just off the road opposite the track that leads to the house and then to the summit. Its about 3/4 of a mile from here, but as said the weather was awful when I went so I chanced my arm and drove to the house, plenty of room to park, but bare in mind its private access, I knocked on the door explained what I was about and they was very happy for me to park which reduced the walk to just under 2 tenths of a mile, howling winds and rain, I was very grateful.
DC-001 High Willhays, I did this one just over a year ago, the normal parking spot is the car park at SX562919 and walk round the reservoir etc., I think this route is mentioned elsewhere, however I used to live in Devon for 15 years so I got to no Dartmoor fairly well, you can drive over the moor to within a 15 minute walk from the summit, however, the road, like most on Dartmoor have deteriorated over the years and not been kept in good repair, I drive a Volvo V70 and was able to get to there ok, but it is tricky and you need to pick where the wheels go, if you have a 4WD then its a lot easier. If you fancy having a go using this route then head out of Okehampton upto the army camp, pass the camp and take the road onto Dartmoor, you will really need a map to get yourself there to be honest, but you will see a bridge that goes over a stream, you need to turn right befor this bridge. Eventually, assuming you negotiate the pot holes etc., you will get to an area where there is a sign saying no vehicles other than military beyond this point, this is where you park and as mentioned its a 15 minute or so walk to the summit.
DC-005 Christ Cross, this is another easy one, you drive virtually to the summit, there is room to park a couple of cars in front of a dissused farm gate opposite the path to the true summit. once parked cross the road, through the gate and follow the defined path to the transmitter towers, I set up on a fence just by the towers and operated 2 mtrs no problem, I was actually pointing the 2mtr beam directly at the transmitters and was still able to work the midlands chasers with no problems on ssb.
Worth mentioning I got back to the midlands on 2mtrs ssb on all of the DC sumits with no problems, …dispite the weather!!
If you do have a problem with getting contacts, Don, G0RQL is 5/9 everywhere and is only to pleased to make a phone call!
As mentioned I can send you the tracks that I used on my Garmin etrex vista if its any help, but you shouldnt have any problems to be honest. You might want to consider stopping off and having a crack at some of the SC summits on your way back, they are all pretty accessible and it does break up the driving!
John
M0JDK
