Criffel GM/SS-130
Firstly the factual bit. I’m glad I only skipped through the reports on the database as they suggested a swampy ascent. In. 2026 it isn’t. The path is now perfectly built (this is not obvious from an OS Map) and there is a very clear route from the large car park (Free but donation requested top Moffat MRT) at Ardwall to the summit. It would be difficult to make a navigation mistake as the junctions are signposted. It took me about an hour to get to the summit from the car park, and the car park took me about an hours drive from Carlisle. Excellent views from the summit and a really enjoyable walk. If there is a downside it is quite popular.
I could tell something was happening as the man got up early and didn’t sit down to have his coffee. Me and my brother (the loud, pully one) were taken on a shorter walk. Then it was breakfast time, which for a Cocker Spaniel is a very important part of the day before being put in the car with the mans son and his friend. They said something about the Cumbria Way. We dropped them in Carlisle, but I wasn’t let out and we were back in the car for another hour.
When we did get out the man insisted on taking us up this great big hill. We tried to make it fun for the man by trying to pull him off the path into the peat, but the path was so good it didn’t work and in an hour we got to the top. I think it would have taken longer if my brother hadn’t pulled the man up the hill. Then the man played with his radios, I didn’t manage to pull a single guy line out so the mast thing worked well. The man fiddled with his little radio (FT270) as he had forgotten to order an new SMA adapter so we had to get the other radio (KX2) out. I tried to be helpful by sitting on his knee to stop his logbook blowing away which I think made it harder when the man tried too write anything down. Woody was showing off with his loud I’m at the top of the hill barking…. The man said 40m was working well and then we had another tiny walk to play with the antenna and tried 20m. The man was quite surprised to talk to someone in Cornwall on that setting….
Then it was off, down the hill and back to the car, and then a cafe (well in the garden) where the man had a big sandwich and I got a pesky little dog biscuit. Jet - (The quiet one)
Once again thanks to all the chasers, and thanks for your patience while there was either a Spaniel joining in the QSO, or sitting on the logbook. 73. Paul (Woody & Jet)