I am planning a trip to Dublin, Ireland. The first day I want to take a walk around the Howth peninsula, looking at what plans I could make I got the pleasant surprise that it has a peak! It is the EI/IE-072 SOTA.
I will perform the activation only in VHF, but the big challenge is to perform the operation correctly. A thousand doubts assail me these days. Who said that you can’t enjoy the summit even months in advance?
I will be EI/EA9ADD/P. I will take with me the Spanish license and the CEPT agreement, appropriate clothing and umbrella (because it is Ireland ). Here you can see that I am preparing my little adventure as if it were an IOTA or a DX expedition . And rather it is a POTA in a very touristic place.
If you have any advice or recommendations for this amateur radio novice I will be grateful to read them.
When I did it, I took the train from Dublin to Howth then it was an easy walk from the station to the summit. I needed some insulating tape and a knife to cut up a power lead to make it work with the wrong battery that I had brought with me. There was a ship’s chandlers were I bought the tools. Up to the top, nice activation, then back down to a nice restaurant where I had a fabulous fresh fish soup and rolls and a few beers. Wonderful
I used the bus - at that time there was a convenient stop on a high point so less climb to the top but that was 9 years ago (just before FMF). Shop nearby too so ice-cream while waiting for the return bus.
As I recall much of the summit was covered in dwarf gorse which made it difficult finding somewhere to sit on the ground.
Good luck & 73,
Rod
You shouldn’t have any trouble getting contacts on 2m from there. West of Dublin / Wicklow mountains is a different story - we normally don’t even bother trying anymore . You should do well into Wales also on 2m.
If you have some spare time, consider a visit to the Hurdy Gurdy Museum there. I’m not sure if it is still in operation, but there used to be an amateur station inside
Thank you all very much for the advices. I will have all the spare time that day so yes, I was planning to take a walk around the cliffs (14kms more or less according to the route of wikiloc),
What I didn’t know was the wonderful Hurdy Gurdy museum in the tower, with a lot of history: the Martello Tower has historic links with Marconi and Lee DeForest, two of the fathers of wireless, who conducted early experiments from the tower in 1903 and 1905. It was also the site where the first communications cable from Holyhead in Wales to Ireland was laid in 1852. https://www.visitdublin.com/ye-olde-hurdy-gurdy-museum-of-vintage-radio
Finally it looks like I am going to have a wonderful radio day on August 15.
First activation abroad and… first failed activation with less than the 4 QSOs needed to validate it
In a morning that started rainy but with a great Irish breakfast prepared by Sean from the B&B begins the walk to the summit of only 171m, (I’ve received a funny badget with sympathy for this: Low rider )
After 40 fruitless minutes I decide to descend as the cliff path and Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in Martello Tower were waiting to enhance the day.
I have to apologize to @EI0MAR because I got (radio illegaly) from the guide an QSL from this amateur radio colleague. I hope to get another one by making QSO someday!!
). Here you can see that I am preparing my little adventure as if it were an IOTA or a DX expedition 
. And rather it is a POTA in a very touristic place.
. You should do well into Wales also on 2m.
)
