Not content just to tick off the SOTA summits, Ben Lloyd GW4BML has just published a book about his exploits along with his family. It’s entitled ‘Summit of Dreams’ and available on Amazon as a paperback or e-book. A few tear jerking moments for some are included but mostly filled with moments and experiences that we as SOTA activators and chasers can relate to.
21 Likes
That’s the holiday read sorted!
Looking forward to it…
2 Likes
Ten bucks US via Kindle. Free if you have an unlimited Kindle membership. About 200 pages. Many other Amazon entries with that same title, but all others are music.
Elliott, K6EL
2 Likes
Got mine last week. Halfway through Chapter 2 as struggling to find any “relax with a book” time at present! Very much enjoying the book though. I like Ben’s writing style, and of course lots of “I’ve been there” and “I’ve experienced that” memories being reignited. Good stuff.
7 Likes
Allan @GW4VPX, thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your thoughts! It really means a lot to hear that Summit of Dreams is resonating with you and others in the SOTA community. I wrote the book not just for myself, but for all of us who love this amazing scheme and the adventures it brings. Capturing those moments with my family and sharing them was my way of showing what’s possible when we combine amateur radio with the great outdoors.
I’m thrilled that people are enjoying it so far! If you get a chance, please consider leaving a review, it helps others discover the book. My hope is that these stories inspire activators and chasers alike, and maybe even encourage someone to tackle those remote island summits in the UK.
Thanks again for being part of this journey. SOTA truly is something special!
73, Ben
GW4BML
9 Likes
…hi Ben, can you put up a link to your book?
Geoff vk3sq
1 Like
3 Likes
..thanks Allen, much appreciated. 
Geoff vk3sq
2 Likes
Hi Geoff,
I now know why you cannot see the book in paperback, it’s because Amazon don’t print in colour in VK. I will be creating a non-colour version over the next week, to upload in VK and JA.
73, Ben
GW4BML
7 Likes
Mine just arrived, a present from the XYL for Christmas. I’m way too impatient to wait until then, so have started reading it already.
For someone who obtained my license and started doing SOTA at pretty much the same time as Ben (2W0BML was one of my very first S2Ss), the book has a narrative that resonates nicely with my own experiences playing radio on mountains.
Well done Ben, a nice (early) Christmas present.
6 Likes
I have recently read this book and have enjoyed it as well. I would like to point out though that this book states that my dad Tom @M1EYP activated Ailsa Craig GM/SS-246 in July 2015. This actually isn’t the case as me and dad activated this summit along with Jack @GM4COX, Allan @MM1BJP, Robert @GM4GUF, Nick @G0HIK, Phil @G4OBK and the late Geoff @G6MZX also back in August 2009. We were the first activators of this summit.
Jimmy M0HGY
4 Likes
Thanks for pointing this out Jimmy, you are 100% correct, I got the dates wrong. When I checked the SOTA summit information for Ailsa Crag, I wrote both group activation dates down, I only had two to choose from, 2009 and 2015. I must of mixed them up, and wrote 2015. Never mind, glad you enjoyed the read 
7 Likes
Ben’s book in 58 seconds.
12 Likes
Sold. Gonna get a copy for my Kobo. Are there many photos in it and are they colour? I’ll get the paperback instead if so.
3 Likes
Approximately 60 photos, all in colour
5 Likes
Thanking you. Paperback it is then. I’ve about 827,000 books in my to read pile but it’s going in! 
4 Likes
Took me ages to figure out where the cover was. Initially I was thinking looking down on the Foxes’ Path on Cadair Idris GW/NW-009, but then that was missing the Cyfrwy Arete on the other side.
I’ve now realised it is going from Y Llethr GW/NW-017 to Rhinog Fach GW/NW-078.
Definitely on my to-read list.
Cheers,
Jared G5JFJ
10 Likes
You’ve got it 
one of my favourite routes in GW.
7 Likes
Thanks for the great video @MM0EFI Fraser - I’m glad you enjoyed the read
6 Likes