Hill of Foudland - change of plan

We (Fraser MM0EFI and I) had plans for a big day out on Lochnagar (GM/ES-008) yesterday but were thwarted by the vagaries of the Scottish weather (calm to storm over six hours) and the present state of Fraser’s oral health (emergency dental visit). So, I put the crampons and ice axe back in their bags, probably not to make another appearance now that I have them and completed a winter skills course! Not wanting to waste a sunny day up here in the North East of Scotland and being short of time due to dog-sitting duties, I chose a local summit, Hill of Foudland (GM/ES-071). I had just built an EFHW with a 49:1 transformer and wanted to test it. Laziness dictated that I wouldn’t bother putting a mast up in the garden so it was straight up a hill with my first real go at antenna construction.

There are two ways up Foudland, but having done it last Easter, I prefer the route via Red Hill for good off-road parking and a bit more of a leg stretch. The storm-damaged trees are still there, but there is a route around them which is relatively easy to follow.

The only snag with this route is finding a gate in the deer fence that the blocked path will take you straight to but a quick patrol up and down with reference to last year’s GPS track took me to the first gate. There is so much rewilding up here that deer fence access is now the new blocker to land access!

There are two cairns on Red Hill but I’m not sure why they are there as the hill is pretty insignificant.

On the way up, I could hear the GM/ES massive starting to activate, accompanied by the usual deluge of WhatsApp messages! At the trig, the forecast wind didn’t disappoint and after three local contacts on 2m (I could nearly see Mike 2M0WNA), I started to search for somewhere to get my Tactical Mini up without the chance of it snapping. The lee of the hill drops way sharply and is covered with the remains of the old slate quarries, which are akin to bomb craters, so they are unsuitable for EFHW placement. After recent GM/ES discussions about the state of trig point receptacles (people like to shove plastic water bottles in them), I was pleasantly surprised to see that this trig was available for mast placement all the way to what looked like the magma!

With everything up and withstanding the wind, I had a quick look at the SWR via the IC705 function and couldn’t see a thing on 15, 20 or 40m. Thinking that being an AMATEUR, I was misusing the function, I spotted and selected SWR on the S meter. All was good, with the meter barely registering anything over 1.3:1 apart from at the upper reaches of 10m, which is to be expected. Job done! Nineteen QSO’s in all on 15, 20 and 40 with 4x StS.

I quickly descended and was back with the pooches within an hour, with the sun breaking through the early mist and haze.

If anyone is interested in Landys and camper conversions, I have created a YouTube channel hopefully showing the transformation and subsequent adventures: Alan the Defender

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Has anyone yet done SOTA by semaphore? We could try that next. Thanks for the report Chris, and congrats on the new YouTube channel with Alan. Essential viewing for all Landy owners - of which I am one no longer. It’s a big enough challenge staying on-road nowadays without inadvertently straying off-road….! 73 Mike :grinning:

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We could wave a flag from a big mast, save carrying all this radio nonsense.

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Not by semaphore. I have one of these: WW2 RAF Heliograph mirror – WW2 Militaria, Scale-models, Books, etc. and I’m just waiting till I know someone will be LOS and it is predicted to be sunny and I’ll try it.

n.b. €40 is robbery. You can get them incredibly cheap on eBay if you keep a look out.

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Used to be in our single seat dinghy packs Andy. I’ve probably got one somewhere!

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Another pair of hills where semaphore or Aldis lamp would work are GM/SS-104 and GM/SS-105. I’m just waiting for the MT to add 400nm to 700nm wavelength to the database in order to log it.
Andy
MM7MOX

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Not tried that one. Care to share the route? I may try that on Friday, after yet another dental appointment.

Tnx for the SOTA 》POTA on Friday :smiling_face:.

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My Foudland activation post of November 2022 (“Foudland activation set in stone’) briefly describes Chris’s Red Hill route, too, starting from a small, secluded parking space (OS map ref: NJ 579 319). It’s the route I normally use, being much nearer my QTH. :+1:

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Guessing something like this route?

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Due to the fallen trees, you need to take a quick right shortly after setting off on the main path. It’s reasonably well trodden but vague in places.

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Glad to see a map with your route as I was totally baffled by the description. When I went up there last year we drove past Lenchie on the yellow road, looking in vain for parking places. Rod decided to have a rest so parked a short way up the dotted track where a car could pass but a timber lorry couldn’t but that didn’t matter as he would be around. I then walked up to an old quarry at the hairpin and a fence (and gate) with fascinating information about what was being planted where in the interest of conservation etc. Unfortunately I forgot to photograph it as it was so detailed. I slogged gently up to ‘Stony Hill’ and then joined your track. I was in a hurry as it was just about time for the local net but I couldn’t risk stopping to say I was arriving. I saw the trig point and almost ran, fumbling to get out the radio and RH770 but it was no good. They all signed off with excuses like ‘peeling vegetables for dinner’ or getting on with work and there was no-one there when I called. Disaster!
I did eventually qualify it (helped by M0JLA at base camp) and then shot back down the hill. If you are interested in trees I recommend my route with the sign but you will have to solve the parking problem. I don’t think we knew of the alternative parking spot.
Good luck with all the dentist appts Fraser - don’t say you are starting on titanium implants at your age…??
73 Viki

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Yes, had two. However, one has failed. :grimacing:

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Sorry to hear about the implant trouble, I had the same but the second attempt has been ok for about 8 years now.
Andy
MM7MOX

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