I’m currently in Wiltshire for family reasons, but brought my gear with me. There are only 1 pointers within reasonable driving distance of our base in Potterne and I selected SC-007 as being the closest. This has been activated many times but I noted from the reports that parking could be problematic, particularly from the East, so I decided to go up from the West, using the path that starts from a single track road called Coker’s Lane and did a scouting trip the day before to check things out.
As well as the small space beside the church in Kilmington, described in the recent report by M1MAJ/M3ZCB, I noted 2 other possibilities - one outside the house called Highlands and a small space by a field entrance just down the road from that one - see map below. While exploring though, I approached a local resident and asked about the possibility of parking on their property; while initially negative, as the conversation progressed, they relented and gave me permission as I wasn’t local and I promised it was a one-off and wouldn’t advertise it - excellent result.
Parking spots marked P in red; the one I actually used is not marked, in keeping with my agreement with the local resident.
© Ordnance Survey 2024.
Saturday 19th had a good weather break forecast between heavy rain days and so it proved. Nice and sunny all day with very little wind. The start of the path at Coker’s Lane is wayposted and from there it is a short walk across arable fields, through another gap in a hedge and then over a wooden stile next to a dead tree. Just before the stile there is a false track which leads nowhere, with an overgrown waypost next to it.
The Stile
It is then a short but steep grassy climb to the top, with the walk taking approx 30m in total.The area with the hill had a few cows in it.
Activation
KX3, Sotabeams 20/40m dipole, 2el yagi for 10m, Spiderbeam 7m mast, 6m al mast
Started on 40m at 1050 utc with M1DDD first in the log. Another 12 G and GW stations followed, with just one EU chaser HB9JOE. One of the Gs was Scout Jamboree station GB2CSG operated by Peter and I had exchanges with 3 scouts -Francesca, Michael and Alec.
Switched to 10m which was open to USA and picked up KC8QDQ in Ohio who was calling CQ. A spot then brought a short skip QSO with Robert GW0RQC in Cardiff, followed by SV2HJW, 2 East Coast US chasers, and then another short skip to Wales. Things went quiet, so I went down to 20m, first for a S2S with OK1MCS/P and then a spot run of 11 EU including 4 more S2S.
Another spot on 10m brought just 2 chasers, WY7N in Maine and a S2S with MW0LEP/P. Got another S2S on 20m and then had a short lunch break.
Going back to 10m at 1241 utc, the band started to open well to Stateside, with 7 US chasers incl Illinois, Michegan and Wisconsin. When things went quiet again, I browsed the band and found PX0FF the Fernando de Noronha DX-pedition and got them 2nd call - easily the most exotic DX of the day.
Another spot brought 3 more US chasers and 2 from Greece, including Dinos SV3IEG. I then got a S2S with AJ2I in New Jersey and then the best S2S of the day with K2CZH in Missouri, followed by Adele ZS5APT. Denis, MW0CBC called in at 59+ - really good skip to Wales it seems(altho he was running 800w to a 10el LPY) and we had a brief chat about his forthcoming trip to Scotland. Staying on 10m then got me another 7 NA, EA8 and 2 more from Greece, with VE3PQX being last in the log.
I packed up at 1415 utc with the threat of showers coming in but they bypassed Long Knoll and I could probably have stayed QRV longer.
65 itl for the day. I only saw one hill walker all day.
73 all.
Some views from the top
Looking East along the ridge
Looking NW
Looking NE
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