Some photos now added to that report.
It was a long drive, but we managed both of them on 11th September 2024. The forecast was still suboptimal: some sunshine but also showers, some heavy. We managed to get out to the holiday cottage on the Devon/Cornwall border reasonably early. It took 1:15 to drive to the parking for Carnmenellis.
We parked in the rough layby at SW688364, donned boots and rucksacks and set off along the road, straight on onto a footpath where the road bends right, follow the footpath round a right bend, and take track left to access area. The gate to the access area has a faded notice saying it is private, but beyond it is now access area. The gate is also broken and only on half a hinge: It wouldn’t easily open, so we climbed over onto the muddy cow churned area beyond. Over rough ground beyond the cows to a more bracken and heathery area ascending towards the summit, finding a bit of a path not far from the fence. We had driven through some showers and there were still some about, and one arrived as we neared the summit. Given the weather we decided not to cross the barbed wire fence to the trig point as the vegetation beyond looked worse than where we were which was well inside the activation area.
Martyn found space for the HF dipole in the less dense vegetation below the fence. Caroline used a fence post to support the end fed half wave VHF antenna on an extension pole, deeming it too windy for the dipole. She also needed to use the 2m bandpass filter to block out interference from the many antennas on the summit: this meant that 70cms wasn’t possible. It took Caroline 15 minutes to get 6 2m FM contacts on the log, but then it went quiet. Meanwhile Martyn had moved to 40m after only getting 3 on 60m. He had 17 40m contacts in the log by the time Caroline wandered over after finishing her lunch to see how he was doing. The terrain made it awkward to change the links to 20m, so Caroline continued on 40m while Martyn ate lunch, getting another 4 contacts.
HF setup
HF setup with Redruth antenna mast in distance.
VHF antenna and source of interference!
We retraced our steps back to the car. When we picked up a traffic report, we were glad that we decided to take the more southerly B3280 towards Penzance as the A30 was blocked by an accident on the Hayle bypass. The B3280 wasn’t a fast road with many sections not really two cars wide, and it took about 50 minutes to get to our parking for Watch Croft. It seems most people approach from the south, but we decided to approach from the north, parking in a parking area opposite the remains of the Engine house of Garn Gilver Mine at SW420363.
remains of the Engine house of Garn Gilver Mine
We headed back down the road and took what looked like a path heading in the right direction, but it disappeared into deep vegetation, so we re-examined the map, retreated to the road and continued down it, until a clear path headed off left near the low point of the road. Once on the proper path it was easy walking up to a path crossing where we turned right towards the summit. This path narrowed as it ascended but was in general wide enough to avoid tangling in gorse and heather. The trig point sits atop a pile of stones, with excellent 360 degree views.
Ascending Watch Croft
Ascending Watch Croft
Ascending Watch Croft
Having seen nobody else since we left the road, Caroline took advantage of the hole in the trig point to erect the 2m dipole, but after 3 contacts in 10 minutes it all went quiet on 2m FM. Meanwhile Martyn was struggling to find somewhere to get the HF dipole up, the summit being covered in gorse and heather with few narrow paths. He eventually got it up, but at the expense of multiply blood stained trousers where the gorse had attacked him. Martyn also got stuck after 3 contacts on 60m, so we partially shared 40m (wanting to minimise link changes given hostile vegetation). Caroline ran on 40m getting 16 contacts, with Martyn grabbing one of the stronger regular chaser as well to get his 4th. He took over 40m for two more contacts while Caroline went back to 2m for final calls which picked up a mobile station to qualify the summit on 2m FM for her.
VHF
HF and VHF
Taking down HF
Late afternoon sun on Watch Croft
Descending Watch Croft.
Caroline had planned a more interesting longer return walk, but time was against us, so we retraced our steps. From the point of view of walking and views, a nice summit; for HF operation not at all nice! At least we avoided any further showers on the afternoon walk and activation, driving through some rain on the 1:15 journey back to the holiday cottage (the A30 running well as the Hayle bypass accident had cleared).
. Not clear if he can fix it at the holiday cottage, so it might be the spare dipole with less bands tomorrow.
