The Coyles of Muick GM/ES-050
I always like to get a SOTA done, or even just a walk, on my last day off before Christmas, and today was that day. Last week, I asked @GM5ALX Alex if he fancied doing something. He immediately looked at the forecast and it predicted rain and strong winds. We had discussions about summits with trees and nice shelters, but we’d both done all the local ones this year. However, Alex had never done the Coyles of Muick (say Mick), so we decided on that. It has two tops, both in the AZ. One with a substantial cairn and one with a rock step to hide behind, so one each.
Surely the wind and rain wouldn’t be that bad anyway…
18th December 2024
We met at Dinnet around 0800 and headed off to Ballater, taking the bridge over the Dee and along the South Deeside Road to a muddy layby.
waiting for Alex
We set off around 0830, initially walking through forest on a wide track. All was calm. On exiting the forest, the track narrowed considerably and started a long slow ascent across a moor, but always near the trees, which were bowing considerably in the wind by now.
first light, crossing the open ground
Evrntually we passed a hill. Alex asked if that was it. No, but on doing some research it turns out there are three Coyles (or hills) of Muick. This was the first.
approaching Coyle number 1, Meall Dubh
A steep rise, descent to a bog, past a shooting bothy and then some steeper ground and we were soon approaching the col between the second and third Coyles. The strong wind blew us up with some force.
Coyle number 2. Unusual geology for hills in Deeside
Initially, we’d planned on having our own Coyle. One (Coyle 2) had a substantial stone cairn, whereas Coyle 3, the marginally higher one, had a small pile of rocks, but should afford some shelter in a shallow rocky gully, just a few metres from the top. Alex proved that Coyle 3 was no place to activate from by standing atop the small cairn and doing his best impression of a sky diver sans parachute. His tight fitting woolen hat was almost lost to the wind.
Alex testing the windspeed
We both ended up on Coyle 2. I had my carbon mast and W3EDP antenna. Alex had a shortish fibreglass mast and 17’ vertical plus radials. The W3EDP works just about anywhere and in any arrangement, so I raised mine about 3m vertically and had the remaining 23m sloping gently to the ground. The only way I could hold the mast up was by bunching a velcro strap into a ball and slipping it behind a stone, similar to a climber placing a hex in a tapered crack. It held.
chocked mast
low slung W3EDP
Alex, meanwhile, had taken himself down the lee slope and set up his vertical, ensuring the mast was firmly guyed. Of course, he’d forgotten his phone. Today he’d be logging on paper. Once he was organised, I wandered down to get his frequency, and put a spot on for him on 20m.
Alex operating, with Mount Keen on the horizon
I returned to my cairn. There wasn’t much shelter to be honest, with the maelstrom whipping around the cairn. I got a spot off for 40m and waited. Chris @2M0RVZ was first in my log and he also managed to work Alex on 20m, despite being about 30 miles away. We both worked a run of stations until things subsided and then we pretty much decided to pack up at the same time. So, good for chasers, as they got two bands. Good for us, as this took half the time!
summit selfie from Coyle 2
As we headed back to the col, we felt the wind increase in strength, estimated 60mph/100kph. It chased us all the way back to the woods, where calm was restored. We were back to the Land Rover about 2 hrs 40 mins after setting off, so a perfect length of outing for a day such as this.
Time on our hands, we headed into Ballater for tea and medals. The Bothy cafe was our choice of the numerous eateries in Ballater. At 1130, it was a bit early for lunch. Alex suggested a second breakfast. “Now you’re talking!”
second breakfast at The Bothy, Ballater
Over breakfast, tea and toast, we congratulated ourselves on just what a good job we’d done up there, on an exilirating morning hike, where just putting our stations on the air was the main achievement.
Oh, and it didn’t actually rain until we came out of the café. Perfect.
73,
Fraser MM0EFI & Alex GM5ALX
