I’m likely to have a free day in Birmingham on Tuesday 25th June 2024, with a business event the day after. I’ll be flying down early on the morning of 25th and will be staying in a hotel at the NEC or airport that night.
Does anyone have any suggestions of summits I could reach from there using public transport? I had a real blast doing Kinder Scout from Manchester airport a couple of years back.
Alternatively does anyone want a day out with me on 25th?
Cheers,
Fraser MM0EFI
Nearest is Walton Hill (G/CE-002) which is well visited but quite spacious. According to the NT website (Clent Hills | Worcestershire | National Trust) :
“Bus stop 20 minutes walk from Nimmings Wood car park, up a steep hill, on bus route 192 between Birmingham, Halesowen, Hagley and Kidderminster. Alight at Hagley. Bus stop ½ mile from Clent village, on bus route 318 between Stourbridge, Hagley and Bromsgrove.”
Great Malvern is 1.5hrs on the train from Birmingham Intl which gets you a nice walk away from Worcestershire Beacon (G/WB-009). It’s lovely but busy and the AZ isn’t that large so probably not one for long wire antennas.
Good luck and hope to catch you on the air!
Mike
With the airport on the East side of Birmingham, reasonable options (time-wise) with public transport are limited.
As Mike mentioned, the nearest summit is Walton Hill (G/CE-002). After that, public transport options will take possibly that much longer (2-3 hours) plus walking time.
By car, there are a few options:
Bardon Hill (G/CE-004), near Leicester, NE of the airport. Relatively small summit but with a nice view across the quarry. It also houses a transmission tower nearby but never had any issues. (Approx 45 mins by car)
The Wrekin (G/WB-010), North West of Birmingham near Telford. A nice walk - popular during the weekend - with nice views on the top with plenty of space for antennas. (Approx 1 hour from the airport by car)
Further South of the airport on either side of the M5 are various smaller summits.
The Cloud (G/SP-015) and Gun (G/SP-013) much further North along the M6 near Congleton. The stomping ground of @M1EYP. (1hr+ drive by car)
Depending on the arrival time, it may even be possible to go on a car treasure hunt and activate the 5 two-pointers (or as many as time allows) along the Welsh Borders, West of Birmingham in the Shropshire Hills. G/WB-004, G/WB-002, G/WB-005, G/WB-003 and G/MW-013. (1.5 hrs by car)
Let me know if there aren’t any takers. Happy to become the Ham4Hire on the day.
I can even bring my gear, like a SOTA Safari, so you can add another layer in your carry-on luggage instead of radio equipment.
Robert
M0RWX
That ticks all the boxes.
Cheers Robert. I will keep in touch.
At the moment, it looks like my flight gets in at 8am and I would literally have all day, so open to lots of ideas. 
Presumably made by the same team as Krakatoa, East of Java.
Likely; as long as you keep going East… ; now corrected.
My suggestion is to go somewhere else.
Its Glasto week but sadly we failed to tickets this year, so I am free and would up for some SOTA if you would like company. I could also suggest & offer CE-002, WB-009, CE-003 and time permitting CE-001 with a finish at Cheltenham, an hour back to Birmingham international by rail.
Tim
You beat me to it. But have a 
for thinking like me 
This thread is about going somewhere else. Doh!
I’m only jealous you get to do some radio fun in a different part of the country at essentially someone else’s expense!