Ysgyryd Fawr, GW/SW-016 - 486m ASL - SO 331 182 - OS Explorer OL13 - 1 SOTA point            

We were now racing against the clock. There was still drive over to Ruardean, Gloucestershire to undertake, with a radio club expecting us at 6.30pm. But we had finished our scheduled two summits on Tuesday 31st May 2011 by 2pm. Should we squeeze in an extra activation, or take it easy, check in the B&B, have a shower and relax?

   

You know the answer. We drove back to Abergavenny, and then (after a couple of wrong turnings) out on the B4521. Ysgyryd Fawr loomed up on the left hand side, and soon after, so the the parking area. There was room for about 12 cars here - and there were 12 cars here! However, some children were playing nearby, and some people were sat in their cars reading the papers. I backed into a space on the end right in front of the access gate to our path. I knew I couldn't leave my car there, but reckoned it wouldn't be too long before a space became available.  And within 2 or 3 minutes, a couple of families walked down the path towards us, got into their cars, and drove off. Sorted. Looking at the map, I reckoned this walk to be about 50 minutes each way. We only had a two hour window available, so I had to push myself to try and beat my estimated time.

   

The day had warmed up further, so after marching quickly up the initial track to the edge of Caer Wood, I was sweating cobs. It mattered not. We had to press on and put a fast approach time in so as not to be inappropriately late to our booking. The information board at the bottom of the steep section up through the woods told of the history and legend of Skirrid Hill. Skirrid Hill? Ysgyryd Fawr - oh, yes, of course! I hadn't recognised the English "Skirrid" in the Welsh "Ysgyryd", but at least now I knew how to pronounce it! I recalled something about the Skirrid Inn in that dreadful TV show of past years "Most Haunted" with Yvette Fielding.

   

The extra effort and resulting exertion did me good, and I was surprised at how quickly I managed to climb through the wooded section. A welcome reacquaintence with refreshing breeze greeted us as we climbed the end of the ridge. And what a ridge. We were suddenly walking loftily atop a narrowing ridge with marvellous views, and homing in steadily on the summit.  By the time we reached the summit, the "refreshing breeze" had morphed into a buffeting wind. One that I knew would snap my SOTA pole in seconds. Jimmy had already dropped down the eastern face, about 3 metres, to give himself sufficient shelter to erect the 2m beam. I did likewise, but a further 3 metres down onto a small flat section before the slope dropped very steeply away again.

It was the requisite 4 contacts on 2m FM for Jimmy again, while conditions remained poor on 40m CW for me, with just 6 going into the log this time. One of them - CT1BQH - was nonetheless a very satisfying contact however.  I could have stayed and tried harder, or maybe QSYd to 15m, but we had a presentation to get to and deliver. We raced down the hill as fast as out tired and aching bodies would allow, and hit the road back to England. The next stop would be Ruardean Hill G/WB-021.  Thanks to all the stations worked on this one: