Tom Read - click to email meBDXC ISWL WAB SOTA RSGB IOTA - see my radio page for more detailsLiam & Jimmy

Holyhead Mountain 2004

 

This summit was activated on Wednesday 2nd June 2004, by myself, accompanied by Jimmy and Liam.  From Mynydd Bodafon NW-071, we headed west across the Island of Anglesey, until we picked up the A55, which we joined to head into Holyhead.   First stop was a supermarket in which to buy lunch, which comprised of our usual fayre of each boy's individual choice of pie/pastie and pack of sandwiches, plus bottles of water (with sports caps of course).  Continuing to the end of the A55, near the ferryport, we then continued left on the coast road towards the North West tip of Anglesey, and then left at the sign for the Breakwater Country Park.  We followed this lane right up to the car park at the end, where the information point and toilet block for the country park is.  It was free to park, as it seemed to be for all out summits on this particular trip.

Liam exploring the summit of Holyhead Mountain    Jimmy on Holyhead Mountain    Click to return to summit index

 

We followed the path leading NW out of the car park, which then curved upwards around the quarry edge, bending around to head SW.  At the first significant junction of paths we turned left, and then right at the next.  A little further on, the path to the summit appeared to take a left turn up a very steep section, not indicated on the OS map.  We decided to play safe and continue straight ahead on the path we were on, as there was no turning required according to our OS map.  Sure enough, as we gained height and turned the corner, we could see that our path picked its way steadily up to the summit, and we now noticed a family which had taken the turning and got stuck on the steep bit, and were trying to get themselves back down.  I felt for them, as I was caught out myself like that once in the early days of SOTA, but it seemed they were able to get back down OK.  The entirity of this walk was simply wonderful, picking up through the rocky terrain under deep blue skies and warm sunshine, and surrounding by gorgeous blue sea on three sides.

Jimmy, Tom & Liam on the summit of Holyhead Mountain NW-069

The summit was nice, with trig point and walled area suitable for sitting on while operating.  The boys took lunch while I activated the summit, the highlights being a summit-to-summit contact with Mark, and a QSO into the Isle of Man.  Following descent, we drove across to the mainland to tackle Yr Eifl NW-075.

Thanks to all the following stations, all worked on 2m FM:

MW0BEA Rhiwlas Colin 0.5 watts
MW5DOS Holyhead Roly 0.5 watts
MW0DEV/P Moel Llyfnant NW-018 Mark 2.5 watts
MW0RHD/M Pwllheli Bob 2.5 watts
MD0IOM/P Douglas Mike 0.5 watts