Lewesdon Hill, G/SC-009 - 279m ASL - ST 437 012 - OS Explorer 116 - 1 SOTA point            

Day 8 - Sunday 1st August 2010 (part 2)

From Staple Hill G/SC-004, Jimmy shouted the directions as we progressed south-eastwards through the country lanes. We located Stoke Knapp Farm at ST444015 as recommended and sought to ask permission to park. However, the place seemed to be deserted - and in fact in a state of ruin. I pulled into the single roadside space in front of the crumbling house and commenced the walk into the track opposite, which was called Lewesdon Hill Lane.

   

The ground to our left began to loom up steeply as we passed the first National Trust sign for Lewesdon Hill. Jimmy insisted we press on forward until he directed the left turn for the final summit push. Although it had looked steep, this was more of a graded contouring path, and the summit was attained without difficulty. The summit plateau was a funny sort of pear shape, with the highest point right at the thin end.

       

Jimmy used that point to set up for 2m, while I went along into the thicker part of the plateau to set for 5MHz. I made 8 QSOs on 5MHz, 6 on SSB and 2 on CW, all inter-G. Jimmy hadn't made a single QSO on 2m FM in that time, but his first was soon to come. After 2 contacts we was struggling again, but I encouraged him to be bold and invite himself into an existing net. This was a regular Sunday afternoon Royal Navy net, and the OMs on frequency were most welcoming. Jimmy was soon up to six contacts, although the 6th happened to be his dad who was nearly back at the car!

   

It was during this QSO that I realised, with horror, that the all important photo-shoot had not taken place. Over the radio, I urged Jimmy to get Craig to get some shots before they left the summit - at least they had the camera up there with them!

Soon we were reunited at the car. It seems the farm wasn't abandoned after all, as someone was now driving a JCB around the yard. We got in the car and aimed for our final summit of the day, Hardown Hill G/SC-011.