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Moel Gyw 2003

 

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This summit was activated on 12th April 2003, as part of a 3-summit expedition carried out by Tom & Jimmy.  This was the last summit in the three, after Moel Famau NW-044 and Foel Fenlli NW-051.   After leaving the car park between these two summits, we headed back down the road towards the A494.  On the right (south) of the road was a small caravan site with a sign marked cafe & gift shop.  Jimmy had spotted this, so we gave it a try.   It was deserted apart from the two ladies staffing it.  The menu was very basic, but nonetheless we ordered - Jimmy had spaghetti on toast, while I tried the "Caroline's Broth" - which I would be having again if available when I return next year, as it was absolutely excellent!  For drinks, we had a full carton of fresh apple juice between us, which were available from the fridge at £1 each. 

Turning right onto the A494 towards Ruthin, we drove down for about 3 miles until we reached the motel (SJ 163 583) on the right hand side of the road.  We parked in here, then walked a little further down the road until we saw where the continuation of the Offa's Dyke Path went down the farm track in a southerly direction.  We followed this path around the hillside of Moel Gyw, considering a suitable access to the summit.   The only way seen so far was a scramble up a very steep slope that was covered in hostile bracken, and so this option was declined and we continued on the path!  At the south end of the hill (SJ 170 572), there appeared a well worn path climbing the easiest slope of the hill.  This path is not marked on the map, and so came as a pleasant surprise.  At the top, a cage appeared, in which was some kind of locked generator type box.  Hiding behind this was the trig point, with a rusty old tubular mast sticking out from the top of it, and then bent right over and lying along the ground with some kind of antennae at the end of it.  What kind of mast or radio service it was for I do not know, but it was most certainly out of service!  Photographs were taken of this, the ugliest trig point I have ever seen (but interesting nonetheless), but alas, the camera had managed its last useful images at Moel Famau, and the Moel Gyw pictures sadly did not survive.  Never mind, here is another picture from the 2004 activation:

Summit of Moel Gyw NW/GW-053

Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM with 2.5 watts:

G4VSS Warrington Mike
M1CVL Heywood Mike
MW1FGQ Holywell John
2E1JPM Preston Brook Jan
G4WAM Biddulph Moor Mike
M3CFI Warrington Carmel