This summit was activated on Wednesday 6th August 2003 by myself, accompanied by the full quota of Marianne, Jimmy & Liam.  For our main family hoiday this year, we repeated a previous initiative where we undertook a house swap with my sister-in-law's family.  We get a holiday in Hampshire, they get a holiday in Cheshire, holiday accomodation is much better than the usual offerings and only spending money is required as the holidays themselves are free!  One of our day trips was to the Isle of Wight, which involved driving down the M27 from Chandler's Ford to Portsmouth and taking the Wightlink ferry across to Fishbourne - £45 return and a beautiful crossing, especially when sat on the top outdoor viewing balcony with a pint!

From Fishbourne, we headed to the island's capital town Newport, then followed the signs for Shanklin and ultimately Ventnor.  Just before Ventnor, we followed the minor road to the summit, which I think was signposted as "Ventnor Down".   The trig point is on this road, lying in a most undistinguished position by the high boundary fence to the radar station.  The trig is not the true summit, which lies 5m higher within the radar station compound.  There is however another peak of 240m ASL by the visitor car park and viewpoint at SZ 573 787.  It is not listed in the "Twin Peaks" section in the update sheet to The Relative Hills of Britain (Alan Dawson), so perhaps more accurate measurements to centimetres are known here.   Nonetheless, at less than 1m lower than the true summit, this easily accessible and beautiful spot, looking out over the English Channel, would make a qualifying SOTA activation.

My first contact was very pleasing, as it was my first ever into France, and in fact my fourth contact, plus two more later in the day on Brighstone Down SE-012 were also to be French stations.  After packing up and retracing the very short walk to the car, we headed into the island town of Shanklin for lunch in one of the many cafes on the high street, and then down to the beach for an hour's swimming, cooling off from the scorching sun above.

Callsign today was MX1SWL/P, the club call of the International Short Wave League (ISWL).  See my radio page or click on the link for further details.  Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m SSB with 2.5 watts: