This summit was activated on Friday 1st August 2003, by Jimmy and myself.   This is the only SOTA summit in the SP region with no public access, but with the cooperation of Lancashire Countryside Services, and the kind permission of the landowner Mr Mason-Hornby, a special SOTA group activation day was arranged.  We were joined for this activation by Myke G6DDQ, Riley G7GOD and Stuart G0MJG, all taking up the opportunity to access the White Hill summit on this day.  Riley's friend Mike and his son Scott came along, making a total party of seven.

We took the A34, M60 (East), M66 and A56 towards Rawtenstall, continuing on the A59 to Clitheroe and the B6226 passing Easington Fell SP-012.  In accordance with Mr Mason-Hornby's direction on routes, we parked at the Cross of Greet lay-by SD 683 608 on the summit of the Slaidburn to Bentham road.  We then followed the fence up to the summit, remaining on the right-hand side (west side) of the fence so as to remain on Mr Mason-Hornby's land.  On the other side of the fence is land belonging to United Utilities, who had refused permission for access.  The walk was tricky with no path across the grouse moor, but lots of soggy marshy patches, holes and ditches to negotiate.  We reached the summit after about one hour and twenty minutes.   I set up my my SOTA Beam and FT817, while Myke started calling CQ on 70cm on his handheld.  Riley shared my equipment for his debut SOTA activation.  Stations came in thick and fast to chase this summit, and we all claimed the 2 points for the first activations of White Hill.  As we were packing up, Stuart arrived with an identical set up to my own - FT817 +SOTA Beam!  We descended White Hill, taking time to negotiate the difficult bits, and just after reaching the car, I managed to work Stuart to claim 2 chaser points to go with my 2 activator points!

This was a challenging walk, not too difficult, but tricky in places.  Jimmy and myself, and I think the others in the party, were grateful to Myke who took on the role of "Mountain Leader" for the walk, talking us through the various bogs and ditches.   Lunch was taken in the cafe in Slaidburn Heritage Centre, with Myke joining Jimmy and myself.  Jimmy and I then drove onto Ward's Stone SP-003 for the day's second activation and my break through the 100 points barrier.

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 FM with 2.5 watts down to G4PKD, the rest on 1 watt: