Newton Fell North LDO-097

[M5TEA]

Newton Fell North

WOTA ID: LDO-097	Height: 239 m (784 ft)
SOTA ID: n/a	Grid ref: SD395842
HuMP ID: n/a	QTH Locator: IO84MG
Book: The Outlying Fells	Lat: 54.249741 Long: -2.928635

Just a quick one today, mopping up some of the Southern Outlying fells I’ve yet to activate, this was a 20 minute-ish car journey for me. Parking is ample on the road next to the reservoir.

After a minute or so of walking you can see the summit from the lower reservoir. There’s a gaggle of TV reflectors clearly visible. However, I’d suggest following the main path up to the second reservoir rather than scale the wall beyond which you can see a faint path to the summit.

Once you reach the second reservoir there is a gate that provides access to the field in which the summit is located.

The summit is marked with a cairnstone pile.

With the bitterly Easterly winds that challenged walking vertically I decided to cross the wall to the left of the summit antennas - there is a clear path across. That way I could shelter from the wind which made the activation pleasant rather than short!

I’d brought a (new to me) FT-817ND. This was purchased from Audrey - Rob G4RQJ’s widow last week. It’s never great purchasing SK gear, but I did promise that it would be back on the fells, I’d like to feel that is what Rob would have wanted, rather than languishing in someone’s shack.

My attempts to fit a SOTABEAMS filter module in my previous FT-817ND have been far from successful. That rig is awaiting some attention now to either fix or revert it. This one benefits from a 500 Hz CW filter, negating the need for any additional filtering.

I’ve also finally managed to get the correct broken section of my SOTABEAMS tactical mast - my mistake helpfully corrected by SOTABEAMS. I had to lean against the mast propped against the wall. I’m always amazed at the force that can wind can exert on a mast!

Thanks to Douggie, David and George it was a painless activation. George offered to give me a 2m SSB contact, so I’m finally on the challenge board!

TIME	CALLSIGN	BAND	MODE	RST	RSR	OPERATOR	SIG	REF
11:50	G7CDA	2m	FM	59	59	Douggie
11:54	G6AEK/M	2m	FM	59	59	David
11:56	M0SSD	2m	FM	59	58	George
12:00	M0SSD	2m	SSB	59	59	George

The views are pretty good to the South, for the effort it is well worth a visit!

Talking of FT-817NDs, I’ve been working with my mate Dave on a better 18650 battery tray. It’s amazing how much effort is required to get the design and parts to come together successfully, but we’re getting there and will share once done.

[G8CPZ]

The first 3 or 4 times I did this by parking on the fragment of old road just north of Ayside just off the A590. It turned out to be a nightmare on several activations trying to follow little-used paths heavily overgrown by tall ferns. On one such occasion, the wet ferns were making it impossible to keep my dog on her lead so I let her off. Big mistake! We got separated and for her it was like a jungle with no visibility. I was shouting her name for ages – probably 20-30 minutes (though it seemed much longer) and by chance we met each other on a path near the road.

Then I found out about the route by the reservoir which Mark took - an easy stroll (if you park where the fishermen do) on a very well-defined path then via a gate onto open moorland to the summit. A satisfying walk to the summit where you can shelter from the wind & rain behind a drystone wall a few metres away from the (abandoned?) collection of microwave dishes.

I have done the shorter (‘scale the wall’) path one or twice but not since I got a 31-kg (rescue) golden retriever – it doesn’t save much time and you get wet or dirty scaling the wall.

If you’re travelling any distance, you might as well activate the nearby even-easier Newton Fell South (Dixon Heights) LDO-114, also a lovely little walk and with surprisingly good views from its modest summit.

[2e0ldf]

Is that a tactical antenna hiding under your bag. Like you i have been fitting some 18650 batteries to my FT290R instead of the NI-CADS that it had in. 3sells in stead 12 so a weight saving as well

Reg

[M5TEA]

That’s a cable tie Reg, but even I had to do a double take! I do use one on the handheld I normally mount on the motorbike, and it works really well in that capacity, purely by chance. When rolled up it is compact and wind resilent but still able to pick up 2m/70cm transmissions that are strong.