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Heath Mynd WB-007

 

Heath Mynd, G/WB-007 - 452m ASL - SO 336 941 - OS Explorer 216 - 1 SOTA point         Map & summit information from SOTAwatch

From Burrow G/WB-014, we drove in a north and west direction up the B4385, through Lydbury North.  We turned right at the junction with the A488, and right again into a very narrow lane.  We parked at SO 329 938, by pulling onto the grassy area between the junction of tracks.  Otherwise, there is nowhere to park anywhere near here!

Information board close to the start of the walk  Trig point on Heath Mynd  Tom M1EYP/P

The route is very straightforward, in that it follows a byway track to a spot height of 353m, then turns right on a track which continues to ascend due north of the summit.  A permitted path then turns right again and follows directly to the trig point.  Unfortunately, we forgot this, and allowed ourselves to follow the track as it weaved its way of course towards some plantations.  Upon realising our mistake, we then waded uphill through deep heather to get to the summit.  Conditions at the top were now very unpleasant with extremely strong cold winds and icy rain and sleet.  It took many attempts to get the beam aerial up in the first place, and then many further inconveniences of re-erecting it each time it was blown over by the gales.

Ian G4WUH was waiting to work us, but then we met a wall of silence.  Fortunately, nearly twenty minutes later, we were found by John GW4BVE, who then lined up a couple more stations on frequency for us.  This was an unpleasant activation, and we were pleased to be packing up and descending, before going for a reccy to assess the feasibility of a summit activation of Caeliber Isaf GW/MW-031.

Jimmy on Heath Mynd summit        The SOTA Beam battles for survival in the strong wind

Many thanks to the following stations, each worked on 2m FM with 2.5 watts:

G4WUH Newent Ian T, J
GW4BVE Pool Quay John T, J
G0NES Wythall Don T, J
G4JZF Walsall Graham T, J

Heath Mynd 2004