Activating GM/CS-039 Carn na Caim June 2026

 A nice climb to a large activation area, but with no shelter, worth 8 points

 I parked in Layby 88 on the A9 Southbound and walked along to the pedestrian gate and along a well made stony path.

 The first half of the walk is on good stony track and provides almost all of the elevation gain, so the hard work is done early before the legs start complaining!

 

The second half is a fairly flat, on grass with the occasional boggy patch.

 

The summit is large and flat, offering no shelter but it did have a handy metal post that I used to hold my Sotapole.  In the picture below the small summit Cairn is on the left.

 

 

This summit is evidently popular with hikers and I saw at least 8s while I was on the summit.  2 people came over and asked what I was doing, and seemed interested and even impressed!

I enjoyed 5 SSB QSOs on 40m, then 6 on 15m including a S2S with IK2LEY/P on I/LO-457.  I finished off the activation with 5 on 20m.
 

Activating GM/CS-043 Geal-charn June 2026

 A straightforward hike to a stony summit, worth 6 SOTA points

 I returned to activate Gael-charn in June 2026 having first climbed it in September 2025.  I parked in a large car park just off the A9 near Balsporran Cottages, which was filling up with other hikers and dog walkers.

The walking route passed the B&B, over the level crossing, and was  a good stony track for about half of the ascent.  A useful early sign kept me left, but the next turning was right.

 

 

The stony path transitioned to peaty moorland which made it harder to stay on the correct route, but using the SOTL.as map on my phone kept me moving in the right direction

 Once on top I had high winds to contend with and sheltered in the cairn.  I only extended my Sotapole 3/4 height and restrained it against the wind with the cord strapped to a heavy rock.

 I started on 20m with 3 SSB QSOs, and was very pleased to include a S2S with Fabio IK2LEY on I/LO-451, over 1500 km away.

I then switched to 40m and a further 10 in the log, including 3 S2S with operators on Welsh summits, it being the GW SOTA weekend.

The weather was too changeable to stay too long so I packed up and headed back to the car.

Next activation GM/CS-039 >> 

Activating GM/ES-041 Carn a'Ghille Chearr June 2026

 A straightforward activation in the cloud, worth 4 SOTA points

 In June 2026 I found myself in Aviemore again while my wife was on a course.  Plenty of opportunities to climb some new SOTA summits, and revisit some previously activated ones.

While England, Wales and continental Europe were sweltering in a record-breaking heatwave the heat had not reached the Highlands and in fact it was pretty dreary for this activation.

I parked just off the A'anside Road, taking a bridge across the river where there was plenty of parking space next to a Glenlivet notice board. I walked up the stony driveway and through a farm yard where a public path was signposted. 

 This proceeded as a rough track for about half of the way, and then became a much less distinct route through boggy peaty moorland which was hard to follow at times.

 The visibility deteriorated as I climbed and by the time I reached the top I was in the cloud, with a mixture of drizzle, hail and gusty winds to contend with while I set up my sotapole.

 Propagation was reasonable and I managed 7 SSB QSOs on 40m, 6 SSB on 15m and then just 1 on 20m.  The forthcoming weekend was the GW SOTA event so I was glad to get 2 S2S QSOs with activators in Wales warming up for the weekend.

Cold and wet I packed up, drying my Sotapole as much as I could and headed back to the car.

Next activation GM/CS-043 >>