BEN BOWIE. GM/SS-251
Posted by 2m0gil on November 13, 2011
SUNDAY 13TH NOVEMBER
Ben Bowie bound today for the short walk up the 313m hike between the River Clyde and Loch Lomond,starting on the A818 near Daligan farm.The walk is fairly straight forward and follows a farm track through Bannachra muir forest before skirting off through a firebreak which leads onto the 3 peaked summit,all of which oddly enough measure up to the same 313m.Normally there are good views to be had all around but unfortunately the low cloud obscured the visibility today despite a very strong and biting cold North wind.Arrived at the peak in around 45 minutes which was well-timed as i had posted a sota alert for around 12:45 meaning i was 10 minutes early.
As this was a mini sota trip and my coaxial bnc connector had still to be repaired from last weeks outing,idecided the small rubber duck antenna
Ben Bowie view South over clyde coast
would do me today.After trying to find a spot out of the wind and a bite to eat i switched the vx-2 on and heard Niel NCM/P signing off with Bobby GAX. I gave Neil a call and got a 4/1 report back which was ok for starters as he was up near Tyndrum on CS-050 Beinn Odhar.Had a word with Bobby who was out and about above Greenock when Robin (PKT) broke through for the second summit to summit,he was beaming down from Morvern on another 1 pointer WS-308. The next contacts came from just across the water in Inverclyde with regulars Steve (UAU) & Roddy (IOB).
Having qualified the hill and thinking i had exhausted the contacts with what i was using plus the wx was pretty poor i decided to head home and retraced my steps back towards the car park.The return journey took just 35 minutes and the drive home took not much longer.
I must return some day but perhaps in the summer time as idon’t think the views
were anywhere as good as they could have been,a great wee hill which could easily be tied in with something else or ideal for a morning meander.Roddy had asked if the hill was dog friendly and i would say yes,apart from the gate at start point where there was a stile to tackle,there were no sign of sheep although i did read another report elsewhere where the author advised of loads of ticks during the summer months.
Another point in the bag (only another 772 to go hi),thanks go to GAX & UAU for the sota spots.
73′s
gm7something said
Go back next summer on a sunny day and enjoy, it is a cracking wee hill. The views are class and maybe worth doing some HF to mix with your VHF working, a hill you could spend a day on..
Well done on what was a wind chiily day.
Bobby Mhor