Activity Summary

Date : 5th May 2026
Distance : 9.49 km
Ascent : 579 m
Max Altitude : 780 m
Time to Summit : 2:02 hrs
Total Activation Time : 5:45 hrs

Weather

Partly Cloudy
Temperature 6 ℃
Feels like 7 ℃
Humidity 84%
Wind Speed 7 km/h
Wind Direction N

Equipment Used

Icom IC705 (10w)
4000 mAh LiFePO4 battery pack
2m, flowerpot
SRH770 antenna
FT65 Hand Transceiver
SOTABEAMS Carbon 6 pole
PoLo logging app on iPad mini

Parking Location What3Words

///mulled.vaccines.yacht

Activation Report

I arrived at the parking spot at the entrance of the track where the walk to Glasgwm starts, this is located at SH 81272 21777. There is room for maybe a couple of cars to squeeze in without blocking access to the track. Although, good ground clearance would be preferable, as you park on bit of a raised bank. I started walking at 8:50, later than I had intended. After walking for about half a kilometre you join a forestry track, this then continues up for around two and half kilometres. Once you cross over the stile you enter moorland. Once you have found the best place to cross the narrow stream, you follow a faint path up to the bwlch. From the bwlch the route splits, either to Glasgwm on the right, or Aran Fawdy to the left. From here, I started to climb following the path that runs close to the fence line.

Looking down the fence line. Taken on descent about the scree section

Just before the steep scree section, I tried a path that looked like it may circumnavigate this section of scree. It did, but I ended up having to step over a fence and climbing up through a grassy section, this also looked like it could get very boggy. I wouldn’t recommend it, I certainly wouldn’t try that way again. Once on the summit the weather was fine, if not a bit chilly. In fact, the first thing I did was to put on my hat and coat. I was intending to activate Aran Fawddwy in the afternoon, but I was beginning to question if I would have enough time. To my surprise, I was already running 30 minutes late.

I setup my station, sheltering from the fresh breeze behind the summit cairn. I was using the Ic705 with the 2m flowerpot antenna on a carbon 6 pole. I was checking for a clear frequency on 2m SSB, when Don, GW0PLP instantly returned, before I could press go on the spot.

Then what followed, was something no activator wants to hear, nothing, just static. After five minutes or so of nothing, I switched to 2m FM. To my surprise the first call was an Irish callsign. It turned out to be Simon, GW4TJC and Helen, MW0TMD on Tonelagee, EI/IE-003, a 10 point summit in Ireland. Even better to add to the summit to summit, Simon then asked if I could work 2m SSB, yes please 😀

I then returned to FM and started working a caller, when mid conversation I noticed my SWR jump into the red. I looked up at my antenna trying to work out what had happened. The choke at the bottom of the flowerpot had uncoiled itself. My 3D printed former had split apart. For some reason I had forgotten to wrap it in tape, that would have prevented that from happening. After failing to fix the antenna, I gave up and switched to the SRH770 connected directly to the IC705. Also at this point I decided to give up on second summit and just take my time and enjoy Glasgwm. I worked some more FM callers before packing my radio gear away.

I had some lunch and a play with my drone before getting ready to descend. Just as I was about to leave the summit, I saw a spot from Robert, GW0PEB and so grabbed the FT65 to get one last summit to summit. I do have to admit, I am not a fan of the slog down the last section on forestry track. I was glad to get back to the car with a flask of coffee waiting.

The interactive map below shows a track of the route taken. You can zoom in or out to change the scale. The map can also be shown in full screen. The GPX track can also be downloaded using the link below the map.

Download file for GPS

Further information can be found on the SOTA resource page for the summit