Moelwyn Mawr SOTA Activation (2026)

Summits On The Air reference GW/NW-016, 6 points

Activity Summary

  • Date : 15th May 2026
  • Distance : 7.79 km
  • Ascent : 553 m
  • Max Altitude : 770 m
  • Time to Summit : 1:52 hrs
  • Total Activation Time : 4:24 hrs

Weather

  • Partly Cloudy
  • Temperature 7 ℃
  • Feels like 3 ℃
  • Humidity 79%
  • Wind Speed 15.8 km/h
  • Wind Direction NNW

Equipment Used

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

Parking Location What3Words

///venturing.shunts.stags

Activation Report

For this walk I was heading up Moelwyn Mawr, taking the route up through the old Wrysgan quarry, near Tanygrisiau. This is my second visit to Moelwyn Mawr and I took the same route that I used last time.
The carpark is located at SH 68289 45433, and although there was plenty of parking spaces at around 9am, the carpark was full on my return at about 1:45 pm, see the picture below.

The full carpark on my return in the afternoon


Without a GPS navigation device loaded with a route, navigation through the quarry would have been tricky in places, as the route is not always obvious. Even with a GPS, I made some wrong turns, as you can see on my GPS track below. Once you start to ascend up through the quarry, the path does become steep, care would be needed in wet weather, as wet slate can become very slippery.

Looking back down from the quarry


Walking past the old quarry workings you can only imagine how busy this quarry would have been in its day. These slate mines were a major industry in this area from the late 1700’s until the 1970’s. On this walking route you can see the old tunnel entrances to the mines, some more visible than others.

One of the old mine entrances

Once clear of the quarry the going gets easier, although the path still fades in places. The final half a kilometre or so to the summit is steep, but the views when you arrive on the summit are worth it, if on a clear day.

I had arrived being fully prepared for a cold summit, and was expecting that my first job was going to be putting up the shelter. However, on the leeward side of the summit, I couldn’t believe how warm it was. I setup my station just below the summit ridge. I deployed the 2m flowerpot antenna, followed by setting up the IC705 transceiver.

My operating location

I hadn’t even managed to get a spot out on 2m SSB when Don, GW0PLP was in the log. Don kindly spotted me as my own spot hadn’t sent. I was pleased to see a steady stream of 2m SSB contacts, with most being 5,9 or better. I managed eight SSB contacts in about fifteen minutes. I switched to 2m FM and managed four more FM contacts, including two summit to summits. They were with Tony, M9OUD, on Y Wyddfa (Snowdon), GW/NW-001 and Robert, G0PEB on Yr Eifl, GW/NW-075. Something that was very strange throughout the activation, was how random bits of hailstone kept falling out the sky onto my iPad screen. Literally just two or three pieces of hailstone, whilst it was gloriously sunny.

Activation log
QSO Map

With all of the callers worked, I packed away and chatted to a fellow walker whilst eating lunch. I descended the same way that I had walked up, enjoying the views and good weather. When I was nearly back at the car, I passed the waterfall looking very picturesque with the sun shining on it. I nice way to end a walk on what finally felt like spring day in May.

Waterfall near the carpark

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. The route may contain errors and should be used only as a guide.

Download file for GPS

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