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145 Alive at Win Green

Written on Sunday 12 Jul 2026

For this afternoon’s 145 Alive event, I took a gamble and headed to every local ham’s favourite spot, Win Green. I had backup plans in case the summit was already spoken for, but luckily (and I think for the first time) I didn’t see another ham all day, and had...

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2026 Challenge Complete: Activate all POTA Parks within 20 miles!

Written on Friday 3 Jul 2026

It’s been a busy two years. In June 2024, after four years holding an amateur radio licence without talking to anyone, I finally discovered “my thing”: portable operating. Alongside the thrill of getting on the air and the beauty of being out in the wild, came an obsession with completionism...

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The Parks not Documented

Written on Thursday 2 Jul 2026

As I close in on the end of my “every POTA park within 20 miles” challenge, and start writing it up, I have noticed there were a few gaps in the list of activation reports. When I first started outdoor amateur radio, I breathlessly documented every single trip, somehow even...

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RSGB 2nd 144MHz Backpackers 2026 Contest Report

Written on Sunday 14 Jun 2026

Whenever you think there’s not going to be a hike, just a civilised walk from the car to the activation spot… there’s a hike. There’s always a hike. Today’s intention was to have my first go at the RSGB 144MHz Backpackers contest, and conveniently get a 2m SSB SOTA activation...

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Activation Report: The Heatwave Roves

Written on Tuesday 26 May 2026

Whitsun weekend, 2026. The country bakes under an unrelenting sun. Heat health warnings have been issued, with daily highs of 32C; the hottest May day since records began. Alright, time for some parks! Day One: 25th May On the first day, I tackled the four remaining parks of my challenge...

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POTA Rove Report: The Meeting of the Ways

Written on Tuesday 5 May 2026

My part of the world is home to two major rivers, the Stour and the Avon, which both meet each other and the sea at Christchurch. Both have trails along their length that have been recently added to the POTA system, as has the Castleman Trailway, which crosses them both....

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Hitting a Thousand

Written on Thursday 30 Apr 2026

It’s hard to say for sure when this website started. My reckoning puts it sometime in 1998, so it is fast approaching 30 years on the web, though no evidence has survived of that very early form. What’s more certain though, is that at one point in 2001 I first...

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POTA Activation Report: Wareham Forest

Written on Thursday 30 Apr 2026

Yesterday after work, I happened to pass by a recent addition to the POTA system, GB-6728 Wareham Forest. I carry my QMX and 40m dipole antenna in the car for just such an occasion, so I decided I’d head into the park and have a go. It turns out, yesterday...

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Activation Report: Afton Marsh and the Needles

Written on Sunday 26 Apr 2026

Since the last time I hiked the western Isle of Wight circuit, three new parks have popped up in the area: GB-5384 Afton Marsh, GB-5386 Isle of Wight Coast Path and GB-5390 Headon Warren & West High Down SSSI. Of course I’d have to complete the route again, and on...

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POTA Activation Report: The Harbour View Rove

Written on Thursday 23 Apr 2026

With one last day of holiday remaining, sunshine and warm temperatures forecast, and four new parks in the local area not yet activated, it was time to get out there! All four parks had views over parts of Poole Harbour, so I decided to group them all together in a...

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