Mynydd Bodafon - GW/NW-071 SOTA (2021)

Summits on the Air Activation Report

Activation Date: Friday 2nd July, 2021.
Activator(s): Richard M1HAX.
Summit: Mynydd Bodafon, North Wales, Wales.
Summit ID: SOTA reference GW/NW-071 (1 point).
Summit Height: 178m elevation, 178m prominence.
Summit Location: Lat./Long. 53.34356, -4.29603. Maidenhead Grid IO73ui.
Distance: 0.7km travelled with 50m of ascent.
Difficulty: SAC Grade T1.^(?)
Elapsed Time: 45m (including operating).
Weather: 19°C, 12 mph SE wind, 84% humidity.
Radio Equipment: Yaesu FTM100D, MFJ-1714, Zippy 8400mAh 4S LiFePo4.
Callsign Used: MW1HAX/P.
Contacts: 19 (2m FM).

Trip Notes

Mynydd Bodafon, though modest in height at just 178 metres, holds the distinction of being the highest natural point on Anglesey, with Yr Arwydd as its summit. This small group of peaks has historical significance, featuring the remains of an Iron Age settlement known as Cytiau’r Gwyddelod. Nearby Gors Fawr is a spring-fed lake steeped in local legends, including tales of it being bottomless. The area supports diverse heathland wildlife and has connections to druidic history.

I tackled this small summit as my second activation of the day, following an earlier visit to Holyhead Mountain. My chosen starting point was a convenient gravel pit off a minor road that provided ample parking for several vehicles. From this impromptu car park, the summit is barely a ten-minute walk, making Mynydd Bodafon about as close to a “drive-on” summit as you can find within the SOTA programme while still requiring a short hike.

The route to the top followed an obvious and well-trodden footpath that led directly up to the summit without any navigation challenges. With less than 50 metres of ascent over the short distance, this walk presented no physical difficulties whatsoever. It’s an ideal summit for those new to hillwalking or SOTA, or for experienced activators looking to add an easy point to their tally.

Upon reaching the summit, I was pleased to find that the low cloud that had affected visibility at Holyhead Mountain earlier in the day had cleared substantially. From the trig point, I enjoyed excellent views across the sea and over to the Snowdon range on the mainland, their distinctive profiles clearly visible across the Menai Strait.

Setting up my Yaesu FTM100D on the trig point, I was surprised by the exceptional radio conditions for such a minor summit distant from major population centres. I completed 19 contacts on the 2-metre band, a very satisfying total for a one-point hill. The highlight was another summit-to-summit contact with Ian GI0AZB/P, who was still operating from Slievelamagan (GI/MM-006) in Northern Ireland, having spoken to him earlier from Holyhead Mountain. I also completed a summit-to-summit with Viki MW6BWA/P on Maesglase (GW/NW-029).

After exhausting all 2-metre contacts, I made the brief walk back to the car, completing the entire activation in just 45 minutes. This efficient process meant I still had ample time in the day to begin my journey back toward the Snowdonia National Park area.

While Mynydd Bodafon makes for a pleasant brief excursion with good views, its limited scale and walking distance mean it’s best incorporated as part of a multi-summit day rather than as a destination in its own right. Pairing it with Holyhead Mountain creates a satisfying day of Summits on the Air activity on Anglesey that can easily be combined with other tourist activities in the area.

Photos

Below are some photographs taken during my activation of Mynydd Bodafon on Friday 2nd July, 2021.

Walking Route for Mynydd Bodafon

The interactive map below shows my GPS track taken to the SOTA activation zone for Mynydd Bodafon. The GW/NW-071 summit area is marked on the map with a blue pin icon.

You can download the route shown above as a GPX file suitable for use with most GPS devices. This file is provided for information only, to support your own walk planning and research (it may contain navigation errors, detours and/or safety hazards). The route downloads provided here are governed by the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.

Station Log

I logged the following 19 amateur radio contacts operating as MW1HAX/P from GW/NW-071 Mynydd Bodafon on Friday 2nd July, 2021 (all times shown are UTC):

In the notes field I will usually log the other operator’s name and the signal report they provided. In accordance with the Summits on the Air rules, I do not make a log entry where a complete exchange of callsigns and signal reports was unsuccessful.

Additional Information

The following resources may be helpful to walkers, mountaineers and SOTA activators interested in Mynydd Bodafon:

• Sotl.as Summit Page for GW/NW-071 Mynydd Bodafon.
• Hill Bagging UK Summit Page for Mynydd Bodafon.
• Google Maps Page for Mynydd Bodafon.
• Wikipedia entry for Mynydd Bodafon.
• 360° Panorama near summit of GW/NW-071 Mynydd Bodafon.

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