Moelfre - GW/NW-041 SOTA (2021)

Summits on the Air Activation Report

Activation Date: Saturday 16th October, 2021.
Activator(s): Richard M1HAX.
Summit: Moelfre, North Wales, Wales.
Summit ID: SOTA reference GW/NW-041 (2 points).
Summit Height: 589m elevation, 162m prominence.
Summit Location: Lat./Long. 52.80132, -4.03924. Maidenhead Grid IO72xt.
Also Activated: GW/NW-017, GW/NW-023, GW/NW-078.
Distance: 18.2km travelled with 1350m of ascent.
Difficulty: SAC Grade T1.^(?)
Elapsed Time: 8hr 5m (incl. operating and other summit(s) on the same hike).
Weather: 11°C, moderate breeze, cloudy.
Radio Equipment: Yaesu FTM100D, MFJ-1714, Zippy 4200mAh 4S LiFePo4.
Callsign Used: MW1HAX/P.
Contacts: 4 (2m FM).

Trip Notes

Moelfre, standing at 589 metres, is a distinctive peak located near Llanbedr in Gwynedd, North Wales. It is classified as a Marilyn due to its prominence of 162 metres, giving it a distinctive presence in the landscape. The summit offers superb panoramic views over the surrounding countryside, including the rugged Rhinogydd mountain range, the Mawddach Estuary, and the stunning coastline of Cardigan Bay. Despite being overshadowed by its better-known neighbours, Moelfre provides an excellent vantage point and forms a perfect introduction to the more challenging peaks of the Rhinogydd.

This activation formed the first part of an 18.2km circuit that would take in four summits in the Rhinogydd range: Moelfre, Y Llethr, Rhinog Fach, and Rhinog Fawr. To access the starting point, I drove into the picturesque Cwm Nantcol valley, following narrow but well-maintained tarmac lanes. There is limited parking for a handful of cars on the grassy verge near the start point of this walk, but this is usually sufficient as the Rhinogydd tends to be one of the quieter mountain areas in Snowdonia.

From the parking spot, I followed a southward-leading grassy footpath that ascends gradually up the slopes beneath Moelfre. The terrain is straightforward, consisting primarily of open moorland and grass. After covering little more than a kilometre, the path crossed over a dry-stone wall. I continued to follow this wall more or less directly towards the summit, eventually reaching a wooden ladder stile that allows walkers to cross to the summit area.

Upon reaching the highest point at 589 metres, I found a stone shelter that provides welcome protection from the elements. On this day, conditions were reasonable with moderate breeze and cloudy skies, but the shelter would be particularly valuable in more inclement weather. The views from the summit were impressive, with Cardigan Bay clearly visible to the west and the higher peaks of the Rhinogydd stretching out to the east.

Using my Yaesu FTM100D with the MFJ-1714 antenna, I undertook a quick SOTA activation on the 2-metre band. Given the ambitious day’s itinerary ahead, I kept the activation brief, making four contacts in under five minutes. With the activation done and two SOTA points secured, I quickly packed away my radio equipment, eager to make progress on what would be a full day out in the Rhinogydd.

From Moelfre, my route continued eastward towards Y Llethr (756m), the highest point in the Rhinogydd range and the next summit on my itinerary. The path descends initially before beginning the climb up to the higher peak, offering continuous views across this rugged and less-frequented part of Snowdonia National Park.

Moelfre may be one of the more modest summits in this part of Wales, but its accessibility and the exceptional views it offers make it a worthwhile objective, either as a standalone hike or, as in my case, as part of a more extensive circuit of the Rhinogydd range.

Photos

Below are some photographs taken during my activation of Moelfre on Saturday 16th October, 2021.

Walking Route for Moelfre

The interactive map below shows my GPS track taken to the SOTA activation zone for Moelfre. Note that this summit was activated as part of a multi-summit hike and the map below shows the full route taken on the day. The GW/NW-041 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 4 amateur radio contacts operating as MW1HAX/P from GW/NW-041 Moelfre on Saturday 16th October, 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 Moelfre:

• Sotl.as Summit Page for GW/NW-041 Moelfre.
• Hill Bagging UK Summit Page for Moelfre.
• Google Maps Page for Moelfre.
• Wikipedia entry for Moelfre.
• 360° Panorama near summit of GW/NW-041 Moelfre.

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