Billinge Hill - G/SP-017 SOTA (2023)

Summits on the Air Activation Report

Activation Date: Monday 9th January, 2023.
Activator(s): Richard M1HAX.
Summit: Billinge Hill, Southern Pennines, England.
Summit ID: SOTA reference G/SP-017 (1 point).
Summit Height: 179m elevation, 155m prominence.
Summit Location: Lat./Long. 53.50741, -2.71678. Maidenhead Grid IO83pm.
Distance: 1.3km travelled with 55m of ascent.
Difficulty: SAC Grade T1.^(?)
Elapsed Time: 35m (including operating).
Weather: 7°C, light breeze, sunny.
Radio Equipment: Yaesu FTM100D, MFJ-1714, Zippy 4200mAh 4S LiFePo4.
Callsign Used: M1HAX/P.
Contacts: 11 (2m FM).

Trip Notes

Billinge Hill, standing at a modest 179 metres, holds the distinction of being the highest point in Merseyside. Located in the historic boundaries of Lancashire in North West England, it is one of just 176 hills in England classified as a Marilyn (hills with a prominence of at least 150 metres). The summit is marked by a distinctive beacon tower, constructed in the 18th century as a summerhouse for the nearby Winstanley Hall.

This small hill’s primary appeal for Summits on the Air enthusiasts lies in its strategic location and accessibility. Situated relatively close to the motorway network, Billinge Hill makes an ideal quick activation when journeying north to the Lake District or Scotland. Unlike many SOTA summits that demand significant time and effort, this one-pointer can be completed in as little as 30 minutes, making it perfect for breaking up longer driving trips.

For my activation, I found free parking available for approximately half a dozen vehicles at the end of the access road marked on the GPX track. The route to the summit follows an obvious, albeit somewhat muddy, footpath that leads directly to the hilltop. The walk is remarkably straightforward with minimal elevation gain - unusual for a SOTA summit - covering less than a mile for the round trip.

Upon reaching the summit, I established my operating position on the historic beacon tower. The structure features a large concrete ledge that provides a convenient place to sit and set up radio equipment. With views extending across the surrounding countryside, the location offers an unexpectedly pleasant operating environment despite its urban proximity.

Using my Yaesu FTM100D at 50 watts, I easily made eleven contacts on 2 metres FM, including a summit-to-summit QSO with Adrian G4AZS/P on Stiperstones (G/WB-003). The large population centres in the vicinity ensure a reliable pool of potential contacts, and a modest handheld transceiver would likely suffice for SOTA qualification.

After taking a few moments to appreciate the panoramic views, which extend surprisingly far on a clear day, I packed away my radio and descended via the same footpath to my car. While Billinge Hill may lack the dramatic landscapes and challenging terrain of more famous SOTA summits, it compensates with convenience and efficiency, a worthwhile one-point hill that can be easily incorporated into broader SOTA itinerary.

This unassuming summit proves that not every worthwhile SOTA activation requires mountaineering skills or a full day’s commitment - sometimes the modest hills, tactically activated when opportunity allows, can contribute significantly to your SOTA logbook with minimal time investment.

Photos

Below are some photographs taken during my activation of Billinge Hill on Monday 9th January, 2023.

Walking Route for Billinge Hill

The interactive map below shows my GPS track taken to the SOTA activation zone for Billinge Hill. The G/SP-017 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 11 amateur radio contacts operating as M1HAX/P from G/SP-017 Billinge Hill on Monday 9th January, 2023 (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 Billinge Hill:

• Sotl.as Summit Page for G/SP-017 Billinge Hill.
• Hill Bagging UK Summit Page for Billinge Hill.
• Google Maps Page for Billinge Hill.
• Wikipedia entry for Billinge Hill.

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