Kit Hill - G/DC-003 SOTA (2023)

Summits on the Air Activation Report

Activation Date: Saturday 22nd April, 2023.
Activator(s): Richard M1HAX.
Summit: Kit Hill, Devon & Cornwall, England.
Summit ID: SOTA reference G/DC-003 (1 point).
Summit Height: 334m elevation, 171m prominence.
Summit Location: Lat./Long. 50.51919, -4.29387. Maidenhead Grid IO70um.
Distance: 0.2km travelled with 3m of ascent.
Difficulty: Drive on summit.
Elapsed Time: 20m (including operating).
Weather: 9°C, light breeze, fog.
Radio Equipment: Yaesu FTM100D, MFJ-1714, Zippy 4200mAh 4S LiFePo4.
Callsign Used: M1HAX/P.
Contacts: 4 (2m FM).

Trip Notes

Kit Hill, standing at 334 metres, is a prominent landmark in eastern Cornwall that dominates the surrounding landscape of the Tamar Valley. Located near Callington, this distinctive hill has played a significant role in Cornwall’s rich mining heritage, having been a centre for tin and copper extraction for centuries. Evidence of this industrial past remains visible in the form of old engine houses and quarries scattered across its slopes. Today, the hill is protected as a Country Park and serves as a popular destination for walkers, history enthusiasts, and, of course, Summits on the Air activators.

Unlike most SOTA summits that require a hike of varying difficulty, Kit Hill is one of the relatively rare “drive-on” summits. During my April visit, I drove directly to the summit area where there is a spacious free car park. The access roads leading to the top were reasonably well-maintained, posing no challenges even for low-slung vehicles. This great accessibility makes Kit Hill an ideal option for those with limited mobility or time constraints who still wish to participate in SOTA activities.

Upon arrival, the summit’s triangulation pillar was immediately visible at the edge of the car park, despite the day’s thick fog that shrouded the surrounding landscape. This convenient proximity meant I had only to walk a few metres from my vehicle to reach the activation zone.

I set up my radio station atop the trig point, deploying my Yaesu FTM100D for 2-metre FM operation. Interestingly, despite the hill’s prominence and elevation advantage, establishing the four contacts required for a valid SOTA activation proved more challenging than anticipated. It took approximately 20 minutes of persistent calling to secure the necessary QSOs. This difficulty may have stemmed from potential RF overload from the nearby commercial antenna mast on the summit, but it more likely reflects the relatively sparse amateur radio activity on VHF in this part of the country.

The four contacts I eventually logged included stations from both England and Wales, with signal reports varying from strong (5/9) to marginal (5/3), demonstrating that successful VHF operation is completely viable from this location.

Given Kit Hill’s exceptional accessibility, it would be particularly well-suited for extended HF operations where equipment weight is less of a constraint. The ability to bring substantial antennas, masts, and power sources directly to the activation zone without a strenuous hike creates opportunities for more elaborate SOTA setups than typically possible on most summits.

For those interested in more than just radio activities, Kit Hill offers numerous historical artifacts relating to its mining past. A walking circuit around the hill would provide an excellent opportunity to explore these industrial heritage sites while still enjoying the benefits of this easy SOTA location. Even on a foggy day like the one I experienced, the mysterious atmosphere created by the mist enveloping the old engine houses adds a unique dimension to the visit.

Photos

Below are some photographs taken during my activation of Kit Hill on Saturday 22nd April, 2023.

Station Log

I logged the following 4 amateur radio contacts operating as M1HAX/P from G/DC-003 Kit Hill on Saturday 22nd April, 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 Kit Hill:

• Sotl.as Summit Page for G/DC-003 Kit Hill.
• Hill Bagging UK Summit Page for Kit Hill.
• Google Maps Page for Kit Hill.
• Wikipedia entry for Kit Hill.

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