Detling Hill - G/SE-013 SOTA (2025)
Summits on the Air Activation Report
Activation Date: Sunday 13th April, 2025.
Activator(s): Richard M1HAX.
Summit: Detling Hill, Southern England, England.
Summit ID: SOTA reference G/SE-013 (1 point).
Summit Height: 202m elevation, 164m prominence.
Summit Location: Lat./Long. 51.29848, 0.58556. Maidenhead Grid JO01hh.
Distance: 0.1km travelled with 0m of ascent.
Difficulty: Drive on summit.
Elapsed Time: 50m (including operating).
Weather: 14°C, cloudy, 19kph SW wind, 65% humidity.
Radio Equipment: Elecraft KX2, Elecraft AX1.
Callsign Used: M1HAX/P.
Contacts: 6 (20m SSB, 17m SSB).
Trip Notes
Detling Hill (202m) on the North Downs holds the distinction of being the most easterly SOTA summit in Southern England. It is a drive-on summit with easy access directly from the A249 main road, making it one of the simplest activations in the entire G/SE region. A spacious car park at the top and a large grassy area with picnic benches provide an ideal setting for portable radio operation.
I set up my Elecraft KX2 and worked six stations on 17m and 20m SSB. The highlight was a contact with M7VGU who was also present at Detling Hill operating for Parks On The Air. This must surely rank among the shortest-range contacts I will ever make on the 17-metre band, with both stations on the same hilltop.
The summit itself is entirely unremarkable from a hillwalking perspective. I was here simply to tick it off while working through the region, and I would not be inclined to return. There are walking paths around the hill for those wishing to make more of a trip, and the activation zone is large enough to accommodate various operating positions.
For completionists working through G/SE, Detling Hill offers minimal effort for a virtually guaranteed activation point. For those seeking scenic hill walks, perhaps look elsewhere.
Photos
Below are some photographs taken during my activation of Detling Hill on Sunday 13th April, 2025.
Station Log
I logged the following 6 amateur radio contacts operating as M1HAX/P from G/SE-013 Detling Hill on Sunday 13th April, 2025 (all times shown are UTC):
| Time | Callsign | Band | Mode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:06 | EA3MP | 20m | SSB | s58 r59 |
| 11:11 | EA3BV | 17m | SSB | s59 r54 |
| 11:22 | M7VGU | 17m | SSB | s59 r59 |
| 11:39 | EA1DHB | 20m | SSB | s58 r54 |
| 11:41 | 3Z9VI | 20m | SSB | s52 r44 |
| 11:42 | OE2CKF | 20m | SSB | s53 r31 |
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 Detling Hill:
- Sotl.as Summit Page for G/SE-013 Detling Hill.
- Hill Bagging UK Summit Page for Detling Hill.
- Google Maps Page for Detling Hill.
- Wikipedia entry for Detling Hill.
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