Monday 21st February: 

So - a good start to plans - not!  Have tested positive for COVID last week and feeling pretty ropey TBH.  Good news is that I am feeling a little better, so all is not lost.  Having fought the pandemic professionally from the outset,  I am determined not to let this stop me, and still plan to be on the road on Friday. Testing TBD. 

However, I am still on track.  Packed the kit today and got rid of more weight - pack weighs quite a bit - but no more than I am used to with previous experience.  This time, I have different goals to my previous long walks, (not aiming for 25 miles per day!) - so it will be fine.  Strategy will be to walk early every day, set up the power solar recharge system in the dim Scottish sun and get on the radio as soon as I can.  Aiming for 10 - 15 miles per day.  A daily military CFT with a purpose!!  (Google CFT if you are unaware).

Tuesday 22nd February

Still COVID positive, so have had to cancel some work stuff early this week.  Worked more on this website last night.  Still aiming to go Friday as planned.  Weather is awful in the Midlands. Forecast for Arran for next week is a little better with minimal rain. We shall see!  If it ain't raining it ain't training.  As some wag once said.  He probably was wearing full Goretex at the time.

Wednesday 23rd February.

Feeling better.  Food supplies arrived today (camping style boil-in-the-bag and suchlike).  I am planning a secret "half-way cache" pre-positioned on my circular route of food, essentials and weight-saving treats.  Obviously not advertising where I am hiding it!  Having previous experience of one-way long distance paths, it is food and water that adds weight.  I have a superb water filter system, and Arran has excellent places for shops and supplies.  Unlike the Highlands, it is possible to pick up stuff on the way.  Taking my bigger Vango tent for the stay in Cumbria on the way up.  Thanks Wallace Lane Farm Camping in Wigton!

Thursday 24th February

Preparations ongoing, still feeling tired, but good to go tomorrow all being well.  Off early to Cumbria and then on to the ferry on Saturday.  World events notwithstanding, I am still on leave until told otherwise, and aim to make the most of it!  Land Rover (Rolly - for they all have a name) is in good shape and I am excited to get going.  Courtney is home tonight before the off! She has quite sensibly been sheltering away during my lurgy time.  Will be good to see her. 

Friday 25th February

Ready for the off. Feel better today. Heading north to Cumbria first. The world has changed as we all know. I'm looking forward to communicating and speaking with my ham friends world wide. 

Off we go! 

Set up at a nearly deserted campsite near Wigton in Cumbria. Radio gear is on and working. Even the solar panel gave a bit of a charge for a while when I got here. Now too dark!  All settled in and a lovely welcome from the campsite owners. Thanks to Wallace Lane Farm Campsite - this is a very nice spot. Great for the Lake District in the future. Using my bigger Vango tent tonight as I have my vehicle here too. It would be far too heavy to walk with! 

Hot food and coffee cooked up and cosy in tent. Up early tomorrow for the ferry from Ardrossan at midday. Have had a few QSOs already so very excited to get going tomorrow. Cheers to all. 73 to my ham friends. Tom 

Saturday February 26th

Well, topically, no plan survives first contact. Due to the weather being other than "clement", the ferry was cancelled from Ardrossan to Arran today. So, I am still on the mainland.

I spent the whole morning driving all over the area to find a suitable camping spot but to no avail. Despite there being no trespassing laws in Scotland (you can wild camp anywhere within reason), there just were no campsites or stealthy places for me and Rolly (my Land Rover) to tuck ourselves away without notice. Even the seafront car parking areas have a 2m headroom barrier - to stop camper vans I guess. Anyway, the ferry company have moved me to tomorrow morning's sailing and my Arran hotel originally booked for tonight has now become tomorrow night.  (This gives me a place for parking while I walk the route)  

In the meantime, I am sheltering in a "Have you been to a Carvery before?" type of motel on the edge of a McDonalds car park.  The staff are really great. It's warm, dry and serves beer.  I am on holiday after all. 👍😊 

Weather is "dreich" as they say around these parts. 🌧💧🌦

Sunday 27th February 

A beautiful day on the Scottish west coast and the ferry was running. Cold, with bright sun and very little cloud. Let's hope that lasts. I arrived on Arran early and immediately drove across the island to deploy my food cache in a spot approximately half way round the route.   I called into my favourite type of shop in Brodick - a fantastic outdoor store called Arran Active. Dangerous for the wallet those places. I now own a long titanium racing spoon - a marvellous bit of 'Gucci' kit. 

Off bright and early tomorrow. For my ham friends - hope to see you on the bands. 73 Tom. Regards to All. Be kind to each other and think of people in need right now - for there are many. 

Current position. I will endeavour to update this as I move. However, the phone signal is not guaranteed on the island. 

Sometimes the message requires looking up. 

Monday 28th February

Day one. After a lovely meal and a few IPAs in the Douglas Hotel in Brodick, I was up early for breakfast (full Scottish to include white and black pudding). Then off at 0815. I'd be lying if I said I was a little nervous as the pack is heavy and this is a challenge I've been planning for a long time. Suffice to say I bedded in my legs and back and made it to my intended destination by midday. 

Found a spot right by the sea and have set up camp. I added a front porch arrangement to the Ionosphere tent which came into its own at 1400 when it absolutely chucked it down!  Radio and antenna and solar all working well. The solar topped up the battery until about 1600. So all good. Managed a few conversations - including with Callum M0XXT and Ian G0CNN. So very pleased. 

It's just getting dark now. The sea is calm - right on my doorstep, and the evening is cooling down (about 3-4C). Time for a hot meal and coffee.  

Tuesday March 1st - St David's Day

A lovely day with sunshine and clear skies. Set off from Sannox heading north and boy, what a brutal path. It's coastal so not steep but after the first few kilometres the path negotiates boulder fields and bogs. With a heavy pack that was a challenge. Arrived at my new destination tired but happy that I made it!  I'm officially at the "Cock of Arran". It's named after an unusually shaped rock formation apparently (although its head has fallen off) and, yes it was said to resemble a rooster and not anything else. Suffice to say it was any easy site to chose for my second night. 

Radio and tent all set up in about 40 minutes. Kit management is vital and it's slowly getting faster each time. Had a lovely few QSOs. As I'm on the east side of the island the coast is in shadow from about 1500 - so only a couple of hours of recharge today. Should be better once I'm on the west side of the island. 

Tomorrow it's off via the shop at Lochranza for resupply of goodies. Weather is mixed in the forecast. Wish me luck! 

The antenna erected at the Cock Of Arran.  Marvellous. 

Wednesday 2nd March

Gale force winds kept me awake most of the night last night. The Ionosphere tent held up well though. I was up 3-4 times to peg it down tightly and drop the antenna. Suffice to say a little jaded today!  Not helpful that Lochranza has closed (hotel, post office and sandwich shop all closed). So, no supplies meant re-think and restock. Hitch-hiked back to Brodick, restocked well. Off we go again. Weather is poor for the next couple of days (cold and wet) so I'm being sensible - hypothermia is not cool (if you'll pardon the pun). 

More to follow........

Lochranza - beautiful but shut. So I had a decision to make: needed some supplies as the next 20K has no shops etc. My secret pre-positioned stash is too far away to get to without the promised shops and resupply in Lochranza.

So, I attempted hitch-hiking for the first time in years. (The bus was 3hrs wait and it is 2 degrees (Celsius) and pouring rain)  A lovely Ayrshire family picked me up and I returned the 25 miles or so to Brodick to resupply and do a re-gain. 

Tomorrow is another day, but for now, I'm hunkered down on the north west side of the island. It's pouring rain but I'm fine. Plenty to eat and hot drinks.  

Radio news - 5W into Argentina on 20m tonight. The DX Commander antenna is guyed heavily as its gusting up to 40mph.  It's doing a great job. Of course with 40m I also get 15m for free - so tomorrow that's my aim.  

Forecast is terrible for tomorrow, I'm not taking chances hiking remotely and solo in a deluge so, as I'm in no real rush, and I'm on holiday, I'm planning to stay here tomorrow and rest. 

Red arrow marks the spot

Thursday 3rd March 

A day of rest in the tent with lots of radio. The sun played ball as well, although overcast, it was just enough to fully top off the battery - I'm impressed with the solar panel.  Had lots of fun chats with mostly UK ham stations (including Callum again), on my relatively low power set up. Last night was windy and rainy,  but today was fine. 

Tomorrow is forecast for sunshine, so its back to the walking. I'm aiming to get to Blackwaterfoot, then camping in the bivvy tent near there. A lot of the coastal path is tarmac to the north of there - hard on the old feet but once off road it's softer going.  

Spent today watching a group of cormorants diving off a rock just in front of my tent. They disappear for a while and then return hanging their wings out to dry, looking like feathered gargoyles (or perhaps they are saying "It was this big!" to their mates, as fisher-folk are wont to do). Interesting birds and superb fishermen! 

You can see the three stooges below on the right - chatting about how big their last catch was. 

The west of Arran looks out to the Kintyre peninsula. This is where Paul McCartney owns a farmhouse and a huge hit. Mull of Kintyre is on the south west corner of the peninsula. 

Sunset over Kintyre 

Thanks for all the messages and comments - some from people I've spoken to on the radio - most appreciated from you all. Let's hope the sun comes out tomorrow for the next leg. 

Friday/Saturday 4th/5th March (no signal Friday) 

One of the best things sometimes is to have no phone signal - my final site Friday was one of those spots. Handy for peace and quiet,  but not good for updates to a blog. 

A long day with some beautiful views and interesting places along the way. The weather has definitely improved with cold but dry days and nights now.  I'm just north of Blackwaterfoot on the south west coast. 

Along the way was Kings Cave. Robert the Bruce is said to have hidden himself on Arran in 1309 and possibly watched his famous spider "try and try again" in this cave. It's a stunningly lovely place set into the cliffs north of Blackwaterfoot. Robert was William Wallace's compatriot - think Mel Gibson, but with a Scottish accent and not Australian. 

After I called into Callum on his Friday YT livestream, I took advantage of the sunshine and got the solar panel on. Then a long walk of about 16K to my current spot. 

It was cosy in the bivvy tent, but it definitely froze last night. The US ham radio ARRL contest started at midnight. I made many contacts into the USA and Puerto Rico, Canada, Caribbean etc. The airwaves were chock full of stations all night. My 5-10W is tiny compared to the big contest stations using 1000 to 1500W (think brightness of a 💡 lightbulb for non hams). However it is amazing that they hear me well. 

Frost on the panel. Saturday morning 

Arty night shot Friday night 

I'm camping just next to Shiskine golf course. For those who like the game, it's unusual in that it's a 12 hole course in one of the most stunning places. I walked the 100 yards out of my site to get a phone signal and met Stewart - he's the green keeper. What a beautiful place to work! 

Walking into Blackwaterfoot this morning, a nice gentleman called Ray took this picture of me. 

If you look carefully, Ailsa Craig is in the distance 

The luncheon of champions. Made in Scotland from girders, Irn Bru is a huge deal here, it's also one of the best hangover cures I know. The Scots pie is also a classic, beaten only by a warm bridie. Yum. 

Saturday 5th March continued...

I have walked and holidayed in Scotland all my life. It's one of my favourite places. The west coast is particularly beautiful. Today was probably the most perfect day I've ever had in Scotland (apart from my wedding day!). The weather was spectacular. Sunny but chill, not a cloud in the sky. The views were stunning, one of my most memorable days walking ever. 

I only walked a little way today, it was such a beautiful day for just taking in the scenes, I didn't want to trudge on tarmac (I think I've previously mentioned that it is remarkably hard on the knees and back).  So I "cheated" and drove some of the way. I'd previously retrieved my Land Rover to the west side of the island. So after only 3-4 miles I got back to the seaside and the stunning views. 

That amazing island is Ailsa Craig, an ancient volcanic plug sticking straight out of the sea. An iconic place that's loved by many.  This is the view from my new temporary home. Not bad! 

Pladda is a small island with a lighthouse just off the coast. It has fresh water and is now uninhabited. What a great place for radio! 

I ended up walking past the Lagg Hotel (closed) and down to the beach to camp next to the Kilmory Water river as it enters the sea. Quiet and peaceful with cracking views as usual. 

The sun was previously worshipped in some religions. It's a logical choice for a deity that gives warmth and light. For the portable radio operator, it's additional superpower is that it charges up batteries - phone, radio, camera etc. it's been an interesting exercise to learn how best to deploy the panel. Flat on the ground is ok, but I've learned (thanks Nathan) that to get maximum advantage of the photoelectric effect, tilting it up adds a few more Volts. LiFePo batteries need about 5V above their current state to initiate the charge sequence. So, for my slightly drained 12V (needed to get maximum 10W output from the radio), I need 17V or so to start the bulk charge cycle. Luckily, even in the low Scottish sun I get that. I'm using a Bluetooth app on my phone that gives me real-time monitoring of the solar panel, battery and load values. 

Ham Stuff 

I've been interested in radio since a youngster in the 1980's. Citizens Band radio was huge then: years before social networks and the internet - it was our communication means, hugely influenced by the film Convoy and of course Daisy Duke in those shorts.  Without CB how could Bo and Luke evade Sheriff Roscoe P.Coltrane?  Suffice to say, rural north Wales wasn't Georgia, and we weren't running moonshine, but I got hooked.  

Kris Kristofferson and Ali MacGraw.

10-4 good buddy.

We got bears in the air and a Kojak with a Kodak. 

Keep the shiny side up

😃

A special radio contact 

In order to get an amateur radio license, you take exams. In the UK we have three levels of license - Foundation, Intermediate and Full. Each level grants you extra privileges to use more power, more frequencies etc.  The exams require some studying but they are not too onerous. So when I spoke to 2I0FIP John in Northern Ireland I knew he was an Intermediate license holder. What was hugely cool was to talk to Liam, MI7CYL - John's son. Liam is a young man (I'm guessing not over 12), who passed his Foundation exam this week!! John and Liam were together on a beach in Ireland. I was privileged to be Liam's first ever radio contact on HF radio. I videoed the conversation. Watch out for that coming soon. Well done Liam and well done Dad. 

Never too old....

As I walked up from my camp, I met a lovely couple. The Gentleman was 92, his wife probably of a similar age (but one doesn't ask such things). They were out enjoying the sun and a walk and we chatted for a long time about his time in the Army and current events. Lots to consider as I left them - the lady was going for a dip in the sea (which she does daily at Whiting Bay apparently but had missed her morning plunge so was making up for this.)  We can only hope that we all are still walking together as a couple, and swimming in the sea (in March, on Arran!!) when we reach their age. Fantastic. 

Ham stuff.....

The ARRL contest gave me many US QSOs today. I'm not into contests, but this is a great way of proving the set up is working. I've added 80m to the antenna today - an inverted L (just visible on the left side in the picture), which necessitated adding about 20 cm to the 15/40m element, as it went a little higher in frequency tune. All back on track now. See you on the bands. 

80m element added to the antenna as an inverted "L".

Brrrrrrrr!

Sunday 6th March

It was cold last night. Frost on the tent and solar panel again. There's a definite bonus to clear skies by day, but the nights in March at this latitude definitely cool down.  Wore all my clothes and snug in the sleeping bag but was doing in-tent callisthenics at 0400 to warm up a bit! 😃. There is something strangely affirming about being slightly uncomfortable and working on a solution. Feet inside the rucksack inside the goretex bivvy bag inside the bivvy tent. Like an anti-windchill crypton factor (a UK puzzle TV show) to overcome. All's well that ends well. The radio kept me company as I listened to people in warmer climes. 

Cool? No.

Cold? Yes.

Next camp overlooking Holy Isle and Lamlash Bay. Found a small space right next to the front with a picnic table!!! Living at ground level is all very well, but actually sitting down to do any task is so much better.  

Holy Isle has always been a spiritual place. The 6th century monk St Molaise lived in a cave on the island. In the 1200s they built a monastery there. Viking ships sheltered behind the island before the battle of Largs, where Alexander of Dundonald finally beat them and won some independence from the marauding Norwegians in 1263. 

The island is now the home to a Buddhist monastery with a population of 31. 

Beer. Buddhists are to the left in the background. 

Monday 7th March

It's a small world - meeting a role model. 

Whilst looking at Holy Isle and having a lovely time employing a flat surface off the ground to put "stuff" on, I met a lovely local couple - Jake and Eileen. We got chatting about all sorts of things. The islanders are like that - immediately friendly and welcoming. I mentioned that I was a military man, and a trauma surgeon because Jake had previously been in the Royal Corps of Transport as a train engineer! The Army has trains! 

They said "Well do you know Frank MacVicar?"  

One of the challenges of doing surgery in strange places is, rather like choosing kit for this walk, acquiring useful stuff that's portable and effective.  Colonel Frank designed a portable surgical table for field surgery in 1967.  I was born in 1967. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  We still use Frank's table today.  I have operated on that exact table. It's still utilised as a lightweight solution to getting surgery done in crazy places  

https://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/jramc/113/3/134.full.pdf

Immediately Eileen phoned Mrs MacVicar (Annie) and I spoke to her.  It's Monday now, and I had a wonderful visit with Annie and Frank (92), in their lovely house overlooking Holy Isle.  I'm grateful to them both and to Jake and Eileen for the introduction!  How serendipity sometimes works - just wonderful. 

Frank's surgical table. Bloody brilliant. 

I made it the few short miles back to Brodick after my unexpected but superb visit with Frank and Annie. What a lovely feeling to check into the Douglas Hotel and have a bath!! 

Have I walked the whole coast path? No. It's 65 miles and I've done about 40. Lochranza was shut, my feet were tired on the tarmac. Have I achieved my goal? Absolutely. The adventure is not over yet as I'm camping again for the next two nights. The weather forecast is terrible!! 😃👍👀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💧

However, the campsite is well chosen. It's right next to a pub........and the owner said to me when I enquired about putting up an antenna: "Will you be doing IOTA then?"  Non-hams may wish to Google "IOTA ham" (I'm on EU-123), but to me it suggests there is a bit more fun to have........,

Tuesday 8th March

Leaving the Douglas Hotel was a interesting experience. Having roughed it for a week, the simple comforts of sit-down toilets, hot water and a kettle were hard to leave. It's a good reminder that we are lucky to usually have access to these things. Many people in the world right now do not. I was checking out of my hotel - not fleeing as a refugee. Food for thought, and very pertinent.  Note to self - try not to take seemingly mundane blessings lightly. Be thankful for all of the creature comforts and safety we commonly take for granted.

The ferries today are cancelled again due to the weather. My crossing is booked for Thursday. Nothing that I can do to ensure it goes - so off to the campsite for a couple of days. But first, a full Scottish breakfast 🍳. 

If you are travelling to Arran then consider staying or at least eating at the Douglas Hotel. It's literally opposite the ferry terminal in Brodick. Lovely accommodation and good food. Thanks to the staff there for the hospitality.

http://www.thedouglashotel.co.uk/

Now off to a 'proper' campsite for two days. Seal Shore campsite has won many awards for excellent facilities and location. It is right on the beach at Kildonan on the southern coast about 15 miles from Brodick. I was grateful to them for tucking me in behind a small camping "pod" to try to shelter from the wind! 

The first business of setting up any camp is shelter, all the more important in potential wet weather.  Water is in the tap ✅. Food is in the Land Rover ✅.  Putting up a two man tent in 30mph wind 😆 priceless. 

Eventually I had all set up after gales of laughter as well as real ones.  If you can't laugh at yourself, someone else will do it for you. 

https://www.campingarran.com

Ham Stuff

The observant wil notice that the DX Commander is at an unusual angle in the picture. It has been at this and spectacularly more since I got here. Gusts to 50mph at times. I have three super heavy duty stakes that have been put to good use. The pole is light weight fibreglass and has stood up to all the battering without any problems. Interesting that because it's bent over a bit, effectively 'shortening' the element for 40m, I noticed that the resonant (1.1) SWR spot has increased slightly in frequency. Still it's less than 1.5 across all the band. 

Sometime during the evening I heard a clap of thunder over the wail of the wind and rain. It's a sobering experience to be in a damp tent attached to a 10m fibreglass pole and wires in a thunderstorm. I checked the live lightning map for the UK:

For the geographically stumped, this is the close up:

Arran is the island with the bright white strikes on it. Paul McCartney and friends on the Kintyre peninsula were getting the brunt of it at this time. Suffice to say I unplugged the radio! The storm passed over quickly without a Benjamin Franklin kite-flying experiment reenactment. ⚡️ 

Pladda in the elements 

Wednesday March 9th

A day of contrast. Huge winds and torrential rain until about 1400. Then a slow calming of the weather. I had retreated to the pub to shelter and get on some WiFi. An empty bar but with fantastic views of the sea. The Kildonan Hotel was warm and dry and relaxing. Late afternoon the weather abated. 

Everything works better standing straight! 

Still raining but no wind. Hoping the ferry runs tomorrow. We shall see.  

Thursday March 10th

My final day on Arran. The weather has calmed a little and the ferry is running. Dried out the tent and packed it up. Just enough time for a chat on the radio with Callum M0XXT and John M3YSB. I have spoken to them both daily. Thanks both! 

Eggs Royale in Brodick - much better than freeze dried food from a bag.  Although some of the camp meals I've had have been delicious, I like poached eggs and salmon! Now in the queue for the ferry which leaves at 1355.  

As I got on the ferry I couldn't help notice this slightly concerning signpost:

Was just wondering how the lorry got on the ferry. 

Back to Ardrossan 

Thanks to everyone who has read this and commented. I'm now halfway home. Staying in Pooley Bridge in the Lake District- another beautiful part of the UK. I have lots of fantastic memories and enjoyed brilliant experiences on trip. Planning, preparing and finally going was all part of the fun. Not helpful that I had Covid the week before I left!  Arran was special - living up to its deserved reputation. No wonder my Mum loved the place.
The radio kit worked flawlessly and I'm pleased to have made it all work. Next plan is to put all the photos and videos together with help from my new producer and editor (Callum).  I will write more here on a new page of "Lessons learned" in case anyone is contemplating a similar trip. 

I bought a car decal as a souvenir. The instructions on the back for removing the decal were amusing. 

Monday March 14th

Well, I have been home for two days.  Was lovely to get back.  Washing and de-kitting the first priority.  I dried out the tent and packed up my gear for the next adventure.  In the meantime I have been editing together my videos for a YouTube mini series of my adventure.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW3uOTzOtgMMa8p6oKeXYXw

For now 73!  (ham code for best wishes) from me. (M)M0RMY Tom 

March 2022 

Thanks to Courtney, Callum, Gary, Mike, Sean and Maggie, Ron and Eleanore, all on the Discord, all at ML&S.  Hello to the Fraser Girls!