Clyde Valley Woodlands NNR [GMFF-015]

Clyde Valley Woodlands
National Nature Reserve
GMFF-015
MMØDGR Portable DX-pedition 2010
Photo and Video Report by J. Phunkner, MMØDFV

WFF: GMFF-015 (Clyde Valley Woodlands NNR)
QTH: Cleghorn Glen (nr. Lanark)
WAB Square: NS84
NGR: NS899459
Nearest Post Code: ML11 7RN
Latitude: 55°41′42″N
Longitude: 03°45′08″W
Grid Locator: IO85CQ
EU Area: SC29 (South Lanarkshire)
DXCC: Scotland
IOTA: EU-005 (Great Britain Island)
ITU Zone: 27
CQ (WAZ) Zone: 14
Continent: Europe

Another short trip has been organized by the Scottish-Russian Amateur Radio Society (SRARS) under the WFF (World Flora and Fauna) program on 30th January, 2010. It was a mobile-portable expedition to the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve (GMFF-015). MMØDFV and GMØWRR have taken part in this adventure working as MMØDGR/p.

Unfortunately we had to spend some time to find a good place for antenna installation. It wasn't possible to operate right from the glen due to its low location surrounded by trees. We have spent a couple of hours to find the place moving around the reserve. We were nearly stuck along the bad road between fields just above Cleghorn (watch video). Eventually we found a house of the land owners, and got permission to install our antenna from one of their fields located above the reserve. This time we used 9m high portable vertical antenna with 24 ground radials installed at the bottom. Each radial was 10 m long, so that it took 240 meters of wire just for our ground system. It is not recommended to use such kind of ground system for short portable DX-pedition, since it takes some time for installation and removal of all these wires. Everything was ready at 15:40 UTC. We started to work SSB on 20 m. Propagation was absolutely terrible, we could not hear stations from the East (Russia, Ukraine, etc.), though Western Europe and North America were calling us all the time. Signals were fading away, and strong noise level was all the time on all bands from 20 to 40 meters. We have moved to 40 m, but unfortunately, only a few Russians could manage to make a QSO with us. After about 2 hours of operation this lady came to us, the owner of the place, asking us to remove the station, because she didn't want someone staying at her land after the dusk. We quickly moved to 10 MHz and made another few contacts on BPSK63, and.at 18:20 UTC we had to switch off our station and remove all the gear and antenna. For 2 and a half hours we made 172 QSOs in total. Thanks to all who called us. The QSL-card has already been designed and ordered (see below). All contacts will be confirmed within one month via the QSL-bureau.

As the last time from GMFF-010 we used an Icom IC-706MKIIG and HLA-300 Plus mobile power amplifier. The antenna was a 9 m vertical with the automatic antenna coupler CG-5000, and 24 ground radials. PC side - Acer Aspire One laptop, N1MM Logger, MixW, and data interfaces provided by Radioarena [ www.radioarena.co.uk ]. Our ADIF log has been uploaded to the WFF LogSearch database.

Scottish Natural Heritage is the government agency which works to conserve and enhance Scotland’s natural heritage. Visitors to the Clyde Valley Woodlands NNR are welcome at all times of the year and there are public footpaths accessing Cleghorn Glen, Cartland Craigs and Jock’s Gill Wood. However the gorges which these woodlands occupy are extremely deep with steep and unstable cliffs and it is asked in the interest of safety, that all visitors stay away from the gorge edges and try to remain on the public footpaths at all times. We hope that other WFF enthusiasts will follow us by activating this nature reserve again.

We were stuck along this road located between farm fields just above the nature reserve. Scotland is well known for its unpredictable weather. It can change very fast in a matter of minutes. When travelling around Scotland it is always best to be prepared for anything, good or bad.

Eventually we found this sign to the Cleghorn Glen. Cleghorn Glen is a great place and more people should visit it. We recommend all radio amateurs that are into nature should go and visit it if they get the chance.

The Mouse Water rises 2 miles (3 km) northeast of Forth in South Lanarkshire and flows south and west to join the River Clyde to the west of Lanark. The river provides challenging canoeing.

On the ground the shrub layer is an interesting mix of ferns, rushes and bushes. At the right time of year raspberry, bramble and bilberry provide a feast for birds, badgers, insects and people alike. Wood anemone, wild garlic, dog’s mercury, wood sorrel, bluebell and primrose all provide a spectacular carpet of colour during spring and early summer. Look closely and you may find the uncommon bird’s nest orchid. Where rainwater runs freely down the gorge sides into Jock’s Burn and the Mouse Water the resulting wet slopes are important for plants such as, alternate leaved golden saxifrage and horsetail. Herb rich grasslands on the edges of the woodland provide food and shelter for a large variety of animals and are a local source of nectar for many of the woodland insects.

John, GMØWRR at the reserve's sign. The Clyde Valley Woodlands NNR is made up of three detached woodlands scattered along the Clyde Valley. Cleghorn Glen and Cartland Craigs are situated on the outskirts of Lanark, with Jock’s Gill Wood on the outskirts of Carluke. Man has had very little influence in the management of these woodlands, allowing the natural processes of a woodland to proceed without felling and clearing of dead and dying timber.

These woodlands are outstanding examples of ancient, semi-natural deciduous woods; surviving remnants of the ancient woodlands which would have covered most of central lowland Scotland. Probably as a result of their inaccessibility for timber extraction and unsuitability for agriculture these woodlands have survived hundreds of years relatively undisturbed.

This is a path coming down towards the Cleghorn Glen from the Jerviswood area located near Lanark. It was a great sunny day at approx -1ºC. Just have a look at this blue sky. You can't go wrong with such weather when organizing a DX-pedition. Just remember about the "Scottish weather rule" mentioned above :)

Our antenna system. 9 m vertical wire with 24 ground radials lying at the middle of flat field. CG-5000 automatic antenna coupler is at the bottom connected to a 40 m long RG8 coaxial cable coming from our car-shack.

Closer view of the ground plate connected to the radials. We spent 240 m of wire in total to make this beautiful star of 24 radials, 10 meters long each. Antenna worked perfectly well, especially for long distances. North American stations gave us excellent reports all the time despite poor propagation.

Only after a wile we have discovered that our neighbours are two donkeys hidden in this old stone shed. They could not understand what is going on beside their house.

However they knew very well that a piece of bread is a right thing for stomach at any time. MMØDFV tries to make them happy sharing our reserve of food.

Sunset at Cleghorn. It was getting colder, and when we were removing our antenna, we had to tear away frozen ground wires from icy grass.

GMØWRR is operating SSB on 40 meters. As we have already mentioned the propagation wasn't good. We could hear some stations from Russia, but they couldn't hear us, or vice-versa.

MMØDFV is working BPSK63 on 10 MHz. Same as on 40 meters, many Russians called us, we had their signal OK on our screen, but when we replied most of them couldn't copy us. A good example is RX3AGD. He was coming up 599+ with absolutely clear BPSK63 signal on our screen, but he did not receive us when we replied to him. At the same time the West European and Balkan stations were working us no problem.

Lanark is a small town in the central belt of Scotland. Its population of 8,253 makes it the 100th largest settlement in Scotland. The origin of the name is British (Cumbric Lanerc, Welsh Llanerch) meaning "clear space, glade". Lanark was the county town of the former county of Lanarkshire. It has a long history, old traditions, and some fine parks and buildings. There is little industry in Lanark and some residents commute to work in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Its shops serve the local agricultural community and surrounding villages. There is a large modern livestock auction market on the outskirts of the town.

South Lanarkshire (Scots: Sooth Lanrickshire, Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig a Deas) is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages.

A small stone bridge over the river towards Lanark. Scotland is a wonderful place - visit it if you can. And once you have been there, it will keep drawing you back.

You may use the material from this website for radio amateur publications without our permission. Any non-amateur or commercial use is prohibited. The sponsor of this mini DX-pedition is Radioarena www.radioarena.co.uk Thanks again for everybody who called us. It was another enjoyable day out with the radio. How we spend our leisure time is critical to our happiness and quality of life.