Summits on the Air (SOTA) activation 27th May 2026
North Berwick Law (GM/SS-280) is a fine SOTA peak! The peak is modest at 178 metres high, and
the western car park is about 40 metres ASL. So, there is a 138-metre vertcal distance to climb.
Meet at the North Berwick Law car park; UK Nat Grid NT553843 on the west side of the Law.
To get there take the B1347 heading south out of North Berwick. About 100 metres or so afer you pass the
Community Centre and High School on your right there is a sharp right-hand bend in the road with a
narrow road going straight ahead (left) to the carpark. Public transport could be used to North Berwick train station with a walk of about 2km to the car park. From there plenty of well-worn tracks lead to the summit from where there are good
views all around over East Lothian and out to some of the islands in the Firth of Forth such as Bass Rock,
Fidra, The Lamb, Craigleith and on a good day, out to the Isle of May.
It may be muddy. I suggest boots or stout shoes for walking up North Berwick Law, a warm and waterproof jacket and hat, portable and battery operated radio kit, something to sit on – a camping mat or even a picnic chair is ideal but remember
you must carry it both up and down the hill.
Perhaps put everything in a rucksack and use walking poles if you have them, as they can also be used to secure an antenna wire.
We plan to spend a couple of hours on top.
Everyone should bring a handy as there have been over one hundred 2 metre QSOs and a few on 70cms. The antenna folk might use for the 144MHz DF Fox Hunt event two weeks before would be portable and easily good enough. We also have a 2026 challenge using 2m/70m SSB/CW.
If CPSARC members do not plan to climb North Berwick Law, it would be good if they were on-air that evening on 2m or 70cms so we can make plenty of local contacts.
On the SOTA website (https://summits.sota.org.uk/activity/GM/SS-280) there have been 73 occasions recorded when radio hams have broadcast from the top (27/12/2025), so it is a reliable radio summit.
If anyone has any questions, please get in touch;
colwyn.jones@hotmail.com
See you on 27th May.
73
Colwyn (MM0YCJ)
