GB-1012 GREAT ORME COUNTRY PARK
It also happened to be my 100th Unique Park Activation, which would give me a nice award certificate...
The Great Orme is a headland formed of Limestone jutting out into The Irish Sea. Situated on the Coast of North Wales, one of the four Countries of the United Kingdom.
My visit today was to revisit another favourite place of Elaine (My XYL) and myself, the Town of Llandudno , a seaside resort and tourist attraction area. The Great Orme itself, is visited by over half a million visitors a year. The top of summit has a trig point and is 207 metres above sea level
The plateau consists of mainly limestone grassland, with heathland, limestone pavement, scrub, woodland and sea cliffs. It is of importance for its landscape, wildlife, geology and its history. During the Carboniferous period 300-500 million years ago, creatures that were lying dead on the sea bed were eventually squeezed together to form solid large Limestone Rocks. The most common fossils that can be found are brachiopods, crinoids and reef forming corals.
The main reason for my visit today was to complete a Portable Radio Operation from the Great Orme, its large flat area is perfect to find a place where you will not cause issues for the wildlife or the general public. It also happened to be my 100th Unique Park Activation, which would give me a nice award certificate (Arizona Agave ) from the Parks on the Air programme.
There is a large pay and display car park on the top, that is close to the Tram Station, and the Building at the top providing refreshments and facilities for what I call a "Comfort Break". The car park is free for anyone with a blue badge (only if you park in a disabled bay). The views in all directions from here are truly spectacular, with the Isle of Anglesey, in one direction and the Snowdonia national park with its magnificent Mountains and hills in another. Today when we visited the sea mist made for a slightly diffused view, but the sunshine and warm was very welcome, as a lot of the time it can be windy.
Historically as I said previously, the formation of this large Limestone lump was during ancient times. The Great Orme was covered by a glacier during the most recent ice age, which lasted from 60,000 to 12,000 BC. For the last 14,000 years, there was some erosion and today is what you see of the Limestone left behind.
Around 2,500 BC, people who knew how to make metal tools arrived in Britain. Bronze, the metal used, is a mixture of copper,tin and other materials. It was in the Bronze Age that the Great Orme and its rich copper ores would have taken on a new significance in the eyes of those who recognised this potential wealth. Besides mining, Bronze Age people farmed, hunted and fished,and lived in circular huts. Evidence of circular huts can still be found on the Great Orme today.
Bringing my report closer to modern Times, around the time when Queen Victoria was on the Throne, The Victorians were the main influence in the Industrial Revolution that came into Britain very quickly. It was at this time that the Tramway Vehicular railway was installed , which allowed access from the Town of Llandudno below to eventually the top of the summit. It still remains a big tourist attraction for visitors along with the cable car.
My Activation of the Great Orme for P.O.T.A. was combined with 2 Bunkers on the Air ( B/GW-0227 & B/GW-0228) I managed to qualify all 3 with 27 in the log. using my ft897 and a JPC-12 Vertical Antenna. I met up with a warden while setting up and she was very friendly and advised that she has seen plenty of Radio ops up here, and always advises them to tie down the antenna and keep away from the general public as much as possible.
The Orme is also a Summits on the Air , but I was not in the AZ and also I was operating from a vehicle, which is not allowed on S.O.T.A.
So dear reader, as I usually say thank you for taking the time to read my review, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it? I would recommend the Great Orme for a visit with or without a Radio. there are plenty of Radio programmes to enter if you do bring a Radio. Again stay safe, and I would like to insert one more photo if I may as a piece of good advice and follows in the spirit of Portable Radio Operations, ( please leave the site exactly as you found it,Thank You)
I would like to thank all who called in today, and made it fun for me. I wish you all the best 73 and see you again soon 😎. Tony de G1JPV
