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MM6ONL/p Activation of Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve (GMFF-039) in August 2012

In August 2012, Keen of Hamar National Nature Reserve (GMFF-039) on the island of Unst in Shetland was heard on the air for the very first time. The activation was carried out by Peter Destoop, operating as MM6ONL/p (home call ON2WAB), and it proved to be a memorable combination of radio, travel, and exploration at one of the UK’s most northerly and unusual protected sites.

Reaching the Northern Edge of Britain

Unst is the northernmost of the Shetland Islands, and reaching Keen of Hamar requires determination. Three ferry crossings and a drive of around 30 miles brought Peter to the reserve, passing the well-known Unst bus stop along the way — a quirky landmark celebrated as the most northerly bus shelter in the UK. Just a short walk from there lies the rocky ground of Keen of Hamar, a stark but extraordinary nature reserve with a reputation for its rare flora.

First Time on the Air

This was the first GMFF activation of the reserve, and interest from operators across Europe was immediate. Even though radio conditions were not at their best, pile-ups quickly built as chasers were eager to log this rare reference. At times signals crowded in heavily, but with patience the calls were answered steadily. The highlight of the session was a solid transatlantic contact into Canada on 20 metres, a satisfying DX moment under the circumstances.



Operating conditions were not entirely ideal. Calm weather on Unst meant there was no wind to help raise the 45-foot Rybakov vertical antenna to its full height. Nevertheless, improvisation and persistence kept the station on the air long enough to give many stations their first contact with GMFF-039.

A Landscape Like No Other

Beyond the radio, the location itself is remarkable. At first sight Keen of Hamar appears barren — a scattering of rock and thin soil that looks inhospitable to life. Yet this is one of the most botanically significant areas in Britain. The word “Hamar” means rocky outcrop on the hillside, and it is an apt description of the terrain.

Declared a National Nature Reserve in 1975, Keen of Hamar preserves one of the largest areas of serpentine rock in Europe. Constant weathering creates the distinctive stone stripes that slowly shift down the slopes each year. The thin soils and harsh conditions have forced plants here to adapt in unique ways, producing species that exist nowhere else. Among them is Edmonston’s chickweed, found only in Shetland, alongside northern rock cress, hoary whitlow grass, and Norwegian sandwort. For botanists, this windswept corner of Unst is a living laboratory of post-Ice Age ecology.



A Memorable Activation

The activation was kept short to ensure a timely return to the ferry, but it succeeded in its main goal: bringing Keen of Hamar GMFF-039 to the airwaves for the first time. For the operator, the experience was as rewarding as the logbook entries, combining radio with the privilege of operating in a rare and scientifically important reserve.



Activations like this remind us that amateur radio is about more than signals and equipment. It is also about connecting people to places — and in this case, introducing the global radio community to one of Scotland’s most remote and extraordinary landscapes.

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