About WOTA
Wainwrights On The Air (WOTA for short) is an adventure radio programme for amateur radio enthusiasts who enjoy being out on the fells of the English Lake District, as well as those who just like collecting contacts with unusual locations. The main aims of the programme are to increase portable radio activity in the Lake District, encourage more radio amateurs within reach of the area to get out for some healthy exercise in the hills, and to promote the beauty of this part of England to participants worldwide. And above all, to have fun!
Objectives
The goal of the programme is to make contacts from, or with, as many different Lakeland summits as possible. All of the 214 fells described by Alfred Wainwright in his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells, and popularly known as the Wainwrights, count for contacts. So there are many easy fells for the less fit or those with less time to spare to climb, as well as more challenging adventures and opportunities for multi-summit activations during the course of a full day's walk, for the more active.
But if you aren't interested in competing to operate from the greatest number of Lakeland summits, but would just like to add some fun radio activity to your walks in the hills, Wainwrights On The Air still has something to offer you. Because taking part, and announcing your destinations on this site, will increase the number of people keen to contact you whilst you are up there!
Joining in
If you hold an amateur radio license then you can participate in one of two ways. You can be an activator, which involves taking a portable radio transceiver up into the hills and making contacts from the summit. Or you can be a chaser, which means trying to make contact with as many different fell-tops as you can. You can even do both: chasing when you are at home, and activating whenever you get the chance for a day out in the fells. For more details see How to participate.
So what are you waiting for? Get activating and get chasing, and have fun with amateur radio!