In early October, 2025, avid dx adventurist 14DA028 Phil undertook an Islands On The Air (IOTA) dxpedition to Île Milliau, a diminutive island on the coast of Brittany, France.

Here’s his report, combined with a selection of proofs that were provided to the DA-RC HQ Team at the conclusion of the activity…

DAY 1 — Friday, October 4, 2025

Excited, I wake up at 2:30 a.m. to hit the road towards Brittany, departing at 3:30 am in solo mode with the portable DX station in tow.

I arrive in Trébeurden at the Port car park at 11:00 a.m. and it’s time to eat to gain strength to cross the passage which leads to the island.

This is a complicated task when one is weighed down with a radio, battery and antenna components—a Yaesu FT-857 (100w), Bamby or Delta Loop 1 Elts, battery 100ah Lifepo4 and Laptop.

There’s also the challenge of getting the tide right so I’m not washed away!

First you have to scale Rocher Castel then climb down.

Then navigate a strip of sand to climb a second rock, which leads to another strip of sand before setting foot on Milliau.

I’d spotted a belt of sand to settle on the left side where I have a view of the tide’s behaviour.

The hours are restricted at this time with a maximum of 2h30 on Milliau until the tide changes.

From the international call frequency—27.555 MHz USB—I begin the activation at 12:32 p.m. local time as 14DA/MA082 with 56AT108 Juha in the Scandinavian country Finland, at 5/9 and the first guy in the log.

He’s followed by fellow DA members Eric 14DA014 4/1 and Chris 14DA019 5/8 respectively.

From this classified site and property of the Conservatoire du Littoral, the QSOs follow one another quickly with many delighted Island Chasers added to the log.

The perfect location for IOTA DX work, Île Milliau—23 hectares in area—is a spectacular combination of composed of pink granite, moorland, ancient volcanic rocks and cliffs, dotted with 250 species of ferns and maritime shrubs.

After a couple of hours on MA082, with the tide sweeping in and sea water threatening to recapture the island, the time arrives when the station must be dismantled.

I finish this DX session with Janusz 161DA015 5/5 at 2:54 p.m.

Total QSOs of the day 62 ITL.

DAY 2 — Saturday, October 5, 2025

Back on the Île Milliau—in the commune of Trébeurden (department of Côtes-d’Armor)—I commence the IOTA activity at 1:22 p.m.

Darran 26DX047 in the United Kingdom is on the QRG with a solid 5/7 report.

Again, there’s an excellent opening across Europe and a good number of DA Members in the log too which is a bonus.

I conclude the day on MA082 with 25 new contacts.

I’m very happy to have been able to activate this island; one which was last activated in August 2001 by the ROMEO INDIA Group.

A big thank you to everyone for coming to log in to this activation. I hope to see you very soon from another island.

73 de Phil 14DA028

LOG DATA

• Number of QSOs: 87
• DXCC: 17 136, 14, 13, 161, 172, 173, 19, 1, 23, 26, 2, 30, 31, 34, 3, 47, 56 .
• DA Members: 19 (14DA014, 14DA019, 3DA002, 14DA011, 14DA496, 14DA049, 14DA021, 14DA020, 14DA078, 14DA017, 14DA027, 14DA026, 14DA070, 14DA181, 26DA283, 161DA005, 34DA010, 161DA015 & 3DA010)
• Most distant QSOs: 172AT124 Christian and 2AT715 Paul