Are they starlings in the picture with the water tower looking thing?
Thanks Mags, I’ve missed getting out so much. No reason really, we didn’t even go away on holiday last year and even let our passports run out too. Gonna try harder this year…
I think they are a colony of rooks Mr Smith, although we do get murmurations? of Starlings around dusk.
1 Like
With one more trig point to bag before the end of the month I’ve selected a couple of local ones to do when it eventually stops raining. Maybe tomorrow or Wednesday. I selected two because having read a report by someone who has visited them, it looks like they might be tricky to locate being behind piles of clay, barbed wire fences and undergrowth. They are also in built up areas. I much prefer the ones miles from anywhere, and I’ve picked out a bunch of them for later in the year upon the Yorkshire wolds. Perhaps a picnic with a flask of tea and a ham sandwich…Or does that make me sound like too much of an Anorak…
And why not…
I checked a few of the trig points near Kirriemuir. The highest was near our farm at 2916 feet. I used to walk there a few times with my dog. Rather cold it was.
1 Like
Now you’re talking Besoeker, some brilliant trigs to bag up in the highlands. If I had my time again, and I wasn’t married, I would most certainly go Munroe Bagging. These days I suppose I could only do one or two per week, and I’ve got Mrs Fox to consider, it’s a long way to go on holiday and leave her on her own. The only thing Mrs Fox climbs is a bar stool with a G&T in her hand…Would it have been great to have married a runner with a love of climbing mountains…How good would I have been…?
1 Like
Great pics Bob, and thanks for the trip down memory lane.
1 Like
The last couple of days before the end of January, and I still had one more trig point to bag to keep to my schedule of three per month. I chose two reasonably local ones for today’s final search. I chose two because after reading reports from baggers who had visited them, I might have problems getting close up and personal with one of them. Worth a shot though since I would be in the area.
About an hours drive took me close to Darfield near Barnsley and after a couple of drive by’s, I found a suitable parking place on the lane that should lead me to the first one. The trig point is at Dearne Ings next to the river and was easy to find, not so easy to get to though. Although I spotted it from the lane, there was a steep bank of wet clay obstructing my path, so after slipping and sliding over I managed to reach it…
It was situated on the bank of the swollen river Dearne. The compulsory photo followed…
The second trig was in Upper Haugh near Rawmarsh, and was named Rawmarsh Reservoir.
I could see the blue painted trig as we passed it on a slight hill at side of the road, safely out of reach of the local scallies and on Yorkshire Water property. In a compound and completely surrounded by a substantial security fence. Reports suggested that access could be gained at the back of the compound through a loose spoke. They didn’t mention the muddy field and barbed wire fence. I managed to scramble under the barb wire and sloshed my way though a very waterlogged field until I spied the loose rail in the fence. It was a very tight squeeze through the gap, half a stone heavier and I would have been disappointed.
Very unusual to see a blue trig point, and if I could avoid being spotted it would be a very satisfying bag, so I broke cover and made my way across the gravel…
I made the bag and legged it out of there, squeezing back through the bars in the fence was harder going the other way and I had visions of having to spend the night in the compound. But after some huffing and puffing I was free, and managed to get away unobserved.
Two bags today and better than expected, bringing my overall total to 31 so far.
Can’t wait to do some more in February, already got some chosen, out Bridlington way…
4 Likes
Nice one Foxy, thanks for the inspiration.
1 Like
My pleasure…Goodnight mate… 
In an attempt to keep up with my 3 trig points a month. I decided to go yesterday after hearing from Mr Hudson (The Yorkshire weatherman at the beeb) that the weather was going to get a bit nasty for the next few days. And looking out of the window at falling snow, he turned out to be right. It’s always going to be difficult with outdoor pursuits at this time of the year, so it’s it’s best not to look a gift horse in the mouth so to speak…It could be snow like this for the rest of the month…
About 140 miles round trip and I didn’t start until late on in the morning due to the early Tesco shop and breakfast. I’m a grumpy old bugger when I’m hungry. So it was 11:30 am by the time I was bombing down the M18/M62 (roadworks on the Ouse Bridge didn’t help) to my first find of the day way out past Driffield.
I drove past the location a couple of times looking for a parking spot, I eventually found one close to a Yorkshire Water compound apparently just in front of the trig point. I wandered around to the rear of the compound and past an electric fence. This one was working, I could hear the hum, and it was holding back a field full of bullocks…Didn’t want to tangle with those bad boys!..The trig point was easily spotted on some waste ground in the corner of a field. Getting to it was another thing. It was surrounded by deep mud.
So at just gone 13:30 hrs I waded across…
At least I didn’t have to scale the electric fence…
The second one was down the side of another muddy field at the back of a farm and embedded in a Hawthorn hedge. The numbered plate was on the back and very difficult to photograph without poking yer eye out on the thorns…
The things I have to do for a hobby…I love it really…
So with some time to spare I thought I might visit another one. Looking at the map, it was at the side of the road and easy to find. Incidentally, I was using my smartphone to bring up the appropriate maps, and the satellite views were extremely helpful. Although even If I had had no experience, I couldn’t have missed this one…I almost run over it…
Getting a bit late now, and cold, but I spotted one more on the map, and it was on my way home, so why not…
I’ll tell you why not…Because I spent twenty minutes walking down another muddy field with no sign of the last one. The map said it should be here? After having a last walk down the field, and being up to the knees in mud, I spotted it…On the other side of the road…
Another sod to get to with all the brambles and hawthorns, but I bet it would be invisible in the summer with all the undergrowth.
I need to find another way of taking photos, the camera just disappears in the grass on this small tripod.
So that’s four trigs bagged today, better than I expected, and bringing my total to 35…Eight this year and it’s only February…
3 Likes
I hope this works, a post from Fakebook.
The trig pillars that helped map Great Britain - BBC News
The trig pillars that helped map Great Britain
On 18 April 1936, a group of surveyors gathered around a white concrete pillar (photo) in a field in Cold Ashby, Northamptonshire, and began the retriangulation of Great Britain.
Survey (OS) is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the triangulation pillar, most often known as a “trig pillar” or “trig point” and a welcome sight to many a walker as they reach the peak of their walk.
There were once about 6,500 trig pillars, built by the early surveyors at OS. The pillar was devised by Brig Martin Hotine to provide a solid base for the theodolites used by the survey teams and to improve the accuracy of the readings obtained.
For more history about OS Survey and photos of different pillars around the UK.
3 Likes
Thanks Fruitcake that’s brilliant…
I’ve been to a few mentioned in the article. Unfortunately I visited Snowdon in 2017 before I was logging them so I’ll have to do it again…
And this one on Win Hill back in 1984
I also visit ‘High Seat’ in the lake district but it was during a race so no time for photos…
I’m up to number 42 now with a couple left to do before the end of April…
I might not have enough time or the fitness to do all 6100 and due to logistical problems I have to omit all of the Scottish ones…
3 Likes
I wondered why they were built but didn’t like to ask 
2 Likes
Continuing my search of trig points, I found an interesting article in the Harrogate Informer…
Apparently and according to Yorkshire water, there are 454 trig points in Yorkshire…
I might restrict my search to all the Yorkshire ones and see how I get on…
Harrogate man visits all 454 trig points in Yorkshire | Harrogate Informer.
Here’s my latest one at ‘Croom Acre’ (in Yorkshire) number 44 and a bitch to stand at the side of…
Amazing views over Hunmanby…
The North Sea in mid right side…With Scarborough away to the left.
3 Likes
Only another 410 to got then Phew!
What gave you the idea to do it anyway? Had you heard of that Dave chap before?
1 Like
Outstanding; what an expansive view!. It appears you have plenty to keep you entertained out there, but beware of farmers’ wives chasing those legs and farmers with shotguns 
.
1 Like
Actually I only read about the Dave chap the other day…And after over forty years of fell and mountain running I have visited more trig points than you have had hot dinners Mr Smith… 
Unfortunately all good things come to an end and I am unable to jog to the end of the street now, but I can walk for England, and was trying to think of something I could do with a purpose to once again visit those high remote places and take me nearer to God…Or at least, satisfy the God inside of me…Then it came to me… 
Get out the maps and start making plans to visit as many trigs as I can in the time I’ve got left…Only on the sunny days mind… 
It’s funny you should say that Surfermom…I was out running a 15 mile route way out in the country on lanes and tracks and past the odd farm. Because I promised my daughter a day out in Whitby (a good 3 hour drive from home) I had set off running at four in the morning. It was midsummer and just light. As I ran in the zone (a world of my own) I was suddenly aware of a barking collie running out to meet me and the farmer shouting to the dog…“Come back here, I’m supposed to shoot them first” My pace quickened until I realised he was only joking. I didn’t expect to see anyone at that time in the morning, but I suppose farmers are a breed apart…
3 Likes
I understand your want, or need to have a reason to walk somewhere, anywhere, just as long as you can walk. Deciding to visit numerous and varied fixed points serves that need, but also takes you to places you never knew existed.
I’ve restarted my walking regime after two debilitating bouts of double sciatica, arthritis, and (alleged) gout, only on the dreadmill at the moment, and I’m only up to 15 minutes a go at the moment. However, seeing views of the old land where I grew up has made me more determined to get out and walk again the beautiful Land of the Summer Settlers that I have made my home.
Thanks, and keep it up.
3 Likes