Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Brown Clee Hill

05.04.22  Clows Top (SO 716 717)

LIDAR image of Clows Top (SO 716 717)

The day before visiting this hill Charles Everett sat with map in hand going through the Tumps he had not bagged in this area, I then noted each hill and the ten figure grid reference for their summit.  Our main surveying objective for the day was Abberley Hill (SO 751 672), but Charles also wanted to visit at least four other summits.  Clows Top was not one of these hills, so after visiting and surveying the first summit on our mini bagging expedition; Church Hill (SO 710 731), I expected our next port of call would be the summit of Abberley Hill to our south.  However, another P30 lurked just a mile or so from our present position, and we were soon pulled up on a grass verge adjacent to where a public footpath sign pointed us in the direction of its summit.

From the small village at its base the summit of Clows Top is hidden from view, and the route to its summit proved similar to many such hills of comparable height, with one or two obstacles having to be overcome before the high point is reached.

Close to where we parked a public footpath led between houses with Charles dealing with all overhanging branches and vegetation on the way.  When the continuation of this route started heading down toward a field, we veered right on a dried earthen slope leading up to ground above a small industrial site.  We later chose a route down through this site as our descent, which simplified matters and took us straight back to my awaiting car.

As ground levelled we headed between high fir trees toward a fence which gave access to the summit area.  Close to the high point stood a small brick building of unusual design which we were later told was an old military observation post.

Once I had chosen the position for Trimble placement I set the equipment up and waited until the 0.1m accuracy level was obtained before data should be logged.  This took an inordinate amount of time, probably due to its position with the bricked building relatively close and high fir trees above.  However, once the required accuracy level appeared on the screen I pressed ‘Log’ and sat on the steps of the bricked building, whilst Charles lay on the ground a few metres away relaxing in the intermittent sunshine that tantalisingly appeared. 

Gathering data at the summit of Clows Hill 

As we waited for the Trimble to do its stuff, a Red Kite appeared gliding across the sky; it quickly disappeared behind the high fir trees, before silently re-appearing circling overhead.  This made a pleasant distraction from the long wait for the Trimble to achieve the required accuracy level and then to gather data. 

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 set-up position at the summit of Clows Top

Once data were gathered and stored I packed the equipment away and we headed down toward a track which gave access to the small industrial site.  This gave us a quicker and more convenient route back to my car.  Next stop the summit of Abberley Hill. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Clows Top

Summit Height:  231.9m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 71666 71743 (LIDAR)

Col Height:  154.1m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 73186 69331 (LIDAR)

Drop:  77.7m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  33.52% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet