Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Brown Clee Hill

05.04.22  Woodbury Hill (SO 746 645, not Trimbled)

Woodbury Hill (SO 746 645)

This was the only summit of the five Charles and I visited during the day that I did not collect Trimble data from.  Many of the preceding summits had obstructions hindering satellite reception and Woodbury Hill was no different, as its high point is positioned on the remains of an ancient embankment that forms a part of a hill fort, all of which is immersed in woodland.  LIDAR places the summit approximately 40 metres from the remains of a substantial stone pyramid, however with less than 2cm difference in height between these two positions this hill can be thought of as having twin tops.  Both are submerged under a canopy of conifer trees, all of which meant that although I set the Trimble up at the stone pyramid, it was with little hope that the 0.1m accuracy level before data should be logged would be attained.  That is what happened at the summit, let us now backtrack and make our way up the hill. 

LIDAR summit image of Woodbury Hill (SO 746 645)

Woodbury Hill has a distinctive profile from near hills we visited earlier in the day.  It rises as a double summited top aligned west to east, with the former the higher.  Its summit is immersed in a conifer plantation as is its northern and eastern approaches.  It looked a fine hill to finish our hill bagging exploits on, and one that no doubt would afford extensive views if not for the imposition of trees.

We approached from the south-west having just visited Rodge Hill (SO 747 624) and it was only a short distance drive from one starting point to the other.  Finding the initial route via a public footpath proved problematic as we had already driven past it when I stopped to ask directions from a local, we were kindly directed to a small series of steps signifying the start of the public footpath and to the best place to park.  We were soon away and up the steps making steady progress up a large field with the conifered section of the hill looming above.

Our route crossed a foot stile beside a gate and made its way up a path beside open trees; these shot skyward and were at contrast to the enclosed nature of the plantation above.  Two grey horses came over to investigate and Charles spent a number of minutes befriending each. 

Charles on the way up Woodbury Hill

The path led us in to woodland where another path veered upward and away from the main forest trail toward a meeting of forest tracks.  We followed a ‘No Footpath’ sign toward the summit of the hill and soon found our way to the first of its twin summits, which is marked by an old stone tower, shaped as a pyramid which has now only one side remaining with a jumble of rock signifying years of collapse. 

Approaching the stone pyramid

The partly collapsed stone pyramid

Even though I positioned the Trimble on the top of the remains of the stone pyramid and with Charles’ help took a measurement offset between its internal antenna and the ground at its base, it did not achieve the 0.1m accuracy level before data should be logged, and therefore I switched it off and packed it away. 

Late afternoon light

On our way down, late afternoon light picked out manicured distant grazing fields giving them a succulent emerald colour to their greened texture.  It had been a fine last hill of the day and one that had proved very enjoyable in the company of Charles Everett. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Woodbury Hill

Summit Height:  275.4m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 74653 64516 (LIDAR)

Col Height:  185.1m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 74679 66960 (LIDAR)

Drop:  90.3m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  32.77% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet