Tuesday 30 August 2016

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Stiperstones


28.08.16  Burway Hill (SO 440 942, previously Trimbled))

Burway Hill (SO 440 942)

Burway Hill is easily accessible if wanting a relatively quick ascent as it is positioned beside the minor road that makes its way west from Church Stretton over the Long Mynd to the East Onny valley.

The closeness of this minor road does not detract from the appeal of the hill, as its northern and southern slopes are steep sided plunging down to the Carding Mill and Townbrook Valley’s respectively.

Its eastern ridge descends to the outskirts of Ashbrook and Church Stretton, whilst its western slopes are sharp and steep leading down to its connecting col, from here the land continues toward the highest part of the hill range; Pole Bank.

Today the Long Mynd was a hive of activity with a multitude of cars squeezing past one another on the steep minor road; mountain bikes were either being pushed or their riders were struggling uphill whilst walkers were dotted on distant horizons seemingly on each and every path and summit.  We were a part of the car influx, and as the day was beautifully warm with sunshine highlighting the purpled heather we stopped and Lou and I took the opportunity to visit the summit of Burway Hill.

We parked beside the col, which along with the hill’s summit had previously been Trimbled whilst on a walk with Charlie Leventon in February 2014.  A grassed path leads from the col to the attractive rocky summit, and although steep it is no more than a head down and a bead of sweat on brow ascent.

Lou - ready for all eventualities

As I followed Lou up the rubbled path I smiled as she stopped and expressed concern that there may be snakes in the heather, between my smiles I encouraged her onward.

Looking out for snakes

The summit was soon reached and we stayed on top for ten minutes or so admiring the view, away to the north-east the distinct profiles of Caer Caradoc Hill and The Lawley bulged up from the greenness of the valley below, their profiles led the eye toward the distant Wrekin, which is an outlier of the Shropshire hills.

Lou at the summit of Burway Hill

The view north with Caer Caradoc, The Lawley and The Wrekin

As we descended we looked beyond Pole Bank where he sky was massing grey, its darkened colour foretelling heavy rain, and yet on the Long Mynd the walkers, picnickers and cyclists were out, bathed in sunshine.

The descent proved fun; thankfully we didn’t encounter any snakes and made it down to the car in one piece.  Our drive continued eastward toward the Stiperstones where the rain seemed embedded for the remainder of the afternoon, looking back the upper part of the Long Mynd was now cloaked in grey cloud and decidedly wet, we’d timed our visit well.



Survey Result:



Summit Height:  402.8m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 44061 94220 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Col Height:  372.9m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 43980 94263 (LIDAR)

Drop:  29.85m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)

Dominance:  7.41% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)











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