08.03.17 Bury Ditches (SO 327 838)
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| Bury Ditches (SO 327 838) |
The Bury Ditches form an
impressive earthen rampart system of embankment and ditch which dates from
approximately 500BC; this Iron Age Hill Fort is one of the most extensive in
the country and sits atop a hill whose slopes are immersed by conifer
plantation.
My goal for the day was
a hill that I had not yet visited and one that was close to Lydbury North,
whose village hall Jim Perrin was speaking at, at 7.00pm; and this hill fitted
perfectly into this plan.
The hill is enclosed by
Forestry Commission conifer plantations that until the mid-1970s shrouded the
summit, thankfully a storm blew many trees down and sensible action prevailed
and the remaining trees from the area of the summit were then felled. This now gives the summit a spacious feel and
affords extensive views to the higher Shropshire peaks.
The hill is listed as a
Submarilyn and a 390m Sub-Four (The Fours
- Europeaklist December 2013 and Haroldstreet January 2014) with c 146m of drop; the former compilation lists the hill by the name of Sunnyhill, whilst the 2nd edition of the latter has amended the name from its 1st edition to the Bury Ditches, with both names appearing close to this hill's summit on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.
Local enquiry suggests that the former name is more applicable to the southern
slopes of this hill, whilst the latter name is the locally known contemporary name for the hill.
I waited until 3.00pm
before packing the car and driving toward Bishop’s Castle, and as the summit is
positioned closer to Lydbury North compared to its col, I decided to
investigate the col first and leave the summit for a late afternoon
ascent. The critical col for this hill is
positioned in or next to a field that has a bump in it, the top of this bump is
given a separate 250m ring contour on Ordnance Survey maps.
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| The first of four data sets taken at the area of the col with the Trimble gathering data on top of the gate post. The field where the col is situated is beyond the gate entrance with the top of the 250m ring contour bump just above the hedge on the left hand side of this photograph. |
I squeezed my car
against a hedge on the minor lane just to the west of this field and set about
trying to work out the lay of land, I imagined that the hill to hill traverse
was more critical than the direction of the valley to valley traverse, as
contours and a whizz around in a Google car suggests. I wanted to take at least two data sets from
the col, one either side of the 250m ring contoured bump, and I ended up taking
four and spent a contented hour doing so.
Time spent standing in a field next to a main road and minor lane is an
unusual occupation to say the least, but there is a pleasure in doing such a
thing. Once four data sets had been
taken I drove north and then south toward Lower Down and the car park that
gives access to the summit of the hill.
The car park is positioned on the eastern side of the hill and at 310m
high it gives easy access to the Bury Ditches.
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| Gathering data at the critical col with the 250m ring contour bump to the left |
As I pulled up a woman
was heading toward her car, we talked for ten minutes or so, she lived in
Churchstoke having relocated from Birmingham and told me that she used to bring
her young children here for walks, they are now in university. She kindly pointed me in the right direction
and told me about other paths and how they connect. As another car pulled up I headed up the good
track toward the summit.
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| Information board at the start of the track leading to the summit |
I stopped occasionally
to take photographs and peer through the trees to the blued sky beyond, there
was a distinct smell of awaking to the land, with slight warmth heralding the
onset of spring and catkins slumbered down from their delicate branches,
motionless they hung, as neither wind nor breeze blew.
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| A sign of spring |
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| Wood carving beside the track leading to the eastern entrance gate |
The track led to a gate
which gave access to the eastern entrance and the impressive earthen ramparts,
these consist of at least four with their ditches accentuating their form, each
a shaped series of ovals, and they stood similar to a flowing wave caused by
plopping a small stone in a pond. I
followed the path to the viewfinder; just beyond on the inner rampart is the
high point of the hill. Within a few
minutes the Trimble was set up on my rucksack and five minutes of data
collected.
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| Gathering data at the summit |
As the Trimble gathered
its allotted data the late afternoon cast shadowed colour across distant hills,
a slight chill had now replaced the early sprint warmth and the land seemed
ready to slow and become darkened by the onset of dusk.
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| Shadowed colour across distant hills |
I stood and soaked in
the scene before packing the Trimble away and proceeded to follow the inner
rampart for the whole length of its journey through the ancient western gate
where overlapping ramparts and ditches are still on view, and onward back to
the modern entrance gate and the descending track toward my car.
By the time I had
changed and driven to Bishop’s Castle for food, the sun had sank leaving
streaked greying cloud, it had been a good day, and one that still held the
prospect of the evening spent listening to the eloquent openness and beauty of Jim
Perrin.
Survey Result:
Bury Ditches (significant name change)
Summit Height: 394.1m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SO 32753 83805
Col Height: 247.5m (converted to OSGM15)
Col Grid Reference: SO 29512 83148
Drop: 146.7m
Dominance: 37.21%
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