Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Stiperstones

 

12.12.20  Lion Rock (SO 365 981), Saddle Rock (SO 367 984), Stiperstones (SO 367 986, previously Trimbled), Devil’s Chair (SO 368 991), Pt. 503.5m (SJ 376 003) and Lord’s Hill (SJ 381 025) 

The Stiperstones (SO 367 986)

The Stiperstones are a distinct grouping of hills positioned near the English – Welsh border, viewed as a castellated spine from near distance with their quartzite rocky tors breaking the skyline of darkened heather. 

I’d been on many of these tors in the past and surveyed the highest known as Manstone Rock in November 2014.  One of the most distinct tors is the Devil’s Chair, and it was here many years ago on one of my only two roped climbs that I fell and dangled in mid-air, until my brother, who was top roping from above, appealed to me to get back on the rock as he was holding my full body weight.  I remember the dangling sensation was fun and that the falling off the rock part was a surprise and happened all too quickly. 

Today I was out with Aled, who had proposed a two car traverse of the higher ridge surveying each substantial tor exceeding 500m as we did so, with their cols also all surveyed to ascertain drop as well as height.  To do this we needed ideal conditions with no frost or ice, a light breeze and clear visibility.  We ended up with two of the three with the chilled wind stronger than hoped, but still adequate to safely position the surveying equipment on top of each tor in turn. 

We started from the south having left one car above the small community of Snailbeach which would give us the option to include Lord’s Hill at the end of the walk.  Getting out of the car we were met by a chilled wind, which was somewhat of a surprise as the forecast predicted just a breeze.  The forecast also predicted that the sun would break through toward late morning and as we gained height on the public footpath that heads toward the first of the tors; named as Cranberry Rock on contemporary maps and also known locally as Lion Rock, the cloud base was high, but in our immediate surrounds grey, with no sign yet of brighter conditions.  However, further in to Shropshire toward the south-east blue sky dominated. 

One of the main advantages of the Trimble GeoXH 6000 is its internal antenna; this means that accurate data can be gathered without the aid of a pole and external antenna, although the equipment can also be set-up in this fashion.  Therefore, the Trimble can be positioned on the exact highest point of any hill and as its underside is rubberised the friction between it and rock is good.  But, improvisation is also sometimes required, as some rocks are pointy whilst others overlook vertical drops and so over the years of operating this equipment I’ve learned that three small rocks and the aid of a rucksack usually overcomes most rock barriers.  The summit of Lion Rock was easily overcome for surveying purposes with the aid of Aled’s rucksack, which when laid flat beside this tor’s high point enabled the Trimble to be placed safely on it with two of the three small rocks I had brought wedged at its side to stabilise it, with its internal antenna aligned and positioned on the highest point of the tor. 

Gathering data at the summit of Lion Rock

The other main advantage of the Trimble GeoXH 6000 is that it only requires a minimum of two minutes data collection to produce an accurate result; this enables a hill walk with surveys conducted on the way, rather than a survey that just concentrates on one hill.  Both have their place in the magical (but also rather weird) world of hill surveying, but for me the former is now what works best. 

We surveyed two points for the position of the critical col adjoined to Lion Rock, the first on a rare patch of grass at the northerly base of the tor and the other where the main path leading up from the visitor’s car park joins the ridge path; this again was on a large patch of grass.  By now the high greyed cloud base had broken and a gentle winter sun was piercing the land, giving refreshing light that kept with us for much of the remainder of the day. 

The next tor on the surveying agenda is known as Saddle Rock and this is positioned between Lion Rock and Manstone Rock.  From our southerly approach it looked like a jumble of scree.  Circumventing the scree we wound our way around the back of the tor and headed up to its high point which consists of another well shaped rock. 

Saddle Rock (SO 367 984)

Within a couple of minutes the Trimble was set up with its internal antenna aligned with the tor’s high point with the sturdiest of my three rocks wedged on the leeward side of the equipment to keep it stable against the westerly wind.  By the time we’d sat, chatted and enjoyed some fruit cake that Aled had brought, seven minutes of data had been collected.  Once the equipment was closed down and packed away we headed down to the connecting col.  The col adjoined to Saddle Rock proved to be in a morass of heather, it was duly surveyed. 

Gathering data at the summit of Saddle Rock

The tors were now getting bigger in size with the two most impressive ahead of us, the first of these is the high point of the Stiperstones; Manstone Rock.  Having previously surveyed its summit the Trimble remained in its case whilst we scrambled to its top, with Aled taking a more difficult line to me.  It was wonderful to be back on its summit.  This was a place I occasionally visited with friends even before starting proper hill walking.  It was a local place that locals occasionally went to, me included. 

From the summit the westerly panorama opened up with patches of snow on the main Y Berwyn ridge and the forming of a shower toward our south-west.  I’d noticed on my previous visits to many of the Shropshire hills that showers formed toward Newtown and made their way down the Kerry valley before spilling their contents on the Shropshire hills, and again this was the direction that this shower was coming from.  However, it was still a distance away and even if it caught us it wouldn’t be for a while yet. 

The view north from the summit of the Stiperstones with the Devil's Chair on the left

After Manstone Rock is the Devil’s Chair, which is the most intricate summit of these tors with three distinct tops all vying for the accolade of its high point.  Before getting to grips with its summit we had its adjoining col to investigate.  Three positions were surveyed, the first amongst heather close to the main ridge path.  The second amongst a jumble of rock before an outlying tor almost of equal height and the third directly below the up thrust of rock that constitutes the main tor of the Devil’s Chair. 

One of three positions surveyed for the critical col of the Devil's Chair

A path led us around the westerly fringe of the tor and gained height toward its northerly summit, I hoped this would prove the highest as the thought of delicately picking my balanced way across the castellated top to the other possible high points did not enthuse me.  I would have been enthused a few years ago but I’m getting old now and am not as lithe and versatile as I once was. 

Before placing the Trimble on the first of these three tops, Aled Abneyed from its high point to the other two and concluded that the central one was just as high as the northerly, but it was so close that his recommendation was that all three needed surveying. 

Scrambling on the Devil's Chair

The first was relatively easy, as the high rock was relatively broad, I could stand on it although the wind did not help me with any lingering confidence I may have had.  As I set the Trimble up and wedged it in place with two of my rocks, Aled headed off to investigate the other two tops and left me hunkered down below the equipment as it beeped away gathering its individual data points as the wind blew across the hill.  I felt happy enough though, I was relatively safe and as long as being careful with where I placed my feet when the allotted data was gathered and stored I should survive the experience.  I was still unsure about the other two tops though, they looked a little scary. 

Hunkered down below the summit of the Devil's Chair patiently waiting for the Trimble to gather its allotted data.  Photo: Aled Williams 

I remember days long gone when I, along with various friends used to enjoy many a pint in the Vaynol Arms in Nant Peris, bed down in our tents in the near campsite and head to Pete’s Eats for breakfast the following morning, before a scramble either across Crib Goch, or perhaps the Bristly Ridge or any other than tempted our fancies.  When doing this on a weekly or monthly basis one’s mind and body become adjusted to the rigours required, those daunting drops can be coped with and as long as you don’t attempt anything outside of your comfort zone everything seems to go swimmingly.  However, when those weekly or monthly scrambling expeditions become a thing of the past and suddenly spring up in front of you, you suddenly realise that the confidence and balance and head for heights that you once had, has suddenly left your mind and body.  This can be worrisome when on rock, especially so when operating an expensive bit of surveying kit. 

Gathering data at the northerly of the three Devil's Chair tops

As I packed the Trimble away Aled called me over toward the second top of the Devil’s Chair.  This required a fine balancing act down, across and then up with large drops on either side, nowhere near as fierce as from Crib Goch, but nasty enough to do serious damage if one stumbled. 

Looking past the second top toward the third top on the Devil's Chair with Manstone Rock in the background

Once at the second top I positioned the Trimble in place and sat with Aled below the equipment with my feet wedged in place in a small gap in the rock.  It was a spectacular position to be surveying in, but I soon learned that the last of the three tops was even more precarious. 

This last top looked interesting to say the least and especially so when Aled said that he’d already visited it and was happy to wait whilst I negotiated a delicate balancing and wriggling act to get to its top.  Upon reaching its high point I wondered how on earth I was going to survey it.  I was now standing with my feet wedged firmly in small gaps and when I looked down all I could see was space below and then a jumble of rocks and heather further below.  This was to my right hand side, to my left was a greater drop, but thankfully the position my body was wedged in meant that looking down to my left was hard to do, this left me with the rather unusual comfortable thought that I could not see the greater drop, but I knew it was their and it was immediately beside me.  I decided that I should not move from my wedged in position, I would have to of course, but only after the Trimble had gathered and stored its all-important data. 

By placing one small rock under the bottom of the equipment and one either side of it the Trimble could be secured in place with its internal antenna aligned to the highest part of this third Devil’s Chair top.  However, I wasn’t going to trust its present position to these rocks as the wind was constant and if either the small rock at its base slipped or the wind dislodged it, the Trimble would fall to an untimely death, therefore as it beeped away gathering data I hunkered down below it and hung on to its rear end.  I’ve only had necessity to do this on a few summits in the past, one being Manstone Rock; the high point of the Stiperstones. 

Whilst collecting data I shouted across to Aled and asked him to take a few photos as I was not going to unpack my camera in the position I found myself in.  Within a few seconds he was beside me traversing rock that I didn’t think was there and then he popped up the other side of the tor pinnacle, I wondered how on earth he’d got there as all I could see were horrendous drops in to oblivion. 

Once the Trimble was safely packed away all I wanted to do was get back on to safe terra firma.  Even the thought of the shower which was now bearing down on the hill didn’t detract from the fact that large drops and survey equipment are not comfortable bed fellows. 

The Devil's Chair from the south

A few specks of rain whisked their way over this part of the hill as we re-joined the main ridge path heading ever northward, but thankfully the main shower cloud was further to our south.  Ahead of us lay a 503m unnamed on the map, map heighted hill and before surveying its summit we now had its col to investigate.  This proved an easy affair to pinpoint and proved to be near a large cairn marking the meeting of paths. 

As col data were gathered Aled headed up to the next rock tor which rose out of the heathered depths below.  During the walk the main ridge had been scattered with people, some on the main path, others scrambling on the Devil’s Chair, couples, singles, dog walkers and a few mountain bikers, all out enjoying the favourable weather, but there seemed to be only two hill surveyors.  I sometimes find this a little odd, as it’s a very enjoyable pastime, one which I would highly recommend. 

Gathering data at the col of Pt. 503.5m

We were nearing the end part of the walk, all the daring do and vertical drops were thankfully behind us with just a soft heathered hill to survey and the option of Lord’s Hill at the end.  We took two data sets from the summit area of the 503m map heighted hill, one on a small knoll and the other close to a prominent cairn.  We favoured the former as the higher.  From here the views opened to our north with The Wrekin standing aloof as a singular up thrust whilst the valley below beckoned. 

Gathering data at the summit of Pt. 503.5m (SJ 376 003)

From the summit we headed down through soft heather to join the main path which was now a track with a multitude of mountain bikers heading up it.  This led ever downward with our shadows now elongated and accentuated against beautiful winter colour. 

Late afternoon light with Lord's Hill in the background on the left

The track led down to the minor paved road where my car was parked.  We checked the time and then looked at the connecting col for Lord’s Hill which was in a pastured grazing field beside the minor lane.  Deciding to leave this for our return we headed up the last hill of the day, accessing a track through a gate which then would its way upward. 

The summit of Lord’s Hill is in utter contrast to the others we had encountered on the walk, as it consists of closely cropped grass.  We each assessed the lay of land and after choosing placement for the Trimble it was soon set up gathering data.  I enjoyed this last hill, it felt good to tag it on at the end, even if it was at contrast to the other summits; it was a fitting end to the day’s walk. 

Gathering data at the summit of Lord's Hill

All that remained was to reverse our inward route down the track to the minor lane, and whilst I headed in to the adjoining field Aled headed to the car, directing me toward the col’s critical point as he did so. 

And at the end of the day.............

During the last of sixteen data sets gathered on the walk I stood and savoured the view as behind the survey equipment was the most beautiful yellowed sun set.  It had been an excellent day on the hill and this was an ideal way for it to end; savouring a sun set whilst the survey equipment gathered the last data set of the day. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Lion Rock  

Summit Height:  506.7m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 36539 98110

Col Height:  501.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 36569 98157

Drop:  5.1m

Dominance:  1.01%

 

 

Saddle Rock  

Summit Height:  527.1m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 36732 98480

Col Height:  522.1m (converted to OSGM15)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 36783 98570

Drop:  5.0m

Dominance:  0.96%

 

 

Stiperstones  

Summit Height:  537.0m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 36753 98643 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Col Height:  179.0m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 33951 91045 (LIDAR)

Drop:  358.0m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)

Dominance:  66.67% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)

 

 

Devil’s Chair  

Summit Height:  529.6m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 36838 99152 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Col Height:  519.6m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 36828 99100 (LIDAR)

Drop:  10.0m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)

Dominance:  1.89% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)

 

 

Pt. 503.5m  

Summit Height:  503.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 37676 00359

Col Height:  481.0m (converted to OSGM15)

Col Grid Reference:  SJ 37329 99909

Drop:  22.5m

Dominance:  4.47%

 

 

Lord’s Hill  

Summit Height:  364.3m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 38191 02516

Col Height:  314.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Col Grid Reference:  SJ 37998 02185

Drop:  49.8m

Dominance:  13.66% 

 

 

For details on the survey of the Stiperstones

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Stiperstones

05.11.14  Stiperstones (SO 367 986) and Nipstone Rock (SO 356 969)  

Nipstone Rock (SO 356 969) and the Stiperstones (SO 367 986)

The Stiperstones is one of the jewels of Shropshire, its quartzite rocky torred summit ridge being a distinctive landmark for many miles around.  The area is designated a National Nature Reserve and is classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.  It is a place that I’ve visited many times, always enjoyed but rarely investigated as although close to where I live it is the pull westward to inner Wales that interests me more.

Having surveyed the critical col earlier in the day, I parked in the large car park at SO 369 976 and headed northward on the main path upto the highest point.  The last time I’d been this way was with Bob Kerr as we prepared to do two filmed interviews on his seven summits attempt prior to him going to Everest.

Gathering data at what I judged to be the col of the Stiperstones

The path is a green haven amongst copious amounts of heather, when cresting the ridge it becomes rock invested as it diverges from its north-western direction to a northerly, passing a jumbled rock outcrop before heading up toward Manstone Rock and the high point of this part of Shropshire.  

This rock tor is impressive in shape with a broken vertical eastern side giving way to an easier angled western side sloping down to hillsides comprising heather and the lowlands beyond.  Its angled shape is accentuated by the summit trig pillar which stands aloof of the natural rock, cemented in place looking out on all below.

The summit tor of the Stiperstones

I knew that this survey may proof difficult as some of the natural rock surrounding the trig pillar was pointed and the drop in most directions was precipitous down onto bounder fields.  I did not want to test the Trimble’s strength against a twenty foot vertical drop onto boulders but I did want to find out how high this hill is, as Ordanance Survey maps give it a 536m summit height, whilst the OS Trig Database give the adjoined flush bracket a height of 537.362m.  When listing The Fours we used the Stiperstones as a Cardinal Hill and listed it as being 537m high.  I hoped a secure placement could be found for the Trimble, one where its life would not be cut short.

I approached the rock tor from the north having walked the length of its eastern face, the tor can be ascended on good rock scrambles but with a camera and Trimble I wanted an easier and less exciting way to the high point.  By the time I stood on top the sky was ablaze in blue.

The eastern profile of the Stiperstones summit tor

There were two options for the highest natural rock; one was relatively flat and on the northern side and adjacent to the base of the trig pillar’s plinth, whilst the other contender was on the south-east side of the plinth base and about one metre from it.  I stepped back carefully and looked at both with the trig central in view; the one on the right looked slightly higher.  This is the pointed rock on the south-easterly side of the trig pillar.  Unfortunately this rock has a big drop directly beneath it.  I wondered if the Trimble would retain its position if its internal antenna was aligned with its highest point; there was only one way to find out.

The Trimble was placed on the rock to the right of the trig pillar plinth

As I placed the Trimble on the rock I was all too aware that one slip and it may be crushed on the rock below, so as I set it up I crouched beneath and held its rear end and the sound of each data point seemed to manifest in more panic from its owner.  During data collection two people passed below the rock tor and shouted up asking if I was all right as I was hunched up in a ball with one arm extended toward the upper rock with a big drop immediately below me.  I laughed and thanked them for their concern and tried to explain what I was doing.  I met them later as I headed toward Nipstone Rock, they had both completed the 600m Terry March Welsh listed hills but probably had never encountered a rolled up hunched person seemingly in difficulty perched over a vertical drop and unmoving. 

As the five minutes of data collection was completed, I switched the Trimble off and edging backward I quickly took a number of photos and then grabbed it and put it back in its case.  The underside of the Trimble has a rubberised surround which is ideal for rock placement as the friction between rubber and rock means that the equipment can gather data when almost positioned vertically.  However, slimy rock is not ideal as the rubber surround easily slips.  Thankfully today the rock was dry and the Trimble survived, but I still had Nipstone Rock to visit and I hadn’t got a clue what the summit of that rock tor was going to be like.

Perched over a big drop the Trimble gathers data from the summit of the Stiperstones

I made my way down from the trig pillar on the southerly side of the rock tor and re-joined my inward path and continued southward when it headed back to the car park.  Ahead lay more rock tors and two climbers sorting their gear on the top of one.  There are many small climbs on these tors; some are documented in ‘Rock Climbs in the West Midlands’ by Doug Kerr which is published by Cicerone Press.

The southern side of this ridge proved a delight with a narrow path amongst heather passing rock outcrops with a lowering sun in front casting gently greyed and blue tinged silhouettes of hills.

The path led down to the road I had driven on earlier when making my way from the survey of The Cold Piece to the survey of Walker’s Bank.  On the opposite side of the road the footpath continued on to a closely cropped grass field with the attendant house of Upper Knolls Farm overlooking what is the critical col for Nipstone Rock.  It was Nipstone Rock that was my next objective.

I assessed this col before continuing, as its survey could wait until I retraced my route back to the lane.  The footpath continued into a wood and out again onto open hillside, this part of the hill had recently been reclaimed from the intrusion of a conifer plantation and had an interpretive notice board proclaiming the virtues of the Back to Purple project.  The 1960’s conifer plantation was felled in 2001 and 2006 and Hebridean Sheep introduced to eat the seedling trees sprouting on the bare ground after the conifers were felled.  The title of the project refers to the habitat of moor and heath and the heathered hillsides taking over from wooded plantations. 

The Nipstone Nature Reserve is on land that has been re-claimed from conifer plantation

The Hebridean Sheep must have done a good job as I didn’t come across one sapling tree or rotting tree slump, remarkably this land is now luxuriant in heather and relatively easy to walk through.  It also has a large outcrop of rock which I wanted to measure the height of, this is Nipstone Rock which had been in my mind for most of the day as I didn’t even know if I could get to the top of it, let alone survey it.

As I left the path through the wood Nipstone Rock loomed on the horizon to my right, I bi-passed it and walked through the heather to its adjacent hill which I also wanted to survey.  Both this and the outcrop of rock have uppermost c 445m ring contours on current Ordnance Survey maps with the heathery adjacent hill to Nipstone Rock having a 1461ft height given it on an old Ordnance Survey 1:10,560 map.  When compiling The Fours Aled and I had debated which to list as the prioritised summit; rock outcrop or heathery summit, we’d opted for the former.

When I arrived on the heathery summit I came across a pile of large rocks that looked as if they may be the high point of the hill, I gave most a good kick and all moved, I proceeded into the heather and came across a small embedded rock which I judged to be the high point of the hill, set the Trimble up, collected five minutes of data, relaxed in the afternoon sun and peered out toward Nipstone Rock.

Gathering data at the c 445m map high heathery summit adjacent to Nipstone Rock

Next objective: Nipstone Rock

As I arrived at the base of Nipstone Rock its sides could now be seen to give relatively easy access to its high point, this still required hand on rock and proved a welcome distraction from the heather clad hillsides I’d been walking on for the last hour.  Although I hoped the very highest point would give good protection for the Trimble as again, the drops in most directions were dramatic and would test the life span of the machine if the breeze picked up and catapulted the equipment thirty foot down to the rocks below.

Nipstone Rock (SO 356 969)

The very highest point proved not ideal, near to it a slightly lower rock gave ideal placement for the Trimble but the high point meant that a strengthening wind may catch the Trimble from below and topple it over to the rocks beneath.  I tried my utmost to place it as firmly as I could with its internal antenna aligned to the very highest point and once the 0.1m accuracy had been attained I pressed ‘Log’ and nestled myself in a comfortable notch below and tried not to look up, all I could hear was the steady rhythmic sound of the machine as each epoch second of data collection was gathered. 

Gathering data at the top of Nipstone Rock

Peering out toward Corndon I was only too aware that grasses growing out of the rock just beneath me were waving in the wind, I just hoped that the sound of the Trimble collecting data would continue and not be cut short by a crashing noise as it slithered off its perch to the rocks below.

Looking out toward Corndon

As the five minutes of data collection finished I scrambled back to the top, switched the equipment off, quickly took some photos, packed the Trimble away and scrambled back to the bottom of the rock.  Just one survey remained and that was the critical col for Nipstone Rock.

It's a long way down from the top of Nipstone Rock

I retraced my steps through the heather and the footpath through the wood to the closely cropped grassy field adjacent to the narrow lane, and as the sun cast out from the blue sky I tried to discourage the local sheep from making friends with a data gathering Trimble.

Gathering data at the critical col of Nipstone Rock

Once packed away I re-joined the narrow lane and happily made my way toward the car, to the south the shadows on green hills made gentle patterns as late afternoon November light accentuated their contours.  It had been a very fulfilling day.

Late afternoon November light

LIDAR col image of the Stiperstones (summit at SO 367 986)

Postscript:

Since the survey of these hills full LIDAR coverage is now available.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height and positional data that is now freely available for England and Wales.  Consequently the numerical details for these hills have been analysed using this technique, resulting in the LIDAR height and position for the col of the Stiperstones being prioritised over that produced by the Trimble GeoXH 6000.  

Survey Result:

Stiperstones 

Summit Height:  537.0m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

   

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 36753 98643 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Col Height:  179.0m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 33951 91045 (LIDAR)

Drop:  358.0m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col) 

Dominance:  66.67% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)

Nipstone Rock 

Summit Height:  447.0m (converted to OSGM15) (significant height revision)

   

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 35668 96957

Col Height:  423.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 36160 97549

Drop:  23.0m 

Dominance:  5.15%

For details on the 2nd visit to the Stiperstones

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet