Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Way Stone Edge

 

14.04.26  Way Stone Edge (SD 999 140) 

Way Stone Edge (SD 999 140)

Having just visited Dog Hill (SE 003 170) it was only a short drive on the A672 road under the busy M62 to our designated parking place, which was directly west of the summit of our last hill of the day; Way Stone Edge.

This hill is classified as a Four, and also currently as a Subhump, although LIDAR implies that its natural col still exists and therefore under Hump protocols it should be deleted from the ranks of Subs.

By now the weather was definitely turning for the worse with mid afternoon rain forecast.  This could be seen pushing in from the south as slate grey cloud slowly enveloped the surrounds.  This meant it was wise not to linger and as I exited John’s car I asked what path we were heading on, he directed me toward a gate on the opposite side of the road and I was soon on my way following a path amongst copious amounts of reed grass.

Mark and John followed with John soon taking the lead.  The bulk of Way Stone Edge rose in front looming over the bleached moor, with the path quickly turning in to a vehicle track that took us down to a stream.  Going was never difficult, although rather squashy in parts.  John fell close to the stream and floundered to get purchase on the soft grass beside the thin strip of water, I watched as he berated himself which made me smile.  I resisted the temptation of taking a photograph, which in years gone by I may well have done. 

John leading the way down to the stream

Having lost height from the road down to the stream, the up hill now started as we followed a relatively good vehicle track on the moor as it headed up toward a gate and fence, beyond which the going steepened as bleached moor turned to heather and moor grass. 

Beyond the gate and fence the going steepened

Again, the going was never difficult, but that rain was closing in and as we crested the summit plateau Mark used his hand-held GPS to zero in to the summit position.  When we reached this point I checked the LIDAR summit co-ordinates and we were still 250 metres from the high point.  Mark soon input these figures and off we went through the heather toward the LIDAR summit; when there I quickly took a few photographs as the first scuds of wind blown rain hit us. 

The summit of Way Stone Edge

Thankfully I’d taken my storm proof brolly and this was soon up sheltering me from the rain as it swept across the hill.  Our downward route followed a boggy path beside a forlorn looking fence as it headed south-westward before claiming height over the small prominence bump of White Hill. 

The downward route with White Hill in the background

The rain was not constant with only two good scuds hitting us.  As we joined a part of the Pennine Way the path improved as it crossed the summit of White Hill, this eased passage back to the road and John’s awaiting car.  The cloud all round looked threatening, this gave us incentive to quicken our pace down the hill and we arrived back to the shelter of John’s car just before more rain set in.

Way Stone Edge proved a good wild hill to end up on and all that remained was the drive back to Burnley, followed by a welcome large mug of tea and a bite to eat before the drive back to Mark’s and my onward journey to Welshpool. 

 

Survey Result:

               

Way Stone Edge 

Summit Height:  481.6m (LIDAR)  

Summit Grid Reference:  SD 99956 14046 (LIDAR) (summit relocation)

Col Height:  387.8m (LIDAR)

Col Height:  399.6m (LIDAR, natural col)

Col Grid Reference:  SE 01975 09573 (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SE 02035 09664 (LIDAR, natural col) 

Drop:  93.9m (LIDAR)

Drop:  82.1m (LIDAR, using the natural col) (proposed Subhump deletion)

Dominance:  19.49% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Way Stone Edge

 

14.04.26  Dog Hill (SE 003 170) 

Dog Hill (SE 003 170)

Today’s plan was to visit two hills either side of junction 22 on the M62 motorway.  The first of these was Dog Hill which is classified as a Four with 34.5m of drop derived from LIDAR analysis.

Mark and I had overnighted at John Kirk’s in Burnley, having met him the previous day at the White House pub and after a lunchtime meal we missed the heavy localised showers and visited Blake Moor (SD 971 212).  Blake Moor entailed about 7 miles mainly on good tracks beside reservoirs with the customary moor grass and heather ascent followed by a similar descent down to a good track beside another reservoir.  Today each walk would be shorter, and the two hills that Mark and John had planned for us to visit although close in proximity, were very different in nature, with Dog Hill a pleasant ascent on grass whilst Way Stone Edge (SD 999 140) proved an altogether more wild affair with copious amounts of heather and moor grass. 

The path leading up Dog Hill

Having John as our local guide always proves beneficial with good routes up and down the hills chosen, and today for Dog Hill he suggested a pleasant ascent from the south of the summit on what proved a delightful path. 

The beautifully coloured grassland 

We parked in a lay-by on the A672 road close to where it bisects the M62 motorway.  The path heading up the hill was on the opposite side of the road and continued up through a myriad of delicate swaying grass whose colour mesmerized in a simple beauty.  This time of year before the fresh green growth of late spring and summer has chance to dominate, the grass on moorland hills takes on a bleached affect where gentle yellows cascade across the land and today the colour was on a stunningly subtle display. 

Mark on the ascent with the M62 and Way Stone Edge as backdrop

Our route up eventually left the beautiful coloured grassland and gained height around the upper southerly bowl of the hill; stopping to admire the scene I photographed Mark following us up with the thin slither of cars heading over the moor on the M62 as backdrop with the higher Way Stone Edge (SD 999 140) beyond. 

John on the path on the upper southerly bowl of the hill 

We were soon on the summit which has a trig pillar with the high point of the hill about seven metres from its base.  I had used LIDAR to determine the height and drop of this hill when Aled and I recently updated the listing of The Fours – The 400m Hills of England, therefore although I’d brought the Trimble I had no intention of surveying the summit as LIDAR would suffice.  However, I did place the equipment on my rucksack for its customary summit photograph. 

The summit of Dog Hill

Leaving the summit we headed down on our inward path around the upper bowl of the hill and down through that beautifully coloured grassland with the buzz of the motorway dulled in the background.  Next stop the wild delights of Way Stone Edge. 

 

Survey Result: 

               

Dog Hill 

Summit Height:  434.9m (LIDAR)  

Summit Grid Reference:  SE 00313 17079 (LIDAR)

Col Height:  400.4m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SD 98466 17076 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  34.5m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  7.93% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Way Stone Edge

 

13.04.26  Blake Moor (SD 971 212) 

Blake Moor (SD 971 212)

Over recent times, trips to the moors above Burnley have taken place twice a year; usually in April and October; one where the greenery and springs warmth is beginning and the other when autumnal colours are predominant.  As with most planned trips in Britain they are weather dependent and especially so for hill walking.  This visit was no different with heavy localised showers forecast for the first day of our two day visit and rain heading up from the south during the afternoon of our second day.

I drove to Mark’s and he then drove north to meet John outside the White House pub at the top of the A58 road.  On our way we had a detour in and around Rochdale to acquaint ourselves with the splendours of this town.  It’s always good to see Mr Kirk and once parked and the customary hand shakes and hugs were had, we were soon happily seated in the pub for a lunchtime meal.  Afterward it was time to visit the hill. 

Meeting place, meal and the start of our walk; the White House pub

Our chosen hill for the day was Blake Moor, which is typical of much of these hills as it’s dominated by open surrounds and consists of heather and moor grass, with an occasional rock outcrop adding interest.  After our meal I quickly got my walking boots on and headed up the road and through a gate to join the good track leading northward beside the Blackstone Edge Reservoir. 

Our inward track

If not for this track and its continuation the hill would be a wild affair with much heather and no doubt bog to walk through.  However, the track gave a semblance of serenity to the surrounds as it made its way north leaving the first reservoir before joining the next three; these are the Little Hazzles Reservoir where a pair of Canada Geese croaked their annoyance of vacating their spot on the track as we approached.  The other two are the White Holme Reservoir which we visited on our downward route and the most northerly; the Warland Reservoir. 

One of the Canada Geese

I’d set off wearing trousers and light fleece coat but the open skies with blue and intermittent cloud meant I was soon over heating.  By now John had caught me up and as we waited for Mark I took the opportunity to convert my trousers to shorts.  Waiting beside one of the reservoirs proved a welcome few minutes rest before we continued toward the southern edge of the Warland Reservoir, here we followed the continuation of the thin ribbon of water that constitutes the Little Hazzles Reservoir, before leaving the welcome confines of the track and heading up in to heather and moor grass for a direct approach toward the high point of Blake Moor. 

John on the green track beside the Little Hazzles Reservoir

By now dark grey shower cloud was massing to our east, with little wind the showers were no doubt slow moving.  As the track petered out we followed a semblance of a path as it headed up on to the higher moor.  The high point of Blake Moor is approximately 200 metres south-eastward from a triangulation pillar, which had been a prominent white indicator on the horizon during much of our inward walk.  We were soon on the top with much of the hill consisting of the customary moor grass and heather. 

Heading for the summit

As this hill had been LIDAR’ed I had no intention of Trimbling it, but still placed the survey equipment on top of my rucksack on the high point of the hill for the customary summit photograph. 

The summit of Blake Moor

We debated heading back the same way, but decided on following a fence roughly south-east down to the eastern end of the White Holme Reservoir, with a path on the western side of the fence giving encouragement for a relatively easy downward route.  This would also give us a circular walk instead of the there and back option. 

On the track beside the White Holme Resrvoir

By the time we reached the track on the southern edge of the expanse of water I was in head down and plodding mode.  We only stopped occasionally, for me this was to take a photo looking across the waters or toward the distant hazy spires of Manchester which stood out on the horizon. 

The distant spires of Manchester

By now my two colleagues were slowly pulling ahead leaving me to my own devices.  Initially I was in no particular hurry, although the threatening build up of late afternoon deep grey shower cloud made me quicken my pace, with the easterly mass of cloud still lingering, but now showers were breaking out closer to where we were.

I made it back to the awaiting cars where John and Mark were getting their boots off, dry from any threatening rain and happy in the knowledge that another hill had been visited and partially explored. 

   

Survey Result: 

               

Blake Moor 

Summit Height:  420.9m (LIDAR)  

Summit Grid Reference:  SD 97191 21217 (LIDAR)

Col Height:  382.4m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SD 96557 19725 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  38.5m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  9.14% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pendle

 

22.10.25  Soil Hill (SE 076 313) 

The track leading toward the summit of Soil Hill (SE 076 313)

Hills come in all manner of shapes and sizes.  Many are wonderful inventions of nature with eloquent spires reaching skyward and plunging drops below.  Others are tranquil in their profile, adding a semblance of peace to their shape.  Some in Britain can be quick affairs to visit whilst others afford a whole day’s endeavours.  There are few hills that do not leave a good impression.  Sadly Spoil Hill is one.

I suppose our chosen route of ascent from a high narrow road up a green track leading to a high mast didn’t add much quality to our experience of the hill.  But, even though the green track, which we were on for only the fleetest of fleeting moments was rather nondescript, it was much better compared to what we encountered on the summit.  This is a bi-product of mans disposal efforts and seems to have increased in height over recent years with the debris of all manner of stuff poking up out of the rather apt summit soil. 

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 on the summit of Soil Hill

There’s not much more I can say really.  Thankfully during our walk, and considering how many heavy showers were still lingering, we remained relatively dry, which helped.  I did get a photo of the Trimble perched on top of my rucksack, although I had no intention of gathering summit data, as LIDAR would be sufficient and a lunchtime meal called. 

John and Mark heading down from the summit

It was good to bag another summit; it did have extensive views from its top and it was good to be out on the hill, but otherwise it was a summit that will not linger in my memory for anything else except for its ability not to make a good impression. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Soil Hill 

Summit Height:  408.8m (LIDAR) (significant height revision)  

Summit Grid Reference:  SE 07680 31368 (LIDAR)

Col Height:  348.6m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SE 06547 31672 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  60.2m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  14.72% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pendle

 

22.10.25  Nab Hill (SE 033 323) 

Nab Hill (SE 033 323)

Nab Hill can give an easy ascent, however if not for the aid of LIDAR, Abney Level and hand-held GPS equipment you could wander the summit area visiting a multitude of lumps and bumps trying to determine which in fact is the highest.  This is due to the debris of old mine workings.  Outside of these, the upper hill is typical of the area with heather dominating on an open moor.  Nowadays it also has a number of scattered wind turbines beyond its trig pillar, with the latter positioned on one of the lumps eastward from where LIDAR indicates the high point of the hill is situated.

When we set out flashes of sunlight enhanced the opposing moor across the minor road where John had parked.  The rusted colours of autumn were on grand display as the sun highlighted slithers of green amongst the golden yellows and oranges.  Although delightful to look at, it also looked horrifying to walk through as patches of standing water led the eye toward Warley Moor Reservoir, which added stillness to the scene. 

Autumnal colours beside Warley Moor Reservoir

Our way up was in the opposite direction to the reservoir, either over or under an intervening blue barred metal gate that led to a wide green track that took us in to the upper hill.  Ahead and on the near horizon was a forlorn looking wire fence with an immediate drop in front of it, no doubt an abandoned hole from the various workings hereabouts. 

The green track leading to the hill

I left before John and Mark, slowly gaining height as flashes of sunlight struck the land.  This time of year can give dramatic effect when on the hill with low light and succulent colour the order of the day.

Prior to visiting John’s, I had noted the LIDAR position for each of our planned summits, but on this particular small walk I only got the Trimble out to zero in to the summit location as I crested the upper moor, having walked past the quickest route to the top whilst aiming for what looked like a good possibility which vied for high point.

Having crested the moor I took a series of photos as John followed by Mark roughly followed my inward route.  As I did so the grey murk behind us and to our west looked rather foreboding, it was almost black and no doubt heralded the next heavy patch of incoming rain. 

Mark on the way to the summit of Nab Hill

Before leaving this spot I checked the LIDAR co-ordinates for the summit against what the Trimble was showing as my current position, and then continued following the dilapidated fence around the rim of moor to what was becoming evident as the high point of the hill.  This consisted of a welcome patch of greened grass situated amongst the debris of old mine spoil and the heather of the moor. 

Mark and John joining me on the summit of Nab Hill

The summit was a tranquil spot to wait for my two colleagues who quickly joined me.  Before leaving I positioned the Trimble atop my rucksack which would normally form the survey position.  Today however, with the heavy rain fast approaching I had no intention of gathering summit data, LIDAR would have to suffice. 

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 on the summit of Nab Hill

As I packed the Trimble away and gathered up my rucksack the first drops of rain skidded our way.  My brolly, which I carry on most small hills when weather dictates, was soon up shielding my camera equipment, the Trimble and the majority of myself.  It was only a short walk back to the car and when we arrived the heaviest part of the shower was over, affording a semblance of dryness to sort gear and head off to the next hill. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Nab Hill 

Summit Height:  451.4m (LIDAR)  

Summit Grid Reference:  SE 03374 32372 (LIDAR)

Col Height:  405.6m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SE 02781 32247 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  45.7m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  10.13% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Ward’s Stone

 

21.10.25  Bowland Knotts (SD 727 606) 

Looking toward the old summit location of Bowland Knotts

Recent trips to the moors above Burnley have given a mixture of blue sky, warmth and autumnal colours.  All trips have been dry, with not a speck of the wet stuff falling from the sky.  This scenario changed on our latest visit to John Kirk’s.  The weather forecast warned to expect fast moving showers with rain in between, and it didn’t disappoint.

John had planned our two day stay with easy ascents and numerous meals out, which seemed a good combination, and especially so as any prolonged walk would involve getting well and truly soaked.  It was a matter of getting out and trying to time our ascents for a spell between the frequent showers and hoping to remain relatively dry in the process.  However, hoping to do so is one thing and what was encountered is another. 

Not my favourite weather conditions

Our first hill of the visit was Bowland Knotts.  The summit of this hill was relocated in December 2013 when the 1^st edition of the The Fours was published by Europeaklist.  This was at a time before LIDAR was being used to analyse numerical data.  This relocation was subsequently confirmed when LIDAR became available for this hill.

The summit relocation eased its ascent, if indeed that is what is wanted, and today it certainly was.  Its old listed summit is positioned beside the trig pillar and south-west from where a narrow road crests these hills.  It’s an easy ascent from here to the trig via a couple of small lumps on the way, following in the main a solid stone wall that keeps to the crest of the ridge.  However, its highest point is even closer and just eastward of the high point of the road.  A brisk walk up and down wouldn’t take more that ten minutes and that’s stopping on the summit to take the customary photographs of extended views whilst bathing in the delights of blue sky and warmth.  In all it took us 41 minutes to visit the high point and get back to the relative dryness of John’s car.  Only two of us made it this far as the third was the sensible one and remained in the car after we realised that our initial endeavours had taken us in the wrong direction, and even then we didn’t get to the high point of this section of ridge.  We thought we had reached the summit; having set out in wet and windy conditions following our confidently striding local guide, who unbeknownst to the two incomers was going in completely the wrong direction. 

Following our local guide toward the trig pillar

Navigational errors can easily be made, but you would think that three experienced hill walkers who between them have completed the Munros, English and Welsh 2,000ft’ers, and in the case of one of the incomers the Welsh ones on multiple occasions, the Deweys for two of them, the other one didn’t venture into England and just completed the Welsh ones, for one of them the Welsh Humps and between the three numerous other lists, would have enough gumption to realise that following the ridge in the direction of the trig pillar was in fact incorrect, and that the true summit was in the opposite direction on the other side of the road.  Well, they eventually did, but it took them a while to fully comprehend this. 

Heading toward what we thought was the high point of the hill

The realisation of our incorrect wander only happened when back in the car having got wet from the initial endeavours.  When the error of our ways was realised I laughed, only a bit mind, as this now meant another journey out in to the particularly inclement weather conditions.  Thankfully it was only a short distance to the summit via a small section of road, a cattle grid, a wet bit of ground and an attractive rising lump that took me and Mark to the high point.  John was sensible and remained back in the car.

I had just enough time to try and take a photo with the inconvenience of ‘memory card full’ flashing on my camera screen.  I could of course stand and fiddle about finding a new one and inserting it in the camera for a couple of quickly taken photographs, but it was wet, it was windy and although my brolly had done an excellent job of keeping me relatively dry it was also cumbersome to try and do anything else except for walking with it when it was up.  However, I did take a couple of Mark on the summit with his mobile phone. 

Mark Trengove on the summit of Bowland Knotts (SD 727 606)

I arrived back at the car feeling unusually invigorated and with a broad smile on my face.  Still wet though! 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Bowland Knotts 

Summit Height:  430.7m (LIDAR)  

Summit Grid Reference:  SD 72767 60678 (LIDAR) (summit relocation)

Col Height:  343.4m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SD 71799 60697 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  87.3m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  20.27% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet