South West of England Road Trip
A bit of a road trip down to Poldark country to take in a host of UK County/Unitary Authority High Points, Marilyns and even a couple of Nuttalls. This comprised of two UK county/unitary authority high points (31&32/184) and three English Marilyns now 28/175. Not the most exciting of hill tops but makes a bit of a change. I am now nestled in the foothills of Dartmoor but a trip to the garage is needed tomorrow instead of a hill day.
Anchor Links
28.4.2021 - Day 1.
Hanging Hill 237m, Bath (County/Unitary HP of South Gloucester)
Summary
A stretched walk to get some distance in for what would otherwise be a short bimble. Nothing to write home about though. Parking is in a small lay-by on the busy Landsdown road just North of Bath Race Course. Head West down a small lane past and around the radio mast along a wall to the trig point. All easy enough. To get a bit more of a walk from it I carried on South alongside the woodlands and soon came to the golf course. I carried on as there are remains of a roman building and a roman camp marked on the map but I didn’t see any residue of such remains. Anyway I turned around, crossed over the golf course and headed North along along a bridleway to the start point.
Parking: Lay-by on a busy road at the start point.
Route: Good trails.
Route Statistics: 4.27km, 23m of height gain done in 52mins.
Gpx File:
Dundry Hill East 160m, Bristol (County/Unitary HP of Bristol).
Summary
I had looked at the access to this one before coming down and noted it would be difficult. The HP is actually on private land on the far side of a field. There is a UC road running past it but no access to the fields at all. I had got to the closest point so that’s about it.
Parking: None available on a narrow, high hedged country road.
Route: Private land, no access.
Route Statistics: Pulled up, stood outside the vehicle and took a silly picture of a field!
Gpx File:
Dundry Down 233m, Bristol (Marilyn).
Summary
This is another trig pointed summit on private land. I parked in a small lay-by in Dundry and simply walked NW along a public path. I went into a field to get as close as I could to the TP which is in an enclosed farmers yard. That’s it!
Parking: Lay-by.
Route: Public path and a private field.
Route Statistics: 1.15km with 16m of height gain done in 12 mins flat.
Gpx File:
Staple Hill 315m, near Taunton (Marilyn)
Summary
Parking is in a very large NT car park but this has a 2m height restriction entry barrier. Follow my gpx trail along excellent forest trails NW until you get to a cross roads of trails and turn left (W). Shortly after you will see a vague fire break going through the trees also on the left. Go along this and veer left into the woods to hunt for your trig point. Easy enough to find and then walk through the woods back to the trail. I returned a longer way by going East and turning South/South East all along well marked trails back to the start point.
Parking: Large National Trust car park. No payment. Heigh restriction of 2m.
Route Summary: A pleasant enough walk through some nice woodland on good trails to the trig point and back via a longer route to make it at least a bit of a walk.
Route Statistics: 3.8km with 88m of height gain done in 49mins.
Gpx File:
Christ Cross 261m, Exeter (Marilyn).
Summary
This was the third Marilyn of the day. Nothing to write home about. A bland ten minute walk up a farm track to a radio mast. The trig point is hidden in a hedge where you have to access a field to get to it.
Parking: Small pull in at the start point.
Route: Farm track, no views.
Route Statistics: 1.13km and 12m height gain. 15 mins.
Gpx File:
