A while ago (I think it was on the walking page) I mentioned that I’d picked up a little book of local trig points to “bag.”
For anyone not familiar with the concept, “bagging” trig points is basically peak-collecting for geography nerds , visiting the old Ordnance Survey triangulation pillars dotted around the country. These little concrete pillars were once part of the system used to map Britain properly, sitting quietly on hilltops minding their own business while surveyors measured the nation one triangle at a time.
Well… today the collection officially started.
First bag: Malvern Beacon.
I headed up with Evie. The original plan was actually a run, but I’m still feeling a bit ropey, so we downgraded it to a walk instead. Which, in hindsight, was probably the sensible call, the hills round Malvern have a way of reminding you who’s really in charge, and they tend to win most arguments.
For the proper nerds, here are the stats:
Flush Bracket: 2974
Grid reference: SO 76882 45218
WGS coordinates: 52.1048179, -2.3389341
Height above sea level: 425.296m
Type: Pillar
Condition: Good
Historic use: Primary triangulation station
Flush Bracket: 2974
Passive Station: T1SO7645
OSGB36 Station: PP79
In normal person terms:
A small concrete pillar on top of a big hill with an excellent view and plenty of wind.
The walk ended up being just over 7km, completed in the extremely athletic time of two hours — which sounds slow until you factor in hills, conversation, stopping to admire the views, and the general Haphazard Athlete pace of life.
So that’s Trig Point #1 officially bagged.
The Beacon was doing what Malvern Beacon usually does: providing huge views across Worcestershire, a fair bit of wind, and the quiet satisfaction of standing next to a lump of concrete that once helped map the whole country.
The highest man in Worcestershire
Only about 67 more in Worcestershire to go… so progress is……….
There’s a lovely bit of Malvern folklore that says if you head due east from the Beacon at the same height, the next land you hit is the Ural Mountains in Russia.
It’s probably not strictly true geography tends to ruin a good story, but standing up there in the wind looking across the Severn plain, it feels believable. I think it’s actually somewhere in Germany, which is still quite impressive.
Stay haphazard. ⛰️
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