Logged Visits:

12th Apr 2024  13:03  by S1534&Beyond

Gridref: NY 96129 86632   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

4/6 today. Many thanks for Simon's route from https://fabulousnorth.com/blackdown-trig-point/ The first section he mentions is managed by Scottish Woodlands. The dogs didn't seem to like the spinning wind turbines which reminded me of the 80's song by Dead or Alive!

The trig ©S1534&Beyond

21st Mar 2024  13:36  by NJM

Gridref: NY 96129 86629   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

3rd visit to take GPS reading for our own records; stuck to the wind farm tracks route all the way there and back, not exactly challenging but got back with a unusually clean, dry dog! Very cold blustery wind, little in the way of sunshine. ~~ 27/05/21 2nd visit, different route - from the A696 along the farm track opposite Ottercop Farm, then followed the Wind Farm tracks to Turbine A03 and a short bash across the heather to the pillar. After a record breaking rainy May even that short section was boggy and wet, and we resisted the temptation of returning N across the moor, instead we followed our route along the tracks back to Comb Rigg, then made a circular walk by sticking to the wind farm track back to the A696 and a short road walk to finish. My previous visit had been a fairly unhappy slog across rough terrain from the S, this route was a lot less challenging but considerably more enjoyable. Fantastic sunset and great views.

View North West 27/05/21 Storm's OS Pillar #197
View North East 27/05/21
View South East 27/05/21
21/03/24
View South East 21/03/24 Compare the trees to the left of the pillar with the photo 3 years earlier - they've not been harvested, that was what Storm Arwen did.

8th Jul 2023  11:05  by TrainSPLOTer

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

In the area geocaching so it would be impolite not to visit this trigpoint considering the nearest geocache is only a couple of hundred feet away.

Blackdown Trigpoint

17th Mar 2023  00:00  by Llondon

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 6/10

2nd Jan 2022  12:26  by nichex

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

25th Nov 2021  11:08  by Oldhortus

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Parked at wind farm gates A696 along the wind farm road to the second turbine B006 > south across moor land to the trig

15th Oct 2020  15:38  by slateloose

Gridref: NY 96100 86600   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Park at new gates to wind farm site on the A696, just enough room to park without blocking the gate way. The track from here is private for about 800 yrds till you get to the area of open access. Followed new tracks for turbines to reach Comb Rigg 308 spot height then took the direct route south toward the trig point. The route crosses the heather and in the dip between the two hills it does get a bit boggy. Nice views for the trig point. During the walk three work vehicles did pass us on the main track but just drove straight past.

4th Aug 2020  14:25  by agentmancuso

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

P entrance to windfarm N on A696, followed track all the way round, cut back N over roughish ground to rejoin.

11th Jul 2020  12:22  by CJO

Gridref: NY 96134 86638   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

All intact. Along turbine track then southish through boggy bottom, up bank to pillar by turbine A03.

by A03 turbine

28th Jun 2020  15:23  by A1Mushroom

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Last of 6 today. Parked on the side of the A696 next to the wind farm entrance Kept to the tracks through the wind farm. No cross country today as i was battling gale force winds and driving rain so didnt want to deal with heather and moorland as well. Followed the map and signs in the wind farm to turbine A3 then onto the trig.

Windfarm Map

18th Feb 2020  19:28  by Geordie

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

18th Feb 2020  00:00  by carolje

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

20th Jan 2020  13:44  by beckroad

Gridref: NY 96100 86700   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Ample parking on minor road to Catcherside near Raechester just off A696. Wear wellies.Followed the path SW to Crag Wood. Ascend NW to Ray Crag then across Blackdown Flow to trig. This is the boggy section. Pillar stands proud amongst a windfarm. Great views especially to north and west. Spider intact.

View sw across Ray Fell Looking SW toward Ridsdale

14th May 2019  13:45  by fitzsimons

Gridref: NY 96129 86630   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

height at top of pillar 317m 10 satellites, 3m accuracy

23rd Jul 2018  13:15  by Borderer

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Parked at the northern entrance to the windfarm on the A696 which has a handy map showing the pillar in case you want to follow the turbine roads. Followed the track to turbine #06 then across country straight to the pillar saving a lot of time. Very dry conditions made the going easier than it normally would be. Decent views.

©Borderer

23rd Apr 2018  15:30  by MrHappy

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

29th Mar 2018  18:19  by russelwills

Gridref: NY 96131 86628   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

This trig point is now in the midst of Ray Fell Wind Farm so can easily be reached on the construction roads. The view south west is inundated with wind turbines!

East of Wind Turbine A03 of Ray Fell Wind Farm On a sunny but cool day.

9th Dec 2017  08:59  by Wildfell

Gridref: NY 96122 86627   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

24th Nov 2017  16:04  by Nick&Rosie

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Approached from the minor road between Ridsdale and Knowesgate (its the road with the 'Shoe Tree' along it). Parked on a bend by the FP and followed PROW through a cattle creep under the old railway line and on to Ray Fell. From here the route is just as tough and arduous going as the approach described below by everyone who set off from the A696 from Raechester, except even longer. In truth, this route doesn't really have much to commend it. The views from Blackdown TP though are worth the effort, despite the Wind Farm.

View North with Rosie
View East
View South
View West

8th May 2017  15:24  by paulxtr

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Parked in small layby just off A696 near the disused quarry ENE of pillar. Rough going with some deep heather to negotiate. Headed to the cairn first. Extensive wind farm dominates the view from the trig.

Blackdown ©paulxtr

27th Mar 2017  00:00  by caroleengel

Gridref: NY 96128 86630   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

From north on mapped track. Once across new wind farm road at NY957873, the going is tussocks and heather. Possibly easier using wind farm access which appears to be at NY967884 (spot height 261 on A696 to north)

18th Feb 2017  14:28  by Amanda460&baba

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Geocaching near the trig today

Mr L & Baba at the trig
At the trig

10th Jul 2016  11:06  by thejackrustles

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Great to have this one in the bag, it's in the middle of a massive new wind farm which is currently under construction.

Team YOSM on the way to Blackdown ©thejackrustles
2/3 Team YOSM at Blackdown ©thejackrustles
Blackdown Collage

10th Jul 2016  11:00  by monkeydestructor

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Blackdown ©monkeydestructor

10th Jul 2016  11:00  by gerryu2

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Great to have this one in the bag, it's in the middle of a massive new wind farm which is currently under construction. Asked at the security office and got an escort up to the trig for us to inspect.result

29th May 2016  07:48  by We TRye hard

Gridref: NY 96129 86635   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

A revisit here as I did not know about YSM's when I first visited.

©We TRye hard
©We TRye hard

20th May 2016  10:55  by offpiste

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Walked in from gate next to Raechester. A bit boggy in places. I think the Trig point will have a windmill as a neighbour soon as there was a digger working nearby. Moorland views

23rd Feb 2016  11:29  by Walker Dan

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Walked in via Gowk Hill. The area to the north of here is being destroyed by a new 3 mile road to build more windmills, otherwise a nice walk on a fine sunny day.

21st Oct 2015  16:00  by Moacky

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Visited as part of completing various geocache grids, and all four of the Obsessive Cacher Challenge series, in one long day. From the A696. Rough going outward. Returned via decent track that leaves A696 at gate 2-300 yards north of Raechester.

11th Sep 2014  15:28  by asbown

Gridref: NY 96128 86623   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

21st Apr 2014  11:31  by broadoak2006

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Yomped over from Otterburn Road- great views today

Blackdown Trig April 2014 ©broadoak2006

17th Nov 2013  10:01  by Just-us-Two

Gridref: NY 96128 86632   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Hard going a boggy getting up to this. Good 365 views.

©Just-us-Two
©Just-us-Two

25th Aug 2013  12:30  by Father Ted

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Hard work this one. Parked just off A696 and tollowed the footpath SW to the end of the plantations and then cutting back to go along the ridge and then head for the trig. Feet sopping wet by the time I got back to car but luckily I had a spare pair of boots to tackle Windy Gyle in the afternoon.

13th Aug 2013  19:23  by bluewhitereg

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Marvellous views from here.

13th Aug 2011  16:20  by sheepsocks

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 4/10

I'm with Stan Toon...tramp across heather moor, any attempt to go direct to trig across lower land leads to wet wet feet. Good views once you get there, however long crag with its cairns is superior.

6th Oct 2010  15:25  by stan toon

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 3/10

Terrible muddy boggy walk from road. Great veiws but did not enjoy getting there thats why low mark.

26th Jul 2008  15:10  by coinea

Gridref: NY 96128 86629   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

26th Jul 2008  15:06  by clochandighter

Gridref: NY 96127 86630   FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

HISTORY: Pillar completed 7th November 1951 costing £20.15s.0d. Computed as tertiary triangulation station NY86/T6 during 1953. Levelled for height to Class 2 precision also in 1953. Last maintained by the OS in July 1978. SITE VISIT: Pillar in good condition. Spider retains OS centre cap with deep indented lettering. Flush bracket faces northeast, compass measurement 43°. Vented through back (SW) sight hole.

S6695 - Blackdown pillar & FB

6th Jul 2005  12:00  by mickandshane

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

We took the footpath west from Raechester Ford, (room for one car), and headed west for the trig across open access land. This involved crossing a substantial raised bog after Ray Crag which is negotiable with care. Nice summit. Plug with heavily indented lettering.

15th May 2005  12:00  by peregrinus

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 6/10

metal cap deep letters, shallow crack across S face above FB height, OK summit & view, well-kept grouse moor

S6695 fb ©peregrinus
S6695 top ©peregrinus
S6695 trig ©peregrinus
S6695 trig ©peregrinus

28th Mar 1998  10:06  by andyc

FB Number: S6695  Condition: Good  Score: 4/10

Walked up with Nick Clemson from Raechester. Poor pub sandwiches at Knowesgate afterwards