High Vinnalls 375m. North Herefordshire, Section 38b

26th December 1999, 6th August 2000, June 24th 2001, November 11th 2001,25th December 2002, 6th September 2003, 7th September 2003, 25th December 2004.

 

 

High Vinnalls from our garden
 

 

The summit, from The Hope, one of the two deep valleys that cut the limestone ridge on the East, dip, side.
 

 

The old tower on the summit. There is a novel way of keeping you out of the building, it is stuffed full of old wire fencing. In the 1980's it was quite a good doss.
   
 

 
Approaching the summit
 

 
The top! First of many?
 


 Cleared areas , will give a fine display of foxgloves. The seeds remain dormant during the life of the spruces, awaiting the return of the light. This is the cleared area in The Hope (see above)
 

 
Autumn Colours in the Hope
 

 
The summit, November 2001.
 

 
Moonlit view from summit, December 2004
 

 
Moonlit view from summit, December 2004
 Map: High Vinnalls

High Vinnalls was my first Marilyn, and I get up there quite often. There have been many changes over 30 years: You can now walk freely in the woods without annoying the deer stalkers, but deer are no longer seen on every trip, nor are there golden pheasants anymore .(we even had a snowy owl in 1963). There are loads of dogs however, including a certain springer spaniel. I too used to walk with a springer up here 30 years ago. The summit was wooded with the traditional Scots Pines then.

Not only was this my first hill, but my niece bagged it as Marilyn no 1 recently.

Sadly the scots pines have blown down from the top. The top knot was as distinctive as that on May Hill. Only Sitka now.

2002: The sitka are a lot taller now, but still views from the top. 15' walk from the nearest car park. I usually spend a few hours on the hill. The ugly great ruined radio hut is still on the top.. please Forestry Commission, please... remove it. Plant a Scots pine in its place.Sadly not a white Christmas this year.

In 2003 the hill took a pounding with the MarHoF dinner in Ludlow. There were two mass ascents and cake and whisky was in abundance. The Forestry still have yet to move the rotting tower.

Latest visit, Christmas 2004. Everyone was too unimaginitive or bevvied up to go out on a lovely moolight and snow evening. Just the job before tea. Firework dispalay above Knighton, but hardly any other noise or car lights.

Never found out what a Vinnall was.

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