For the Hill Farm trig point bag, I parked at Fromes Hill trading estate. It was the second of a double-header trig bag, being only a couple of miles from the Ward Hill trig point.
It was a beautiful summers day. The sun was out, the sky was blue and there was a T-34. One of the coolest tanks of World War II!
This trig bag involved following a marked trail. I have no idea what route it was, just a generic route, as the signs just had an arrow with ‘Public Footpath’ on them. The route headed through a farm to start with. There was a mean looking bull in a field to the left – fortunately I didn’t need to go through, I could go around!
The trail headed through 3 adjoining fields – gates open with free-roaming cows and sheep.
After that, there wasn’t much more livestock along the route… So I thought! There were three more gates to go through then I headed left toward a gate with a sign that looked like it was a route marker on. I was still on the right track! Heading up to the top of the hill, it was obvious it was in the next field at least.
I headed to the corner where I assumed there was a gate. However, this is where it got fun! There were bulls! Young bulls! I didn’t know this at the time, but I have an irrational fear of cows. They’re just big, and that creeps me out! I immediately skirted the field to find another way into the next field. However, the bulls were coming at me… FAST! Like, proper coming! I hopped over a barbed wire fence by a tree in a gap in the hedgerow.
The bulls all piled up and tried to follow!
Heading up the otherside of the hedge, I could hear these bulls snorting and grunting while following me on the other side of the hedge. I passed a gate, the one I was originally heading to and the bulls were all there eyeballing me!
Heading up this field, there was a couple of gates and as I neared the top, I could see a farmhouse. After the dram at the White House Farm trig point bag, I knocked at the door to let them know I was around. The farmer was a nice chap, pointed out where the trig was. I asked about the bulls and if there was an alternative route. He said they weren’t being aggressive, they were being curious. That didn’t ease my worries though! They were hand reared bulls so when they see a human, they think it’s dinnertime was all! Still not my thing though and the farmer kindly gave me an alternative route.
Back into the field I evaded the bulls in was the Hill Farm trig point.
Buried in a hedge but thoughtfully trimmed so it was both visible and accessible. Another on bagged!
The alternative route took me back to the three-gated section I mentioned earlier so that was handy. Back the way I came and since I was there, I grabbed a few treats from the shop and the Army Surplus Store. That was a cool shop with a friendly chap inside! Coco’s cafe had shut slightly earlier than advertised which was a shame. However, it was a blinding day and if it was a slow day, I imagine the staff wanted to shut up shop and enjoy the day – I don;t blame them!
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Grid reference: SO 70268 46296 | T:UK waypoint: TP3851 | Taken from www.streetmap.co.uk
