Many will be familiar with the traditional trig point found on the top of some hills. Most of these trig points have fallen into disuse, but some are still used, and are part of the the Ordnance Survey Passive Station Database. In Herefordshire, only two such active trig points exist, Blakemere Hill, and, in the extreme north of the county, Bleathwood.
Blakemere Hill is part of a longer chain of hills running from Merbach Hill in the north-west down to Gilberts Hill overlooking the village of Ewyas Harold in the south-east. On the north-eastern side of these hills lies the Wye Valley. On the south-western side is the Golden Valley, so named after the River Dore and the corruption of the French word d’or meaning gold.
Locks have been cut to the bunker, so if you want to explore - take a torch. Bunker re-opened after a three year closure, June 2014.
Although it’s possible to get to the trig point in a 2 wheel-drive vehicle along the bridleway, I advise you to walk from Stockley Hill. It is only a 10 minute walk. Most walkers park up on the brow of the hill, pulling off the narrow lane onto the grass verge, or next to the gate at the start of the bridleway. DO NOT BLOCK THE GATEWAY. The bridleway leads past the trig point to a private house, and on into Guys Estate.
THE CACHE IS NOT IN THE BUNKER.
