Top Trigs – What’s Your Favourite Trig Point in the UK?

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Top Trigs – What’s Your Favourite Trig Point in the UK?

By Hilary Pullen

Published on August 16, 2024 2 min read

The Nation’s Favourite Trig Points!

What’s the Appeal of a Trig Point?

If you ask a walker or hiker what they love about climbing mountains and hills in the UK many of them will mention that moment when the Trig Point at the summit finally comes into view.

There’s something magical and final about placing your hand on top of the trig, or even seeing if you can climb on top for the classic summit photo. The Trig Point may not actually be located at the highest point but it represents an achievement and gives a definitive ‘tick-off’ point for the summit. People love challenging themselves to find new Trigs to ‘bag’ and on Instagram you’ll see over 30,000 posts tagged #trigbagging – why not add a few of your own.

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We thought it would be fun to ask “What’s Your Favourite Trig Point?” and share a few pics to inspire you to visit a few more Trig Points around the UK. Our OS Champions have set the wheels rolling with their choices below but we’d love to hear from you, tell us about your favourite Trig point! Find out how below…

Over 6500 Trig Pillars were originally built in the UK to assist the mapping of the country with around 6000 remaining in various states of repair. On a clear day you should be able to see at least two other trig points from the one you’re standing next to. Find out all about Trig Pillars and Trig Points in our guide.

What is a Trig Pillar or Trig Point ?

Your Favourite Trig Points across the UK

Here’s a growling list of favourite Trig Pillars as picked out by a few of our fabulous OS Champions!

Share Your Favourite UK Trig Points & Pics

Here’s a classic Trig Pic of me on top of the summit Trig of Moel Hebog in the wintry depths of early January. I don’t look very stable as it was pretty icy and windy and wanted to get off it ASAP!

I’d love to add your favourite Trig Points and Trig Pics, send us an email and tell us about your favourite Trig and why it means so much to you… we may not get to all 6000 but it would be brilliant to get some of your personal stories about what these Trigs mean to you! – email: getoutside@os.uk
Hilary, Editor

Garnedd Ugain Trig

Chosen by OS Champion Lisa Wells. “The broken trig which is my favourite trig. It’s often overlooked because most people walk straight past it after tackling Crib Goch and head to Yr Wyddfa and people rarely do the short detour to bag it! (1065 metres)”

Explore Garnedd Ugain Trig

High Wheeldon Trig

Chosen by OS Champion Andrea Day who says “High Wheeldon is often an overlooked Trig, as so many walk across the nearby famous Staffordshire “Dragon’s Back” of Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill. The hill was gifted to the National Trust in 1946 as a war memorial and one of the small number of trigs that are made from natural stone rather than concrete – plus it is an Ethel, so if you are into hill and trig bagging you get double the ticks on your list!”

Explore High Wheeldon Trig

Pumlumon Fawr Trig

This is OS Champion Tracy Purnell’s favourite Trig Point. The trig point sits at the summit of Pumlumon Fawr, the highest peak in the Cambrian Mountains. The 360 view from this point is spectacular. Nant y Moch reservoir lies to the west and views of Eryri mountain range to the north. The source of the River Wye can be found near by to the east and the idyllic Llyn Llygad Rhiedol at the foot of the northern climb to the summit.

Explore Pumlumon Fawr Trig

Butser Hill Trig Point

OS Champion Sam Taylor chose Butser Hill Trig Point “this is my favourite because of the feeling of accomplishment I get from reaching it, particularly on a bike. As it’s on the South Downs Way you can cycle the 2km from the bottom of Butser Hill up 149 meters height gain to the trig. It’s taken me quite a few attempts, but now I can cycle the whole way up, no bike pushing required! The further rewards of getting to the top is enjoying the amazing views and then the very fun cycle back down to the café at Queen Elizabeth Country park, where you have certainly earned a slice of cake!”

Explore Butser Hill Trig

Shutlingslowe Trig

Lucy Coppack explains why Shutlingslowe Trig is so special to her.

Shutlingslowe at the top of Macclesfield forest is my special trig! My late mum designed the path from Macclesfield forest to the summit of Shutlingslowe, my dad was part of the team that laid the path, flying old gravestones up by helicopter to make the walkway.

3 years ago I set out to complete all 88 Peak District trig points in 88 days, to make it harder I went from the nearest town or village, in some cases was 15 miles! I was doing this challenge to raise money for East Cheshire Hospice where my mum passed away some years ago. I finished the challenge on Shutlingslowe, it felt like this was the only right way to finish this challenge despite having walked to this trig point many times before.

Explore Shutlingslowe Trig

Win Hill Trig

OS Champion Georgina Jackson has chosen popular Win Hill as her favourite Trig:
I love it because it has great views, feels like a win for a small hill, and in August when the heather surrounds the trig it just looks stunning. Plus, it has a heart on it! What’s not to love?!

Explore Win Hill Trig

Calf Top Trig

OS Champion Samantha Brown has chosen Calf Top Trig. Little shout out for the smallest mountain in the Yorkshire Dales!(It also has by far the prettiest trig point! ) I believe it’s only recently been reclassified as an actual ‘mountain’ too standing at 610m – before it was measured at just under the requisite height – it’s also why we love it. It’s like the underdog mountain who fought to prove itself! (I feel like that about a lot of the Yorkshire Dales Peaks!)

Explore Calf Top Trig

Wild Boar Fell Trig

OS Champion Sally Thornton has picked Wild Boar Fell as one of her favourite Trigs. “The best trig for a sheltered brew with a view – on the summit of Wild Boar Fell. Within a stone built shelter and 360° views of the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District and Cumbria.”

Explore Wild Boar Fell Trig

Old Man of Storr Trig (Bodach an Stòr)

OS Champion Brendan Clayton has picked The Old Man of Storr Trig Point. “It has to be one of my favourites even if there’s only half of it left. It’s one of the best views from a trig point for sure! On a clear day you can see along the whole of the Trotternish Ridge, the west coast of the Scottish highlands and the views towards the Cuillin Hills/Mountains over Loch Leathan & Loch Fada are incredible! Such a great spot and if you work it in with a sunrise hike at the Old Man of Storr you are set for one of the best mornings possible in the U.K.”

Explore The Old man of Storr Trig

Moelwyn Mawr Trig

OS Champion Lisa Wells has picked The Moelwyn Mawr Trig Point. The best trig to plank on! Part of the Moelwynion mountain range, a fabulous hike to it and a much quieter area and summit to explore.

Explore The Moelwyn Mawr Trig on OS Maps

Skiddaw Trig

OS Champion Sarah Curran has picked Skiddaw Trig Point. “It holds a special place in my heart. I can see the Skiddaw massif from my living room window and hike to the summit from my front door in less than 2 hours I am blessed to see the mountain change as the seasons do and having the 4th tallest Wainwright on my doorstep never gets old!”

Explore Skiddaw Trig on OS Maps

Share Your Favourite Trig Point in the UK!

I’d love to add your favourite Trig Points and trig Pics, send me an email and let me know your favourite Trig and why it means so much to you! – email: getoutside@os.uk
Hilary, Editor

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