Using Trig Points as Navigation Landmarks on Walks

Why trig pillars are such dependable landmarks

A trig pillar is a concrete pillar, usually about four feet high, topped with a brass spider and a flush bracket. They were built for surveying, but for walkers they are gifts: fixed, solid, and marked on the map. Because they sit on high ground — hilltops, coastal headlands, and ancient beacon sites — they often crown the very places you want to reach. When visibility drops or your legs are tired, a trig point gives you something concrete to aim for. That certainty turns a vague “somewhere up there” into a precise target.

Reading trig points on the map before you set out

On a paper map, a trig pillar appears as a small blue triangle with a dot in the centre. Learn to spot them when you plan a route. Each one has a known grid reference, so you can write it down or mark it on your map. That reference is your anchor. Before you leave, check the surrounding contours, the rights of way, and any walls or streams that might guide you in. A trig point on a summit is easy to find; one on a coastal cliff or a low beacon hill may need a bearing and a pace count. Planning legs between two or three trig pillars gives your walk a natural skeleton.

Using a trig point to take a bearing and fix your position

When you reach a trig pillar, you have a known point. Take a compass bearing from the pillar to a distant feature — a church spire, a lake, a col — and follow it. More powerful still is using the pillar to confirm where you are. If you can identify two other trig points or prominent features, take bearings to them and draw lines back on the map. Where they cross, that is you. This is resection, and a trig pillar makes it simple because its grid reference is exact. You can also work the other way: from a known point on the map, take a bearing to the trig and walk that line. The pillar will appear ahead, often as a pale concrete shape against the sky.

Route confirmation and decision points in poor weather

Trig pillars excel as handrails in mist, rain, or fading light. If you are following a ridge and the path fades, aiming for the next trig keeps you on line. On coastal walks, a trig on a headland can be a clear turning point: reach it, then follow the bearing for the next leg. In open countryside, a trig on a low hill may be the only distinct feature for miles. Use it to confirm you have not drifted onto the wrong side of a valley. Combine the pillar with a compass and a count of paces, and you can walk confidently even when the view disappears. Always note the time you leave a trig; it helps you estimate your progress.

Practical care, access, and etiquette

Not every trig pillar sits on open access land. Some are on farmland, in forestry, or beside a wall. Stick to public rights of way and leave gates as you find them. Do not climb on the pillar or damage the brass fittings — they are part of our heritage. In winter, the concrete can be icy, so take care. Carry a map and compass as your primary tools; a GPS or phone is a backup, not a replacement. Let someone know your route and expected finish time. And remember that a trig point is only useful if you can identify it correctly on the map — check the grid reference before you rely on it.

Beacon hills, coastal landmarks, and countryside walks

Many trig pillars stand on ancient beacon hills, where fires were once lit to warn of invasion. That history adds a quiet thrill to reaching one. Coastal trigs often mark headlands with wide sea views, making them perfect for a mid-walk break and a bearing check. Inland, you can link a series of trig pillars across a range of hills, turning a simple countryside walk into a navigation exercise. Try planning a route that visits three or four trigs, noting the grid references and the bearings between them. You will learn the landscape faster, and you will always have a reliable reference point when the path is uncertain.