See The Sea From Birmingham?

[hc4361]

I'm sure that it is claimed that the sea can be seen from a particular point in Birmingham - in all probability it is the Bristol channel - on a clear day.

I can't remember where this point is, maybe the Lickey Hills?

Can anyone confirm, deny or ridicule this?

[mushroom25]

somebody might contradict me, but the nearest tidewater to birmingham is at gloucester which although on the severn is some distance from the estuary itself. since the highest point in birmingham is at quinton (about 740ft) it's unlikely you'd even be able to see as far as 40 miles.

[hc4361]

How about from the surrounds? Say, Dudley Zoo or Barr Beacon? Perhaps the high point at Rowley Regis?

[mushroom25]

possibly. but like the lickey hills (11 miles out and in Bromsgrove, officially), none of them are in birmingham itself - although the lickey hills do belong to the city. the highest of the lickeys is beacon hill (over 900ft). the view to the west from there is now obscured by trees - if you could ever see tidewater from there, you definitely can't now.

[hc4361]

Thank you, mushroom, most informative.

[stuey]

You can calculate the distance you can see, if you have a clear unobstructed view, by adding the height above sea level of your location, plus the height of your viewing point, plus your own height. Google "how far is the horizon".

[mikey4444]

From the International Space station perhaps, when its directly overhead of Brum ?

[Hopkirk]

I think they are confusing the sea with Edgbaston reservoir

[anaxcrosswords]

Interesting thing I learned about Barr Beacon (I used to live in Aldridge) is that in a certain direction it's the highest piece of land until you reach the Ural mountains in Russia.

[tonyav]

Doubt if the sea can be seen from the Lickey hills.

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Parks-Ranger-Service%2FPageLayout&cid=1223092737495&;pagename=BCC%2FCommon%2FWrapper%2FWrapper

[tonyav]

Interesting thing I learned about Barr Beacon (I used to live in Aldridge)


Blimey anax, you only lived up the road a couple of miles from me then.

[anaxcrosswords]

They were the best of times, Tony.

[tonyav]

Barr Beacon was great for courting in my youth, annax.

I worked in Aldridge for over 20 years.

[anaxcrosswords]

My time there finished about 18/19 years ago, but I was there for 7 years, worked locally too for a graphics company called PDS. When they went into liquidation it was, sadly, the beginning of the end for my time there.

[tonyav]

The company that I worked for has gone to, anax. McKechnies.

[stuey]

http://www.ringbell.co.uk/info/hdist.htm
Using the above, I figure I can see around 26 miles across Lake Ontario. Height of my town above sea-level is 348'; height of my 11th story view point is 120'; my height is 6'. Total height is 474'. On a clear day, I can see a smoke stack in Northern New York.

[anaxcrosswords]

Tony, that is quite unbelievable! PDS was originally on Northgate - quite a big unit because it had a printing division. They got rid of that and moved to smaller premises. On Middlemore Lane.

[tonyav]

On Middlemore Lane.


Almost next door then, anax.

[retrocop]

Stuey
Well I can see as far as the moon on a clear night! :-)

[stuey]

Not if hasn't risen above the horizon.