Longest line of sight (UK)

[Purple Train]

My first thought would be Drax, some 35 miles to the east. Not sure how many other power stations are still operating!

 

[D6130]

My first thought would be Drax, some 35 miles to the east. Not sure how many other power stations are still operating!

....unless you were looking West - in which case it would be the closed power station at Fiddler's Ferry, between Warrington and Widnes.

 

[Greetlander]

My first thought would be Drax, some 35 miles to the east. Not sure how many other power stations are still operating!

Drax would make sense

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Sep 2025 ==

....unless you were looking West - in which case it would be the closed power station at Fiddler's Ferry, between Warrington and Widnes.

Thanks - I think it was SE and I suspect if it was the case the Pennines would be in the way. I'm going to attempt a cross-pennine view today.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Sep 2025 ==

Couldn't do Boulsworth but stopped the car just below Blackstone Edge Reservoir on the Halifax side and took this. Drax plainly visible (can tell from the black-top chimney). Ridiculously clear with binoculars, pretty good with an iphone. Apparently about 54 miles/87 km. Would love to know what the large dark building is between Drax and the wind turbine.

 

[Altrincham]

So I'm back in the old country and I'm off up Boulsworth Hill tomorrow to stare in the general direction of Blackpool. However today I was up at Bolster Moor (top of the Colne Valley overlooking SW Huddersfield) and noticed windfarms and then a power station in the far distance. So - what was I looking at and how far away is it.

My initial thought is that it could be West Burton power station, on the banks of the Trent near Gainsborough (especially if the view is in a general south easterly direction).

 

[Bald Rick]

My initial thought is that it could be West Burton power station, on the banks of the Trent near Gainsborough (especially if the view is in a general south easterly direction).

West Burton is mostly demolished now, and is definitely not producing vapour from its cooling towers!

 

[Greetlander]

It would be fantastic if you could see all the way to the Banks of the Trent from far West Yorkshire but binoculars since have idntified it as Drax. Still an incredible view.

 

[Altrincham]

West Burton is mostly demolished now, and is definitely not producing vapour from its cooling towers!

Yes, good point and well spotted about the vapour.

Are the cooling towers now gone at West Burton? I’d seen a few months back that Cottam has been totally flattened. The two separate power stations were always a marker on the drive between Buxton and Chesterfield, and were a sign that the industrial East Midlands was within sight when emerging from the Derbyshire dales.

 

[Bald Rick]

Are the cooling towers now gone at West Burton?

AIUI the towers and chimney are still there. But the main hall was demolished in July. If you watch the videos on you tube you can see a dozen massive Toblerone bars on the roof before it collapses!

 

[Altrincham]

AIUI the towers and chimney are still there. But the main hall was demolished in July. If you watch the videos on you tube you can see a dozen massive Toblerone bars on the roof before it collapses!

I see what you mean about the turbine hall and roof

I’d imagine that the cooling towers will disappear soon too. I’ll miss seeing them on the horizon when travelling east over the Pennines. Much in the same way (when travelling westbound over the Pennines) that I’m going to miss seeing those cooling towers at Fiddler’s Ferry when they eventually go.

 

[nw1]

Yes, good point and well spotted about the vapour.

Are the cooling towers now gone at West Burton? I’d seen a few months back that Cottam has been totally flattened. The two separate power stations were always a marker on the drive between Buxton and Chesterfield, and were a sign that the industrial East Midlands was within sight when emerging from the Derbyshire dales.

These two were near the ECML weren't they?

I remember when I used the ECML (my trips all being in 1989 or 1993, so within a certain era) there were a lot of power stations along the way. Can't remember exactly how many but, in addition to those further north, there was Thorpe Marsh near Doncaster and two or three others further south.

One of these was certainly still operational in 2016 as I remember seeing water vapour come out of the cooling towers of a distant power station way to the north from the ridge east of Leicester and northwest of Melton Mowbray. it was too far away and the wrong direction to be Ratcliffe-on-Soar, so I presume it was one of these "ECML" power stations.

Is Drax now the only operational power station with cooling towers left in the UK? Back in the day I remember there was also Eggborough and Ferrybridge in this area, and it was strange to see three so close to each other. I learnt of those three in school geography lessons before I ever saw them!

 

[Altrincham]

These two were near the ECML weren't they?

I remember when I used the ECML (my trips all being in 1989 or 1993, so within a certain era) there were a lot of power stations along the way. Can't remember exactly how many but, in addition to those further north, there was Thorpe Marsh near Doncaster and two or three others further south.

One of these was certainly still operational in 2016 as I remember seeing water vapour come out of the cooling towers of a distant power station way to the north from the ridge east of Leicester and northwest of Melton Mowbray. it was too far away and the wrong direction to be Ratcliffe-on-Soar, so I presume it was one of these "ECML" power stations.

Is Drax now the only operational power station with cooling towers left in the UK? Back in the day I remember there was also Eggborough and Ferrybridge in this area, and it was strange to see three so close to each other. I learnt of those three in school geography lessons before I ever saw them!

Yes, West Burton and Cottam are located to the east of Retford, and just a few miles apart on the Trent.

I haven’t seen them from the ECML, but I have spotted them from high vantage points in north east Derbyshire. Even though I’d often spot the cooling towers, I’ve never been able to see them with vapour.

I have seen Drax with vapour in recent years, most frequently when descending Woodhead Pass eastbound near the Dog & Partridge, and I think it could be the only operational power station with cooling towers left (but I’m not entirely sure).

The spot that you mention in the area east of Leicester/north west of Melton Mowbray, I’m just wondering if it’s this road in the link below. The tops of the towers at Cottam I think would have just appeared above the horizon here, especially as there is a lot of undulating countryside in this region.

Street View · Google Maps

Explore a place in a more immersive way in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Cletus]

An interesting photo on twitter by Alastair Wright taken from Sheffield showing York Minster and the top of the Humber Bridge.

https://twitter.com/Pott_Shrigley_/status/1978753692414156835/photo/1

Another one - the peaks of Snowdonia seen from the top of Kinder Scout.

https://twitter.com/Pott_Shrigley_/status/1979095925332099580

 

[Forty29]

Sorry about being vague but near Stroud in Gloucestershire on some high ground you can see the two Severn bridges and very haunting it looks too in certain weather conditions.

 

[The Pelican]

My best one of these was walking with my dad from Newhey Metrolink stop to Marsden station (formerly on the Leeds trolleybus network)- and seeing Emlea Moor tower in the distance. I thought "it has to be taller than the Shard." It is taller than the Shard!

 

[Altrincham]

There is a fabulous account on Facebook called Lovely Liverpool by photographer Dave Wood (and also on Twitter as Liverpool Vista).

Dave Wood the photographer is well worth a follow if you’re on social media.

Today he has posted this view of Manchester from the top of Liverpool Cathedral. A view that I have longed to see.

 

[Altrincham]

Another photo taken recently from the top of Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral shows the skyline of Manchester extremely clearly, taken by Liverpool photographer Dave Wood (link to Facebook page). It shows just how rapid the development of Manchester has been over the last 20 years. The Beetham Tower now appears swamped these days by neighbouring skyscrapers.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...NrHfVwXtuWq6YwdaJCYTgNKDXl&id=100064656194141

There’s a comment on the post which mentions that it’s meant to be possible to see both Manchester and Leeds from a hill around Marsden. The spot where I can see this might be possible is this location:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rbKkeXh7bGpGuQ6eA

 

[nw1]

Another photo taken recently from the top of Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral shows the skyline of Manchester extremely clearly, taken by Liverpool photographer Dave Wood (link to Facebook page). It shows just how rapid the development of Manchester has been over the last 20 years. The Beetham Tower now appears swamped these days by neighbouring skyscrapers.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...NrHfVwXtuWq6YwdaJCYTgNKDXl&id=100064656194141

There’s a comment on the post which mentions that it’s meant to be possible to see both Manchester and Leeds from a hill around Marsden. The spot where I can see this might be possible is this location:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rbKkeXh7bGpGuQ6eA

The magnification on this photo makes Manchester look just 5-10 miles away or so and the skyscrapers about as tall as those in a typical US city. The pylons in the foreground only look a mile or two away and not far from Manchester, but these are presumably immediately outside the Liverpool built-up area. Also the Peak District behind looks like it's far higher than it is, perhaps 1000-2000m high, reminding me a bit of photos of LA with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background.

 

[Acathater]

A surprising line of sight, only on a very very clear day, standing on Ham Hill in Somerset and looking along the line of the River Parrett through Langport / Weston Zoyland / Bridgwater Bay are the southern Welsh hills. It's only a very narrow gap between the Quantock and Polden hills and isn't ever easy to find

 

[Taunton]

I've wondered if you can see both coasts from the top of Emley Moor transmitter.

 

[Acathater]

I've wondered if you can see both coasts from the top of Emley Moor transmitter.

I'd have thought there was more chance from the top of the Caldbeck or Skelton transmitters in Cumbria

 

[nw1]

I've wondered if you can see both coasts from the top of Emley Moor transmitter.

Not sure but one dynamic panorama-generating site revealed that you could see France and I think Alderney from the top of the Isle of Wight's Chillerton Down transmitter.

 

[yorkie]

Reopened for @Altrincham to post an update...

 

[Altrincham]

A couple of nights ago I was driving along the A52 through Swinscoe, on the edge of the Peak District and on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border. It was a very clear night and to the south I could see the mast lights of the transmitters near Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.

What caught my eye was a collection of red lights low on the horizon, just to the right of the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. I studied them for a moment and realised they were skyscraper lights in Birmingham city centre. With Swinscoe being just under 1,000 feet above sea level, what I was seeing (albeit only possible by the indication of the red lights) was part of the upper half of the high buildings around Broad Street.

I think this may possibly be the furthest north that Birmingham is visible. Swinscoe is approximately 40-45 miles north of Birmingham.

It set me thinking about where’s the furthest that Birmingham can be seen from in other directions (from the east, south, or west). Are there any other elevations that could beat the view of Birmingham seen from the edge of the Peak District?

 

[peteb]

A couple of nights ago I was driving along the A52 through Swinscoe, on the edge of the Peak District and on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border. It was a very clear night and to the south I could see the mast lights of the transmitters near Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.

What caught my eye was a collection of red lights low on the horizon, just to the right of the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. I studied them for a moment and realised they were skyscraper lights in Birmingham city centre. With Swinscoe being just under 1,000 feet above sea level, what I was seeing (albeit only possible by the indication of the red lights) was part of the upper half of the high buildings around Broad Street.

I think this may possibly be the furthest north that Birmingham is visible. Swinscoe is approximately 40-45 miles north of Birmingham.

It set me thinking about where’s the furthest that Birmingham can be seen from in other directions (from the east, south, or west). Are there any other elevations that could beat the view of Birmingham seen from the edge of the Peak District?

Birmingham's new skyscrapers can be seen at night from the A road crossing Titterstone Clee, looking east (32 miles). A few years ago I saw the tower blocks in Brierley Hill from the Devils Chair, Stiperstones (35 miles). As the Birmingham buildings are much taller their red lights may well be visible from the Stiperstones, poking above the Client hills, but someone will need to confirm this!

 

[Taunton]

The red light specs were upgraded a few years ago, and high structures are now more prominent at night than they used to be, especially at clusters such as Canary Wharf or the City of London.

I used to work long ago in the Piccadilly Plaza high rise in Manchester, and from the top floor (28th) west facing window, ironically in the telephone PABX room, with binoculars you could just see the top of Liverpool Cathedral. I wonder if that has red lights nowadays. You could see the Clwyd Hills high point well beyond it, Moel Famau, 1,800 ft, more often.

 

[Cross City]

A couple of nights ago I was driving along the A52 through Swinscoe, on the edge of the Peak District and on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border. It was a very clear night and to the south I could see the mast lights of the transmitters near Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.

What caught my eye was a collection of red lights low on the horizon, just to the right of the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. I studied them for a moment and realised they were skyscraper lights in Birmingham city centre. With Swinscoe being just under 1,000 feet above sea level, what I was seeing (albeit only possible by the indication of the red lights) was part of the upper half of the high buildings around Broad Street.

I think this may possibly be the furthest north that Birmingham is visible. Swinscoe is approximately 40-45 miles north of Birmingham.

It set me thinking about where’s the furthest that Birmingham can be seen from in other directions (from the east, south, or west). Are there any other elevations that could beat the view of Birmingham seen from the edge of the Peak District?

You can get a good view of Birmingham's skyline from cetrain points around Ashby (25 miles).

On a clear day you can see it from Broadway tower south of Evesham too (32 miles).

 

[bib]

A couple of nights ago I was driving along the A52 through Swinscoe, on the edge of the Peak District and on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border. It was a very clear night and to the south I could see the mast lights of the transmitters near Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.

What caught my eye was a collection of red lights low on the horizon, just to the right of the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. I studied them for a moment and realised they were skyscraper lights in Birmingham city centre. With Swinscoe being just under 1,000 feet above sea level, what I was seeing (albeit only possible by the indication of the red lights) was part of the upper half of the high buildings around Broad Street.

I think this may possibly be the furthest north that Birmingham is visible. Swinscoe is approximately 40-45 miles north of Birmingham.

It set me thinking about where’s the furthest that Birmingham can be seen from in other directions (from the east, south, or west). Are there any other elevations that could beat the view of Birmingham seen from the edge of the Peak District?

Yeah I'm pretty sure I was looking at the Birmingham towers recently from Harboro rocks, which is also on the southern edge of the Peaks, albeit a bit further east and a few miles further north. The skyscrapers were pretty clear in the daytime against the horizon to the naked eye.
Using the website below - it gives a fun horizon and line of site tool, it looks like stuff above ~150ft in the city centre area might be visible

HeyWhatsThat

Compute summits visible from any location worldwide

www.heywhatsthat.com