Can you see Snowdon from The Wrekin?

Can you see Snowdon from the top of The Wrekin? That is the big question being considered by lovers of Shropshire's landmark hill.

The debate is raging on the website All Friends Round The Wrekin after a critic poured scorn on the "misleading" toposcope at the summit.

The metal disc, designed by the late Gerry Powell, was originally set on The Wrekin in 1977. It was replaced by Wellington Rotary Club in 2005 after it deteriorated.

It depicts landmarks, including the 3,561ft summit of Snowdon, at all points of the compass.

But its accuracy has now been questioned by David Squires, who is carrying out research into long lines of sight in the British Isles.

He said on a recent visit to the summit of The Wrekin that he found the toposcope very useful.

"However, I notice Snowdon (71 miles) is identified on it. Recent research by Jonathan de Ferranti has established Snowdon is not actually visible from The Wrekin, even on the clearest of days. The line of sight is blocked by part of Cadair Berwyn.

"I appreciate the intention in putting Snowdon on the toposcope may have been to indicate the general direction of objects of interest, rather than to show what surrounding hills are visible, but nevertheless I think this is misleading."

But Wellington author Allan Frost, who says it should more accurately be described as a topograph, and fellow historian George Evans are accusing Mr Squires of making a mountain out of a molehill.

Mr Frost said: "I think Gerry was a bit misguided – it was a flight of fancy on his part – but he's not around any more to ask why he did it.

"It isn't the end of the world. Walkers will still get enormous pleasure from viewing the vista, whether or not they take the trouble to identify every single indicator on the topograph."

Mr Evans said: "I must admit that in 73 years of looking at the view from The Wrekin I have never seen Snowdon, though I have seen the barrage balloons over Liverpool during the last world war."

By Peter Johnson