Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – The Fours – The 400m Hills of England

 

Pt. 449.7m (NY 276 176) – Sub-Four addition

There has been an addition to the listing of the The Fours – The 400m Hills of England, with the summit height, col height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Pt. 449.7m (NY 276 176)

The criteria for the list that this addition applies to are:

The Fours – The 400m Hills of England - English hills at or above 400m and below 500m in height that have 30m minimum drop, accompanying the main list is a sub list entitled the Sub-Fours, the criteria for which are all English hills at or above 400m and below 500m in height that have 15m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is co-authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams and is available to download in Google Doc format from the Mapping Mountains site.

The Fours - The 400m Hills of England by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams

The hill is listed by the point (Pt. 449.7m) notation, and it is adjoined to the High Raise group of hills, which are situated in the English Lake District, and it is positioned with the A591 road to its north-east and a minor road and the B5289 road to its west, and has the small community of Rosthwaite towards the south south-west.

When the Introduction to the first group of hills for the updated and revised listing of the The Fours – The 400m Hills of England was published by Mapping Mountains on the 10^th September 2022, it was announced that the accompanying sub lists were being revised with the two 390m categories dispensed with and the criteria and name of the 400m Sub-Fours revised.  The one accompanying sub list is now named the Sub-Fours with its criteria being all English hills 400m and above and below 500m in height that have 15m and more and below 30m of drop.

Prior to this revision this hill was listed with an estimated c 14m of drop, based on an estimated c 450m summit height and an estimated c 436m col height, with both heights based on interpolation of 10m contouring that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

However, it was not until LIDAR became available that the details for this hill could be accurately re-assessed.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales.

Therefore, the addition of this hill to Sub-Four status is due to LIDAR analysis, resulting in a 449.7m summit height and a 434.5m col height, with these values giving this hill 15.2m of drop, which is sufficient for it to be classified as a Sub-Four.

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  High Raise

Name:  Pt. 449.7m

OS 1:50,000 map:  89, 90

Summit Height:  449.7m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  NY 27681 17605 (LIDAR)

Col Height:  434.5m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  NY 27802 17564 (LIDAR)

Drop:  15.2m (LIDAR)

 

For the additions, deletions and reclassifications to The Fours – The 400m Hills of England reported on Mapping Mountains since the December 2013 publication of the 1^st edition of this list by Europeaklist please consult the following Change Registers:

 

The Fours

 

Sub-Fours

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (December 2024)

  

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 200m Twmpau

 

Moel Erfyl (SJ 105 144) 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 200m Twmpau, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Moel Erfyl (SJ 105 144)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

200m Twmpau – Welsh hills at or above 200m and below 300m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 200m Sub-Twmpau, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 200m and below 300m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward. 

200m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Foel Cedig group of hills, which are situated in the central part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A3), and it is positioned encircled by minor roads, with the B4393 road farther to its north, the B4382 road farther to its west and the A495 road farther to its south-east, and has the village of Meifod towards the east south-east.

When the original 200m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was listed under the transposed and invented name of The Voel Hill, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the East.

The Voel Hill

252m

SJ106144

125

239

Name from buildings to the East

During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put Pen, Bryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance transpose the name of an anglicised farm and add the word Hill to it.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.

As the summit of this hill comprises bounded land the details for it were examined on the Tithe map.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales. 

Extract from the Tithe map

The field number on the Tithe map can be cross referenced against the apportionments, which give the name of the owner or occupier as well as the name of the land.  In this instance it is the Tithe map that names the land where the summit of this hill is situated as a common named Moel Erfyl.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 200m Twmpau is Moel Erfyl, and this was derived from the Tithe map. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Foel Cedig

Name:  Moel Erfyl

Previously Listed Name:  The Voel Hill

OS 1:50,000 map:  125

Summit Height:  253.3m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 10565 14445 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  216.6m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 10926 14742 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  36.7m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (December 2024)

  

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pendle

21.10.24  Hoof Stones Height (SD 914 290) 

Having visited Thieveley Pike (SD 871 271) we now headed north-eastward, with John driving and navigating the way to the county boundary between Lancashire and Yorkshire, where a convenient parking spot on a minor road gave access to our second hill of the day; Hoof Stones Height.  This hill was not on the original bagging agenda, as Mark had previously visited, but this is where we found ourselves and it proved a fine hill to visit. 

Heading for the hill

The minor road was to the south of the summit with a boggy path leading northward from the confines of the moor, which was bisected by the narrow strip of tarmac as it headed southward toward the Calder valley.

By now the sun glinted through high cloud, giving tranquility to the scene, which the lessening of breeze only emphasised.  Beside the bog laden path heather predominated, which was at contrast to our first hill of the afternoon.  The grasses of the moor, with their bronzed tips cast gentle colour in the late afternoon light.  It felt good to be out on the hill. 

Mark on the large boulders near the path

Our route up the hill led toward large boulders, which were just to the east of the path.  Mark went to investigate, whilst John and I continued our plod uphill through increasing bog. 

The open moor

I looked back as Mark rejoined the path, the moorland surrounds stretched for miles.  With rough grass, heather and no doubt more bog disappearing in to the distance.  The majority of which seemed unenclosed, with few fences hereabouts. 

John beside the trig pillar

It was now only a short distance to the trig pillar, which forlornly stood beside a puddled bog.  We debated the high point, with John indicating a grassy knoll a few metres away to be the summit.  The Trimble was soon placed on top of it gathering data.  This proved a delightful top, with weathered rock under the highest grassed patch of earth. 

Gathering data at the summit of Hoof Stones Height

As the Trimble gathered its customary five minutes of data, I stood with Mark and John a suitable distance away from the equipment so as not to interfere with satellite reception, scribbling all necessary detail in my surveying note book, before scampering back to the equipment to turn it off, take a few photographs, pack it away and rejoin my colleagues for our downward route. 

Heading down the hill

I followed John down, with Mark behind.  The late afternoon autumnal light, with delicately blue hued silvered cloud stretching across the horizon as the sun sank deeper in the sky proved a fine end to a gentle, albeit boggy afternoon on the hill. 

 

Survey Result:

 

Hoof Stones Height                  

Summit Height:  479.3m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SD 91475 29092 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Col Height:  379.7m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SD 91128 31461 (LIDAR)

Drop:  99.6m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)

Dominance:  20.79% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)  

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – The Welsh P15s

 

Y Dinas Ucha (SH 818 826) 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that was listed in The Welsh P15s, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Y Dinas Ucha (SH 818 826)

The criteria for the list that this name change was applicable to are:

The Welsh P15s – Welsh hills with 15m minimum drop, irrespective of their height, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Sub-P15s, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills with 14m or more and below 15m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 10^th May 2019. 

The Welsh P15s by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills, which are situated in the northern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the coast to its immediate north-east and the B5115 road to its south-west, and has the town of Llandudno towards the west.

When the listing that became known as The Welsh P15s was being compiled, this hill was included in the main list under the point (Pt. c 42m) notation with an estimated c 15m of drop, based on an estimated c 42m summit height and an estimated c 27m bwlch height, with both heights based on interpolation of 5m contouring. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

However, it was not until LIDAR became available that the numerical details for this hill could be accurately re-assessed.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales.

LIDAR analysis gives the natural summit of this hill as 41.8m and with a 28.2m bwlch height, these values give this hill 13.6m of drop, which is insufficient for it to be classified as a Welsh P15.

As the summit of this hill comprises bounded land the details for it were examined on the Tithe map.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales. 

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 41 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Y Dinas Ucha in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llandudno and in the county named as Caernarfon. 

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by is Y Dinas Ucha and this was derived from the Tithe map. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog 

Name:  Y Dinas Ucha

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. c 42m 

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  41.8m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 81890 82674 (LIDAR)                                                  

Bwlch Height:  28.2m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 81903 82535 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  13.6m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (December 2024)

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – 100m Twmpau

 

Parc y Lan (SN 454 156) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the 100m Twmpau, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Parc y Lan (SN 454 156)

The criteria for the list that this summit relocation applies to are:

100m Twmpau - Welsh hills at or above 100m and below 200m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 100m Sub-Twmpau, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 100m and below 200m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward. 

100m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is now listed by is Parc y Lan and this was derived from the Tithe map, and it is adjoined to the Mynydd Sylen group of hills, which are situated in the southern part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B5), and it is positioned with the A48 road to its north and the B4306 road to its south-west, and has the town of Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen) towards the north-west.

When the original 100m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was not included in the Hills to be surveyed sub list, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used for this sub category.

After the sub list was standardised, and interpolated heights and drop values also included the details for this hill were re-assessed and it was listed with 26m of drop, based on the 148m summit spot height positioned at SN 45430 15677 that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map and the 122m bwlch spot height that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

However, it was not until LIDAR became available that the details for this hill could be accurately re-assessed.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales.

LIDAR analysis gives the highest ground on this hill as 149.0m positioned at SN 45438 15702.  However, this is to the top of a raised field boundary and protocols dictate that as this is deemed a relatively recent man-made construct such ground is discounted from the height of a hill. 

LIDAR summit image of Parc y Lan (SN 454 156)

The height produced by LIDAR analysis to the natural summit of this hill is 148.5m and is positioned at SN 45458 15666 and SN 45457 15664, and this comes within the parameters of the Summit Relocations used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Summit Relocations applies when the high point of the hill is found to be positioned; in a different field, to a different feature such as in a conifer plantation,  within a different map contour either on Ordnance Survey maps or interactive mapping, to a different point where a number of potential summit positions are within close proximity, when natural ground or the natural and intact summit of a hill is confirmed compared to a higher point such as a raised field boundary or covered reservoir that is considered a relatively recent man-made construct, or a relocation of approximately 100 metres or more in distance from either the position of a map spot height or from where the summit of the hill was previously thought to exist.

Therefore, the height produced by LIDAR analysis to the natural summit of this hill is 148.5m and is positioned at SN 45458 15666 and SN 45457 15664, this is relatively close to where the spot height appears, and is approximately 38 metres south-eastward from the high point of the raised field boundary. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Sylen 

Name:  Parc y Lan 

OS 1:50,000 map:  159

Summit Height:  148.5m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SN 45458 15666 & SN 45457 15664 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  123.7m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 46262 16790 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  24.9m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (December 2024)