07.09.14 Llanlleiana Park (SH
383 949), Dinas Gynfor (SH SH 391 950) and Graig Wen (SH 397 947)
Graig Wen (SH 397 947) on right of photo with Torllwyn (SH 402 948) beyond |
After visiting Ynys
Seiriol (Puffin Island) Alex and I headed to the north of Ynys Môn
(Anglesey) to visit three P30’s that I’d wanted to investigate ever since first
listing them in the year 2000. The three
hills are grouped in close proximity with their summits butting up against the
northern cliffs of the island, Alex had visited the higher summit; Graig Wen
and also walked the coastal path beside the other two and gave a good
recommendation for all three hills.
By mid-afternoon we had
found a small parking place on a grass verge adjacent to a narrow lane just to
the south of the hills, near to where we had parked was a track leading to
buildings named Llanlleiana and beyond were the three hills.
Within a few minutes of
setting off we were at the area of the critical bwlch for one of the hills, I
had pre-warned Alex that Trimbling and hill walking doesn’t necessarily fit in
with everyone who enjoys the beauty of the hills. Alex seems quite a laid back kind of guy and
said not to worry as he was looking forward to seeing everything in operation
and would enjoy just being out on the hill, an excellent attitude to have!
The first bwlch of the
day was assessed from a couple of vantage points and once the Trimble was up
and running I took a couple of photos and kept my eye on an inquisitive budding
surveying cow who had taken an interest in the proceedings and was watching us
from a safe distance. Cow over
enthusiasm may have coursed all manner of unwanted complications, especially if
it wanted to trample the Trimble to see if it could withstand a hoof as well as
a car tyre!
Gathering data at the first critical bwlch |
Once data were collected
we headed down the track, which was now more of a green lane, toward the coast and
the remains of a chimney on the adjacent hillside with an abandoned mine
building at the foot of the hill.
From here we walked up
and to the west toward the summit of our first hill. Autumnal colours of rusted browns
intermingled with the late summer greens as fern turned to bracken, these
colours merged with September’s purple of heather, all subtly on show.
The mix of early autumnal colours |
We were now on part of
the Welsh Coastal Path with views north to an expanse of blue only broken by
the nearness of Ynys Badrig (Middle Mouse) a 16m map heighted island, which
gave off deep blacks and browns of sea washed rock. The only break in the northern horizon was
the occasional silhouette of a boat and the hills on the Isle of Man.
Ynys Badrig (Middle Mouse) a forlorn lump of rock |
The path was stepped and
led up next to a stone wall, the summit consisted of fern and grass, I placed
the Trimble on its improvised tripod, set it to go and sat in the grass
relaxing and soaking up the warmth of the afternoon.
Alex leading the way toward the summit of the first hill |
Relaxing at the first summit as the Trimble gathers data |
Alex led the way back
down to the old mine buildings where the continuation of the stepped path led
up with the pebbled beach of Porth Llanlleiana to our left. As it was only late afternoon the sun had not
reached the time when it gives magical colour to the land, but the hills and their
cliffs still gave us dramatic views. The
path reaches close to the furthest northerly point of the island and then
swings eastward, where a few metres off the path is the summit of Dinas Gynfor.
Dinas Gynfor is an
ancient settlement probably of Celtic origin, the high point of which is now
heather bound with a small cairn, I re-positioned a few of its small rocks and
placed the Trimble on top, taking the measurement offset to ground level so it
can be taken off the processed height result.
As the Trimble did its
stuff we lazed in the sun and chatted, Alex telling me all about his hill
bagging, this is done by public transport and by bicycle as he doesn’t
drive. Having read so much of Clem’s
memoir where he also journeyed far and wide cycling from one hill to another
and used trains as a means on some of the longer journeys, I thought listening
to Alex was similar to reading about Clem’s life. Certainly the lack of a car means a different
approach to the hills and one that encourages longer walks and backpacks.
Once five minutes of
data were collected I packed the Trimble away and we headed down to the
connecting bwlch with Graig Wen. This is
above Porth Cynfor, or Hell’s Mouth in English, and is extremely tight on the
hill to hill traverse, so much so that I expected the required accuracy to take
upwards of twenty minutes to attain.
Again, Alex was good and did not complain and went off for a walk to
peer down in to the sea, I set the Trimble up on its improvised tripod and a
few minutes later it was ready to ‘Log’ data – Yiippeee!
The next bit of uphill
gave us dramatic views down on to Dinas Gynfor and its headland butting out to
the sea, a sturdy hill, rounded in shape and rocky to its downward plunge.
Alex led the way on the
coastal path and found our cut off point on a small path that took us up toward
the trig pillar atop Graig Wen, on the way we passed two distinct bumps, both
with their respective high points to our left as we aimed for the trig. Once at the trig the Trimble was placed on
what looked like the highest rock and gathered its customary five minutes of
data.
After closing it off we
sighted across to the two other bumps and decided to visit the one that looked
the higher, although this point has not got a 90m contour ring, whereas the
ground at the base of the trig has, we both thought it could be higher. The Trimble was set up at the high point and
data were gathered. This point is
distinctive and consists of a brownish large boulder embedded in the ground, a
fine summit if it proves higher than the rocks near to the trig.
Gathering data on Graig Wen with the trig in the background above the Trimble. The result came to 91.29m (converted to OSGM15) |
We then discussed our
downward options and decided upon a direct route down on to the narrow lane and
within a half hour of leaving the last summit we were back at the car. The walk had taken just over three hours with
six surveys adding time spent on the hill.
These three P30’s are great little hills that I would recommend to anyone;
it was also great to be in the company of Alex who filled the time with many an
anecdote and has a good local knowledge of the area.
Survey Result:
Llanlleiana Park (significant name change)
Summit Height: 68.2m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SH 38337 94993
Bwlch Height: 34.2m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SH 38745 94536
Dinas Gynfor
Summit Height: 69.3m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SH 39115 95044
Bwlch Height: 15.1m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SH 39280 94837
Drop: 54.2m
Dominance: 78.21%
Dominance: 78.21%
Graig Wen
Summit Height: 91.3m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)
Summit Grid Reference: SH 39734 94739 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) (summit relocation confirmed)
Bwlch Height: 41.7m (LIDAR)
Bwlch Height: 41.7m (LIDAR)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SH 41985 91871 (LIDAR)
Drop: 49.6m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Dominance: 54.33% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Dominance: 54.33% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)
For further details please
consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet click {here}
No comments:
Post a Comment