Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Arenig

27.09.14  Moel Eglwys (SH 905 479)  

Garn Prys (SH 887 483)

The northern Arenig is dominated by the moorland mass of Carnedd y Filiast and the isolated peak of Foel Goch with its lower satellite hills surrounding it.  The former has lands descending northward to the A5 road as it bisects the Arenig from the next great upland of Mynydd Hiraethog.  As the land heads toward this road it takes in a number of summits including the cairned top of Garn Prys before it continues to the hill ranges last northern outlier; Moel Eglwys.

I’d only visited Moel Eglwys once before on the 24^th November 2003, it was then the second of four bagging walks of the day and was a quick 16 minute scamper up and down the hill.

Today’s visit was with Aled, we’d already visited Moel y Gydros (SH 914 453) and as the weather was improving the temptation to take in one or two more hills and surveys was too great to resist.

We parked at SH 909 476 where one car can be squeezed onto the grass verge beside the narrow lane.  From here a public footpath heads west around the southern flank of the hill before it swings north-westward toward the area of this hill’s critical bwlch.

As we set off a family were walking down the road toward us, we had passed their parked car a mile or so further down the road.  They were out taking in a small walk around the hill using the track we were about to walk up.  We chatted for a few minutes before our ascent route headed straight up the hill and their planned route continued around the hill.

As we approached the upper part of the hill the views started to open up with Bwlch Blaen-y-cwm standing out seemingly struggling against its adjacent hillsides, forever higher and dominating.

Looking out toward Bwlch Blaen-y-cwm

The Ordnance Survey map has a 448m spot height adjoined to this hill’s summit, this appears on the ground in a high field, adjacent is a fence, the Trimble was placed on this high point and gathered five minutes of data.

Gathering data at the point where the 448m spot height appears on the map

Beyond the fence is another high point, we looked out toward this and both of us thought it higher when compared to the land where the OS spot height indicates is the summit.  This other land is part of a turnip field.  The Trimble has never surveyed in a turnip field before, ever on for new experiences it definitely needed investigating.

Aled in search of the highest turnip

As the last minute of data were logged Aled went turnip investigating, I soon joined him, we marched around a bit, careful not to damage any of the crop.  Once the highest turnip had been found the Trimble was placed on its improvised tripod and gathered the allotted five minutes of data.

The Trimble on its improvised tripod at the high point of the turnip field

This high point was on scrub land just free of turnips, after data were collected we set off, reversing our inward route back to the car.  Moel Eglwys is a fine hill with excellent views, we’ll have to wait and see if its high point is in a turnip field.

Survey Result:

Moel Eglwys

Summit Height:  447.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 90580 47962 (summit relocation confirmed)

Drop:  c 36m

Dominance:  8.04%



For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spteadsheet