Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Cilfaesty

20.04.16  Broomy Leasow (SO 093 881) and The Top (SO 092 887) 

The Top (SO 092 887)

Overlooking the mid-Walian town of Newtown and to its south are two small hills, given map heights of 317m and 327m respectively, each now consist of closely cropped grass and are no doubt grazed by those lovable little white hill wonders known as sheep.

These two hills are not crag happy marvels of ice age sculpture, but they are pleasing and quiet affairs where one is unlikely to be disturbed except for the possibility of a farmer on a quad bike or a sheep and lamb suckling in the spring sunshine.

Having parked beside a T-junction on a minor lane between the two hills and to their east I did contemplate surveying their bylchau, but decided that this may prove a lengthy exercise and that a quiet stroll in beautiful afternoon sunshine to the top of each hill was the order of the day.  I followed a public footpath before heading toward the high point of the 327m map heighted and more southerly of the two hills, the sun beat down in a refreshing way with early year clear clarity and welcome warmth.

After negotiating a fence I popped out on the summit and proceeded to assess the lay of land from a number of directions and placed the Trimble on the ground.  As it beeped its way to 300 separate datum points during its five minutes of data gathering I converted my walking trousers to shorts and exposed my legs to the first sun of the walking year.

Gathering data at the summit of Broomy Leasow

Just below the summit of the hill is a house named Little Bryn-bedwyn which I called at hoping to enquire about the name of the hill, no one was in, so I wandered down the lane, called in at another bungalow, with again no response, I then contemplated calling in at Bank farm which is situated at the bwlch for the second and last hill of the day.  Deciding to leave the farm until after visiting the summit of the hill I proceeded down the narrow lane to the south-west of the summit, as I did so a vehicle appeared and as it looked as if it may have come from Bank farm I flagged it down.  I chatted with the driver for a few minutes; Gwyn Phillips was indeed the local farmer from Bank, and as the hill that I was interested in was straight above us I pointed its way and asked if he knew a name for it, ‘Just know it as The Top’, came the reply, I asked if he had ever heard any other name for it or if he knew of a field name for where the summit of the hill is situated, and he said ‘It’s on my land, but I’ve never heard another name for it’, with that I expressed my thanks and off he sped down towards the main road.

The Top overlooking Bank farm

After meeting Gwyn I clambered over a fence and made my way to the top of the hill and proceeded to take data from two points, not surprisingly both of which I thought to be close in height.  Once data collection was complete I headed down toward Graig, which is another farm on a direct course to where my car was parked, on the way I became fixated on the colours of new growth in the hedgerow, these shot out succulently sharp and tender and alive with radiant colour, I stopped and took some photos and happily continued to my car.

Gathering data at the summit of The Top

Broomy Leasow from the summit of The Top, with the house of Little Bryn-bedwen on right and Bank farm below

Succulent new growth

Once back home I examined the online Tithe maps for field names for the two hills I’d visited, these are listed as Bryn-bedwen and Pen-y-banc in the original P30 lists that are published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, both names are taken from near farms, a practice that I now consider unsatisfactory.  The online Tithe maps are slightly complicated in nature, but with a little perseverance I pinpointed each summit field, with the more northerly one being a part of the land of Bank farm and which has no name given it on the Tithe map, this information corresponds with the knowledge that the owner of this farm has, he told me he had lived there all of his life and except for the name he referred to the hill as; The Top, he did not know another name for the hill or for the field where the summit is situated. 

The more southerly hill is given the name of Bryn-bedwen in the original P30 lists, this name came from buildings to the south-west of the summit, with the house immediately below the summit to the north-west being named Little Bryn-bedwen.  As many Welsh farms take their name from the hill, or vice versa, one may think that giving this hill the name of Bryn-bedwen is appropriate, however the naming of farms after hills or vice versa is not always the case, and appointing a name to a hill should be a task undertaken with the same dedication that many spend with the appointment of the respective hill’s numerical data.  And the use of the Tithe map can show a multitude of names, especially so for the lower heighted hills.  If a Tithe map gives a field name for where the summit of the hill is situated this is more appropriate than using that of a farm which may have no association with the hill.

The field where the summit of the 325.6m hill at SO 093 881 is situated named as Broomy Leasow on the Tithe map

In the instance of the more southerly of these two hills the Tithe map gives a rather evocative name for the summit field; Broomy Leasow.  The word leasow means pasture or meadowland, whilst broomy means covered with or abounding in broom, broom being the flowering shrub.

LIDAR image of The Top (SO 092 887)

Postscript: 

Since the survey of these hills LIDAR has become available.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height and positional data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales.  Consequently the numerical details for these hills have been analysed using this technique, resulting in the LIDAR heights and positions for each bwlch being used.

Survey Result:

Broomy Leasow (significant name change)

Summit Height:  325.6m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 09332 88123 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  266.0m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 09478 87710 (LIDAR)

Drop:  59.6m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch) 

Dominance:  18.31% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

  

The Top (significant name change)

Summit Height:  315.5m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 09275 88714 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  283.8m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 09279 88381 (LIDAR)

Drop:  31.7m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch) 

Dominance:  10.06% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet click {here}

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Cilfaesty

20.04.16  Racecourse (SO 091 862) 

Racecourse (SO 091 862) second ridge of four and centre right of photograph

Beside the winding A 483 road as it makes its way south from Newtown toward the salubrious surrounds of Llandrindod are a number of hills, all of merit, and many seldom visited, one such hill is the Racecourse, which stands aloof of its neighbours to the north-west of the road near the conference and holiday park of Cefn Lea.

I parked just beyond the entrance to Cefn Lea on a minor lane and walked down the road hoping to find access into a deciduous wood named Glog Wood, which is situated on the western lower side of the hill.  By now the slight chill of early morning had been replaced with warmth reminiscent of summer.

A short distance down the road the adjacent bank lessened in steepness and gave me an opportunity to clamber over a fence into the wood.  Deciduous woods have a beauty all to themselves and my short sojourn through and up this one was a tranquil experience until I heard a quad bike in the adjacent field above, I walked over to a near gate and waved to the person on the bike, he parked it up and walked over to me.  Tony Ward lived locally and pointed out his old toll house next to the road, we talked about the hill and its name and I asked if he minded me visiting its top.  He knew the hill as Cefn Faes whose land the conference centre and holiday park was on.  He explained that the house of Cefn Faes was next to the entrance to Cefn Lea and told me that its high point was toward the right hand side of the field where a golf course is situated.  After thanking him I slowly plodded up the closely cropped grassy field which had a number of red flags stuck in it, indicating where budding golfing professionals were to aim their ball.  I knew from the map that the high point of the hill was on the northern side of the fence and wondered if this land was a part of Cefn Faes, further enquiries were necessary.

The top of the golf course is bounded by a thin layer of conifer trees and a double fence which proved easy to carefully clamber over, on the other side was another cropped grassy field which led to the summit of the hill.  This was definitely someone else’s land and did not belong to Cefn Faes.

I chose the spot for Trimble placement and waited the customary five minutes as it beeped away collecting its 300 datum points.  As it gathered its data I admired the view, looking out toward the high peaks of Cadair Idris, the Aran and Y Berwyn, it was indeed a beautiful day.

Gathering data at the summit of the Racecourse

After packing the Trimble away I retraced my steps down to where I had chatted with Tony and decided to walk down to the buildings next to Cefn Faes and try and gather data at the critical bwlch of the hill.  It was as if mid Wales had been transported to the sun drenched lands of southern Spain where an early afternoon siesta was taking place, as when I arrived at the bwlch all was quiet and remained so for the next fifteen minutes as I assessed the lay of land, chose the spot for Trimble placement and gathered the necessary data.

Gathering data at the bwlch of the Racecourse

After packing the Trimble away I called at Cefn Faes and enquired about the hill, they knew where the high point was situated and confirmed that this wasn’t on their land, they also told me that their part of the hill was known as Cefn Faes and kindly directed me down the lane to the next farm; Garth-Heilyn, who were the land owners for the part of the hill where the summit is situated.  Before heading back to my car I called at the next house down the lane and chatted with their son, who also confirmed that the land up to the boundary fence of thin conifers is known as Cefn Faes and that the high point of the hill is a part of the land of Garth-Heilyn, and that the Morris’ would be able to tell me a name for the hill.

Once back at my car I drove a mile or so down the road and parked on the lane as it makes its way through the farm of Garth-Heilyn.  As I got out of my car a large tractor came chugging toward me from an adjacent barn, Gwyn Morris pulled up and smiled, I introduced myself and explained my interest in Welsh upland place-names and asked about the high point of their hill.  As Gwyn chatted away I found it hard to hear some of what he was saying as the tractor’s engine roared away, he kindly lessened the noise but explained that he was busy and would have to carry on with his work.  However, he was only too willing to talk about the hill and told me that it is known as the Racecourse, I thought this a slightly unusual name for a hill, but not one that is unique as there are examples of places on uplands known by such names.  He said that he didn’t know why the hill is known as the Racecourse and explained that Gilfach farm used to own the land, with his family moving to Garth-Heilyn in 1935 and purchasing the land from Gilfach in 1969, and the hill was known as the Racecourse even when Gilfach owned the land.

Gwyn Morris

As Gwyn chugged off in his tractor to continue his work, Andrew Morris; Gwyn’s brother, walked around the corner and the conversation continued.  As soon as I mentioned the hill, he said ‘You mean the Racecourse.’  He also said that he didn’t know why it was called by this name, but that was the name the locals had known it by for decades and he didn’t think that the name appeared on a map.

Andrew Morris

I scribbled all necessary details in my notebook before getting back into my car and waved my thanks to Andrew as he went about his farming business and I drove back up the lane toward my next and last walk of the day.

Gwyn and Andrew Morris' field where the summit of the hill is situated named as the Race Course on the Tithe map

The following day I wrote this blog post and accessed the Tithe maps online and searched for this hill.  The Tithe maps operate on a field system and are ideal for names adjoined to smaller heighted hills as usually the field where the summit of the hill is situated can be pinpointed and with a little detective work the number adjoined to a field can be cross referenced against its name.  Not all fields have names, but many in Wales do, these are historical as well as current, some names of which survive in the local community to the present day, whilst others have been lost, but the ones that do not survive the oral tradition of passing place-names down from one generation to the next will be documented on the Tithe maps of the day, and as I scrolled down the Tithe documents a name popped up on my Laptop’s screen; Race Course.  I smiled and thought how wonderful this name is, it had survived the passage of time in the local community, even when the meaning behind it had not.

LIDAR image of the Racecourse (SO 091 862)

Postscript: 

Since the survey of this hill LIDAR has become available.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height and positional data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales.  Consequently the numerical details for this hill have been analysed using this technique, resulting in the LIDAR height and position for its bwlch being used.

Survey Result:

Racecourse (significant name change)

Summit Height:  370.7m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 09122 86296 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  326.6m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 09105 85915 (LIDAR)

Drop:  44.1m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  11.90% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet click {here}

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Hirddywel

20.04.16  Pt. 436.3m (SO 062 850) 

Pt. 436.3m (SO 062 850)

During last summer I’d visited this hill and Trimbled its bwlch and summit with the result giving the hill 29.983m of drop, after discussing this result with Aled we decided to leave the hill listed as a Pedwar until a further survey could be conducted.  As the Trimble has limitations on its accuracy when the margin between 30m drop qualification is only 17mm, I knew that the ideal way to re-survey this hill would be by line survey; however I could at least take a series of data sets with the Trimble and assess the results with Aled afterward. 

The forecast for the day was ideal with only a breath of breeze and sunshine predicted during daylight hours.  Thankfully the hill is easily accessed from a minor lane to the south of its summit.  I set off walking at 8.00am down the green vehicle track that leads to the bwlch.  Looking toward the hill the sky gave a dulled pale sheen as blue merged with white on the horizon.  All round was quiet and except for an occasional farmer out feeding sheep, it remained so for the four hours it took me to take a further 19 data sets, with 9 of these being at the bwlch and 10 at the summit.

When approaching this hill from the south the critical bwlch is crossed on the way to the summit, I’d come duly prepared with ten figure grid references for the positions where I’d previously taken data from, as well as the ten figure grid references for where the 406m bwlch and 437m summit spot heights appear on the ground.

As the green vehicle track crosses the area of the bwlch the land descends on its west, whilst on its east is a stagnant reed infested pool, the water from which does not cross the track, therefore unless water flowed in to the pool from its east the critical bwlch lay either on, or beside the vehicle track.

The first data set I took at the bwlch matched the co-ordinates of my previous survey from last summer, I then spent a long time assessing the ground and placed the Trimble approximately 18 inches from this first placement and gathered another five minutes of data.  Three further data sets were repeated from this second point, each time alternating between the Trimble being placed on the ground and being placed on top of my rucksack with a 0.41m measurement offset between the internal antenna within the Trimble and the ground at the base of my rucksack.

Looking south from the bwlch with the green vehicle track heading back to my car 

Looking north from the bwlch toward the summit of the hill during one of nine data sets taken at the bwlch

After each data set was gathered from different points I marked the position of the Trimble so if need be another data set could be gathered from the same position and the resulting data then averaged.

Following these surveys I took a data set from where the 406m spot height appears on the ground and a further two data sets from the vehicle track adjacent to the spot height position, one from each side of the track.

The only remaining data set to gather at the bwlch was from the opposing easterly side of the pool, this would prove that it was lower than the track although visually it was significantly lower, I only wanted to do this if the water flowed in to the pool and not out of it, as if it did, it meant that the ground to the east of the pool is lower than the surface water.  I followed the water course from the pool and it remained still for a number of metres, until I spotted a tranquil trickle as it glistened in the early morning sun, I continued following it until the ground started going downhill, working my way back toward the pool I looked for any sign that the water course was not continuous, there was none, therefore the surface water of the pool was lower than the height of the vehicle track.

With all bwlch surveys now complete I gathered the Trimble up, packed it away and walked to the summit following the continuation of the track and finally across a field to where the rounded dome of the high point of the hill is situated.  This rounded dome is a slight ridge; whale backed in shape and aligned in a north to south direction, to its east is a visually lower ridge of same formation.

The first data set I took was from where the 437m spot height appears on the ground, this point was on a downward slope and although not necessary to conduct, it would at least give another accurate height for this particular point.  The second data set was taken from where I had placed the Trimble during last summer’s survey.  I now wanted to take a series of data sets following the flattened ridge crest working from north to south, each Trimble placement was approximately seven metres apart, with eight taken in all on the whale backed summit ridge.

As I closed the Trimble off at each of these points I placed a piece of paper on the ground with a nail inserted in it to indicate where the internal antenna had been aligned.  Leaving the paper trail in situ I then visited the visually lower ridge and took a data set from what I deemed to be its highest point.

The position where the Trimble is placed proved to be the highest point surveyed and was the last of ten data sets taken at the summit, with three placements indicated with paper running the length of the whale backed ridge in a southerly direction

Looking northward with the Trimble placed on the highest point surveyed and with the paper indicating a further four placements where data had been gathered

Only one survey remained for me to conduct and this was to the point of the hill that I now thought to be the highest.  I assessed the summit ridge from the vantage point of the visually lower ridge and decided to place the Trimble between what I deemed to be the two highest previous placements.  As the Trimble beeped away gathering its allotted five minutes of data during the last of 19 data sets I stood a safe distance away, scribbling all detail that would form a part of the spreadsheet documenting all of my Trimble surveys, and happy in the knowledge that I had done as much as I could with the Trimble to decide the fate of this hill, I gathered it up, packed it away and happily sauntered off down the hill in continuing glorious sunshine to my awaiting car below.

  

Survey Result:

Pt. 436.3m

Summit Height:  436.3m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 06252 85015

Bwlch Height:  406.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 06027 84366

Drop:  30.2m (Pedwar status confirmed)

Dominance:  6.92%

For the post relating to the first survey of this hill please click {here}

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet click {here}

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Arenig

10.04.16  Bryn Mawr (SH 830 259) and Foel Ddu (SH 818 245)  

Bryn Mawr (SH 830 259)

For many years I’d wondered if I had reached the highest point of Bryn Mawr, as on my previous visit I’d stood on what my memory told me was the highest point of the hill and looked east toward another high point that was immersed in a conifer plantation.  Having no hand-held GPS I could now only go on what my memory told me and compare this to current maps, and these show the high point of Bryn Mawr with three 400m ring contours, with two of these including the furthest easterly 401m spot heighted summit within the boundary of the conifer plantation.  Had I reached the true summit or was I standing on a near 390m ring contour looking toward the high point and never actually going to it.  Armed with my Trimble it was time for me to repeat my visit and be sure that I had finally reached the summit. 

I left my car at Pont Fronwydd and followed a footpath on the north-east side of the Afon Mynach as it tumbles down from wilder higher climes to the valley below.  The morning’s chill gave a prospect of clear conditions but I knew that it would be breezy as the forecast predicted 17mph winds in lower parts.

The footpath hugged the southern part of Carreg yr Aderyn which is now swamped in conifer plantation, these swayed in the morning’s sunshine as buffets of wind blew through their branches.  The footpath joins a track higher up close to Cae Llwyd, a single house looking out on a beautiful scene of ruggedness.  Leaving the path I gained height keeping the forestry on my right.  Across the Afon Mynach the blackened profile of Foel Ddu loomed skyward, looking rather uninviting as my recollection was that pathless heather predominated on this hill.

Foel Ddu rising above the lonely house of Cae Llwyd

As I followed the forestry I checked the co-ordinates in the Trimble for the ten figure summit grid reference, after following a wet sheep path adjacent to the trees I reached their high point and peered in to them for the summit of a hill, non-existed, but behind me to the south-west a number of bumps were significantly higher than any ground in the forestry, it seemed I had reached the high point on my previous visit and that the placement of the conifer plantation is incorrect of current maps.

I surveyed the high point of each 400m ring contour in turn and positioned my rucksack on the ground, resting on its back instead of the customary base which only elevates it above the ground by an approximate 0.28m.  This would elevate the Trimble above the moorland surroundings of grass but would keep it relatively close to the ground as the wind consistently breezed through the land and positioning it any higher was running the risk of wind wobble.

Gathering data at the central 400m ring contour on Bryn Mawr

During these three surveys I stood a safe distance away from the equipment with my back braced against the chill wind and looked out on a sun bleached land of mountain top, heather, rock and beauty – a stunning place.

Craig y Benglog (SH 805 244)

The blackened profile of Foel Ddu

Happy that I had re-claimed the summit of Bryn Mawr I contemplated heading back to my car, but I also wanted to survey the critical bwlch of the hill.  This took me on to land that must surely be seldom visited except for an occasional passing farmer on a mud splattered quad bike, as few hill walkers would have the necessity to visit.

The bwlch is positioned in a wild bog of knee high tussock grass forlorn and empty, a quiet haven amongst a bed of nothingness.  For me this is one of the beauties of surveying as if not for this unusual activity and inner need to catalogue I would not visit such places, and many have a beauty all to themselves.

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Bryn Mawr

The desolation of bwlch surveying

I could now either head back to my car, bi-passing the heathery delights of what looked like a watery bwlch adjoined to Foel Ddu and its pathless heather bound summit, or I could plod on in to the morass of wilderness.  I almost talked myself in to the former, but I just couldn’t resist the temptation and except for the wind the day was rather stunning as colour poured down on the land with succulent clear blues etched against the bleached and lonely moor whilst mountain peaks cast down upon the scene.

The connecting land between each hill proved a slow stumble as I followed a collapsed and old wall up toward the bwlch that connects Foel Ddu with Carreg Lusog.  As I arrived at its high point I looked down on to a wide, tussock and bog ridden bwlch that immerses itself in heather, this looked like fun.

I stumbled my way in to the bwlch and splashed from one bog infested tussock to another, each time I assessed the lay of land another point looked as if it was the point where the valley to valley traverse meets the hill to hill traverse.  I eventually set the Trimble up at two points, one where map interpolation suggests the bwlch to be positioned and another where I thought the critical bwlch lay.  Each survey was a wild affair as I tried to keep me, my rucksack and the Trimble out of the oozing water under each tussock.  As the Trimble did its stuff I waited and watched the light on Carreg Lusog and Craig y Benglog, each bringing back memories of past surveys.

Carreg Lusog (SH 818 264)

Gathering data during one of the surveys for the position and height of the critical bwlch of Foel Ddu

After the bog laden bwlch survey I squelched my way up on to relatively dry ground and followed a fence toward the summit of Foel Ddu.  I’d noted a ten figure grid reference for the summit from the Hill Bagging website but found that my eye judged the higher point to be a little further south, and when I arrived there I dug out a heather bound summit cairn.  I gathered data from this point and the high ground near to the grid reference I’d noted.  During this the wind whipped across the upper part of the hill.  To my north the forever blackened profile of Y Dduallt rose above the gentler but still rugged slopes of Carreg Lusog.

Y Dduallt and Carreg Lusog from the ascent of Foel Ddu

Gathering data at the summit of Foel Ddu

All that remained was to slowly stumble down the hill’s pathless northern ridge to where I’d previously followed the collapsed old wall, from here a path descended toward the track near to Cae Llwyd.

Leaving the wind-blown summits, the warmth of spring was evident as I made my way down the track, with white born lambs sitting nestled in the sunshine, eyes closed and dozing until I slowly crept up to take their photograph.

Enjoying the sunshine

Survey Result:

Bryn Mawr

Summit Height:  401.6m (converted to OSGM15) (Pedwar status confirmed)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 83087 25918

Bwlch Height:  360.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 82629 26107

Drop:  41.0m

Dominance:  10.21%

Foel Ddu

Summit Height:  465.0m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 81870 24547

Bwlch Height:  377.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 81730 25060

Drop:  87.1m

Dominance:  18.73%

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet click {here}