09.03.17
Cefn Nedd (SO 185 965)
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| Cefn Nedd (SO 185 965) |
Cefn Nedd forms a neat
triangle of land enclosed by minor roads above and to the south-east of the
Afon Hafren (River Severn). The name of
Cefn Nedd is more strictly applicable to the uppermost enclosed field where the
summit of the hill is situated, with the name deriving from the Tithe map,
whilst the name usually given this hill in listings; Goron Ddu, is confirmed
from local enquiry to be applicable to the lower slopes of the hill that
overlook the Afon Hafren, this is where the name appears on the current
Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map.
As I parked my car on
the side of the road next to the field enclosing the area of the bwlch, a farm
vehicle approached, I flagged it down and talked with a local farmer for ten
minutes or so, he confirmed where the name of Goron Ddu applied to, and had no
objection to me taking a series of data sets in the fields next to the minor
road close to the outskirts of Llandyssil.
The first data set I took
was close to where the 119m spot height appears on Ordnance Survey maps, to do
so I placed the Trimble on the roof of my car and measured a 1.46m offset to
the road. Over the next 90 minutes I
took a further five data sets from the area of the bwlch, with the majority of
these on the broad valley to valley traverse.
During this process the land remained quiet with just an occasion passing
car and a distant farm vehicle chugging up a country lane breaking the
silence.
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| The first data set at the bwlch |
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| The third data set at the bwlch with the village of Llandyssil in the background |
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| The fourth data set at the bwlch |
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| The sixth data set at the bwlch |
Packing the Trimble away
I walked back toward the car happy in the knowledge that I judged most if not
all eventualities for the position of this hill’s critical bwlch had been
surveyed.
As the weather was
proving glorious with thick blue skies above and warmth cascading the land, I
dispensed with my fleece. It was a day
to savour with the heralding of spring and new growth showing green in
hedgerows.
I drove up the lane
toward the summit of Cefn Nedd and parked beside the entrance to Coed y
Wig. An old green lane heads toward the
hill from here and I followed it to two gates which give access to the upper
field.
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| I passed this beautifully sculptured tree on the ascent of Cefn Nedd |
The summit of Cefn Nedd
consists of closely cropped grass close to the slopes of a wooded copse, the
views northward down the Severn Valley toward Cefn Digoll and the Breiddin are
expansive with both floating above the plain below.
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| Gathering data at the summit of Cefn Nedd |
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| The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Cefn Nedd |
After five minutes of
summit data were gathered I headed back to the two gates and the old green
track, a farm vehicle was approaching the green lane from the field opposite
and not wanting to miss an opportunity for place-name research I waved and
headed toward it. I chatted with its
occupant; Alan Harding for quite some time, he also confirmed the land where
Goron Ddu is situated and gave me a number of names for local hills.
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| Alan Harding |
After thanking Alan for
his time it was only a short walk back to my car, on my way down toward it my
mind wandered as the greened fields shone in front, a delicate patchwork of
curves smoothed with years of grazing and interspersed with bordered and stunted
trees giving slight variety to the land.
It had been a good few hours in the sunshine and enthused me to get out
again the next day with the Trimble.
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| A greened patchwork |
Survey Result:
Cefn Nedd (significant name change)
Summit Height: 207.2m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SO 18524 96503
Bwlch Height: 118.1m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SO 19564 95699
Drop: 89.1m (non Subhump status confirmed)
Dominance: 42.99%
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