Myrddyn Phillips - Mapping Mountains: Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys

01.10.18 Bryniau (SH 579 711)

Bryniau (SH 579 711)

To the immediate south-east of Bangor the small heighted ridge overlooking the city leads south-westward toward higher ground in the Glyderau. Ordnance Survey maps give the name of Bangor Mountain to a part of this ridge, with this name consistently applied on the map to its northern part, the position of this name is also substantiated by local enquiry. This map name would no doubt be known as Mynydd Bangor by locals.

I’d spent the early afternoon analysing the summit and bwlch of this hill via LIDAR and now wanted to visit, it remained one of the few P30s in this part of Eryri that I had not been up and whilst doing so I hoped to meet the local farmer and make enquiries about its name.

The summit area of this hill has a golf course on its western side, with a triangulation pillar placed near to what is now the 14^th hole. Between the trig pillar and the summit is a large covered reservoir which is well protected by high metal fencing, with the high point of the hill on the eastern side of this and close to a high mast. As one would expect the golf course is well manicured, but between it and the summit is a mass of gorse and a double barb wired fence raised on an old stone wall. I’d read reports of difficulty even getting to the trig from certain directions and therefore opted to approach from the north-west on a track leading toward the mast.

The well protected covered reservoir with the summit of the hill close to the high mast

I left my car on the lane that leads up toward the track and was met by a sign proclaiming ‘Private Land, no public right of way’ pinned to the access gate, I took a photograph and quietly continued up the track.

The track leads to the old farm house of Bryniau, with the summit of the hill just behind the house, foolishly I decided to bi-pass the house and follow another track on the right which led to a high and collapsed metal fence which I walked over, this led on to the golf course.

Once on the manicured fairway the view to the west opened up looking down on to the houses of Bangor, and across to Penrhos Garnedd, which I’d surveyed the day before.

I followed a perimeter path heading south, to my left was the covered reservoir with its high metalled fence and beyond was the high mast with the summit of the hill close by, and between me and it was a mass of gorse and bramble.

Although I had not planned on visiting the trig pillar the perimeter path led me toward it, I now had little option for further progress toward the summit, other than venture in to the gorse and bramble to a double barb wired fence positioned on top of a raised old wall come embankment. As I get older I am more aware of the hazards that barb wired fences can course to a hill walker, and this one in particular was screaming out to be careful as one misplaced lunge could result in a horrible bloodied mess.

The trig pillar

I eventually landed unceremoniously on the other side of the fence and proceeded on terra firma through gaps in the gorse to the summit of the hill, which is placed on a grassy knoll under a tree.

Once the Trimble was set up I waited for it to achieve its 0.1m accuracy level before data should be logged and watched five sheep graze their way from the wooded copse behind me and onward to more juicy morsels amongst the gorse.

It took ten minutes or more for the Trimble to reach its 0.1m accuracy level, and once it did I pressed ‘Log’ and stood a few metres away from it admiring the view to the west as the sun slowly crept ever lower under an immense straight lined high cloud bank that cut across the sky.

The immense straight-lined cloud bank that quickly pushed inland as I watched from the summit of Bryniau

As the sun slowly emerged under the cloud the summit was lit with a magical glow illuminating the land. I knew this would only last for a short time as when intense evening colour arrives it can then depart quickly, usually this lasts no more than 30 minutes or so, but it’s always a pleasure to be out on the hill at this time of day watching the play of light and bathed in its glow.

I was in no rush to leave and wanted to savour the light, away to the east the high Eryri peaks were back-dropped by grey sky and all were on display, with the Carneddau stretched out leading to the Glyderau and Tryfan squeezed in at the head of Nant Ffrancon. I could easily of stood and stared until the last ebb of light turned the scene to dusk, but needed to get down to visit my brother in Ysbyty Gwynedd, and if time permitted to also find the local farmer at Bryniau.

The Carneddau

Yr Elen and Carnedd Llywelyn

Once the Trimble had gathered and stored 15 minutes of data I closed it down, packed it away and walked the short distance down the track to the old farm house of Bryniau, where its tenant kindly directed me to the series of old barns where James Brown; the local farmer, and a colleague were working.

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the summit of Bryniau

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Bryniau

Having explained by interest in James’ hill we headed back to its summit, James explained that the hill does not have an individual name and that Mynydd Bangor is much lower on this ridge and does not apply to this hill, and that the land is a part of, and also known as Bryniau.

James at the summit of Bryniau

As James walked the short distance back down the grassed and gorse laden upper slopes toward the track, I lingered on the summit for a last few minutes watching the sun sink in to the sea as an oranged glow emanated its surrounds.