Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Carnedd Llywelyn

10.10.18  Llys y Gwynt (SH 779 728)  

Llys y Gwynt (SH 779 728)

Llys y Gwynt is one of a number of smaller heighted hills that lies undisturbed except for the passage of an occasional farmer or hill bagger.  It isn’t dramatic in nature, but does afford extensive views in to the higher eastern Carneddau, albeit its summit is plagued by copious amounts of gorse.

I visited Llys y Gwynt relatively early in the morning having travelled from Nantlle and stopping on route to watch the slender threads of mist as they played across the land beside Llyn Gwynant.  The misted scene again appeared beside Llynnau Mymbyr as delicate wafts ebbed their way upward toward the lower flank of Moel Siabod.  The misted morning foretold a blue skied day ahead.

Llyn Gwynant and Moel Hebog

Public footpaths approach the summit of this hill from the north-west and south-east, and it was the latter I chose having parked my car just off the narrow lane in a field, with the wired fence having been conveniently pulled back enabling a farmer’s vehicle to gain immediate access.

A convenient place to park a car

The field led upward toward the ruined gamekeeper’s house that now looks upon the abandoned scene.  This house must have been a solid stoned edifice built against the elements on the summit area of this hill.  Now ivy has taken hold and the roof is no more.  As I looked in through an open gapped window I heard movement inside, I backed away instinctively wondering if it may be a fox or badger, and a few seconds later caught the silent white flight of a barn owl as it flew overhead.

The summit of Llys y Gwynt is situated just beyond the trees in the centre of the photo

The ruined gamekeepers house on the summit of Llys y Gwynt

The high point of the hill was relatively easy to pinpoint and is situated amongst a large patch of gorse close to the ruined building.  Once the Trimble was set up and gathering data I walked around the house and stood in the sunshine looking out on a quiet land still waking in the morning air.

Gathering data at the summit of Llys y Gwynt

I let the Trimble gather 600 datum points, and after ten minutes closed it down, packed it away and retraced my inward route back to my awaiting car.  During the day I hoped to visit six P30s and two other lower prominence hills, all needed Trimbling with the prospective of a number of summit relocations.  My next hill was such an example; Maes Glas Mawr (SH 768 724) and Clytiau Poethion (SH 763 717).

Survey Result:

Llys y Gwynt (significant name change)

Summit Height:  120.6m (converted to OSGM15) (significant height revision)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 77982 72884

Bwlch Height:  50.7m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 76137 71943 (LIDAR)

Drop:  70.0m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  58.00% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet