30.12.18
Cefn Merthyr Cynog (SN 976 383), Cefn Trum yr Hwch (SN 991 401), Cefn Bach (SO 004 387), Cefn Bach (SO 002 372,
previously Trimbled), Gaer Fach (SO 009 366,
previously Trimbled) and Corun Fanolau (SO 015 361, previously Trimbled)
Misted grey drizzled
December days can have their compensation when on the hill, as there is a
beauty to walking in the mist with its delicate and quiet movement. Today was one such day.
Setting off from the
damp surrounds of Merthyr Cynog two farm dogs quickly scampered ahead and would
remain with us until the summit of our first hill of the day; Cefn Merthyr
Cynog. As we made steady progress up a
muddied track the hill lay ahead with its upper part obscured by a greyness
that enclosed the surrounding land.
The two dogs were from
the local farm and spent much of their time rounding up sheep, whilst we zeroed
in to the summit of this first hill with the aid of the ten figure grid
reference produced by LIDAR analysis conducted by one of my two companions on
the walk.
As the Trimble gathered
its first data set of the day a wind battered red flag flapped on the opposing
side of a barb wired fence, near to it was a sign proclaiming this to be a military
firing range, but between Christmas and New Year these hills are free of
gunfire which gives an opportunity to visit hills that otherwise are out of
bounds for the remainder of the year.
 |
| Gathering data at the summit of Cefn Merthyr Cynog |
Beyond the red flag a
small conifer plantation, rectangle in shape, stood steadfast on the hillside,
these are one of the landmarks of present day Epynt and can be seen from many
miles away.
As we continued beyond
the summit on the open hill a farm vehicle sped past on the near road,
disappearing in to its blanket of grey.
It was this road we then joined and it took us down to the Ysgir Fawr,
which gently flowed down to the lower southern lands past the boundary fence
with its adjacent red flag. It seems nature
has few boundaries whilst that of man is an utter contrast.
 |
| The route down toward the Ysgir Fawr |
 |
| The Ysgir Fawr |
The paved road continued
beyond the stream, with our route now taking us uphill. The road seemed pristine with its wide tarmac
cut through and laid upon the open hill side, it led us back into the mist
toward the summit of our second hill of the day; Cefn Trum yr Hwch.
 |
| The paved road leading toward the summit of Cefn Trum yr Hwch |
Just before the summit a
farm vehicle appeared coming up the road and swinging right toward the high
point of the hill, I waved toward it and it stopped and as I approached I
smiled and said ‘hello Austin’, it was Austin Davies who I had visited many
years ago making place-name enquires for the Epynt, Austin had given me many
names of hills and features that have never appeared on any Ordnance Survey map
and as we chatted my two colleagues joined us, one had a map with the names
Austin had given transposed on it, and he spent many minutes going through these
names with Austin, checking their position and listening to their
pronunciation.
Waving Austin off we
continued to the summit where the second Trimble data set of the day was
gathered. It was now downhill toward a
minor road where a few metres in to a rough grassed bog lay the critical bwlch
of Corun Fanolau, whose summit I had surveyed three years ago.
 |
| Gathering data at the summit of Cefn Trum yr Hwch |
 |
| Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Corun Fanolau |
As the Trimble gathered
its data, drizzle pushed across the hills from the west, the pattern of weather
with the ebb and flow of mist and gentle drizzle was now set for the day, and
although not constant it brought dampened conditions and a chilled feeling if
stationary for any length of time.
Ahead lay the Cefn Bach
ridge which consists of two 391m map heighted summits, the southern of which
was Trimbled three years ago, and it was now the turn of the northerly summit. Gates led across the grazing fields, all
manicured green and yet dulled by the afternoon’s monochrome stillness.
 |
| Gathering data at the northerly of the two Cefn Bach summits |
Just two hills remained;
Gaer Fach and Corun Fanolau, both had previously been surveyed and therefore I packed
the Trimble away in my rucksack. Both
are fine hills, the first with the remains of an ancient Iron Age hillfort and
the second with a series of small crags below its high point.
It felt refreshing not
to have to Trimble these summits, a freedom of sort, and beyond was welcome
downhill past the old farm house of Fanolau to a steep track leading to the
minor road where a car was waiting.
Survey Result:
Cefn Merthyr Cynog
Summit Height: 408.5m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SN 97601 38378
Bwlch Height: 376.1m (LIDAR)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SN 96738 39406 (LIDAR)
Drop: 32.4m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Dominance: 7.93% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Cefn Trum yr Hwch
Summit Height: 432.5m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SN 99171 40169
Bwlch Height: 394.6m (LIDAR)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SN 98341 43330 (LIDAR)
Drop: 37.9m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Dominance: 8.76% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Cefn Bach
Summit Height: 389.4m (converted to OSGM15) (Trimble GeoXH 6000) (390m Sub-Pedwar deletion) (twin summit status with Cefn Bach positioned at SO 00293
37291 confirmed with 389.391m and 389.392m respectively, with 1mm difference
the Trimble is unable to split these tops)
Summit Grid Reference: SO 00470 38742 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)
Bwlch Height: 368.9m (LIDAR)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SO 00075 38322 (LIDAR)
Drop: 20.5m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch) (non-prioritised drop for listing
purposes)
Dominance: 5.26%
Cefn Bach
Summit Height: 389.4m (converted to OSGM15, previously Trimbled)
(390m Sub-Pedwar deletion confirmed) (twin summit status with Cefn Bach
positioned at SO 00470 38742 confirmed with 389.392m and 389.391m respectively,
with 1mm difference the Trimble is unable to split these tops)
Summit Grid Reference: SO 00293 37291
Bwlch Height: 335.0m (converted to OSGM15, previously
Trimbled)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SO 00287 36949
Drop: 54.4m (prioritised drop for listing purposes)
Dominance: 13.98%
Gaer Fach (significant name change)
Summit Height: 413.3m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)
Summit Grid Reference: SO 00915 36622
Bwlch Height: 377.4m (LIDAR)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SO 01225 36448 (LIDAR)
Drop: 35.9m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Dominance: 8.68% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Corun Fanolau (significant name change)
Summit Height: 423.2m (converted to OSGM15, previously
Trimbled)
Summit Grid Reference: SO 01525 36160
Bwlch Height: 326.7m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SN 99991 39512
Drop: 96.5m
Dominance: 22.81%
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