Tuesday 25 June 2019

Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant


Y Trichant – Significant Name Changes

Y Trichant are the Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 40om in height that have a minimum drop of 30m, with these hills forming the 300m height band within the listing of the Twmpau (thirty welsh metre prominences and upward).  Accompanying the main P30 list is a sub list entitled the 300m Sub-Trichant with the qualification to this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop, with the Introduction to the re-naming of this list and its publication history appearing on Mapping Mountains on 13.05.17.

The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and the posts that have appeared on Mapping Mountains detailing the significant name changes to the main P30 list and the sub list appear below presented chronologically in receding order.








Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Ffridd Cerrig Cae Newydd (SH 829 633) - 70th significant name change

Hill Reclassifications post for Ffridd Cerrig Cae Newydd


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from detail on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills which are situated in the north-eastern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the A548 road to its north-west and the B5113 road to its east, and has the town of Llanrwst towards the west south-west.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The hill appeared in the original 300m Welsh P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the partly invented and transposed name of Pen Henffrith, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the West.


Pen Henffrith302mSH82963411617Name from buildings to the West. 303m on 1:50000 map


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found. 

As this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 102 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Ffridd Cerrig Cae Newydd in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llanrwst and in the county named as Denbigh.

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Ffridd Cerrig Cae Newydd, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog

Name:  Ffridd Cerrig Cae Newydd

Previously Listed Name:  Pen Henffrith

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  302m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 82967 63328 (hand-held GPS via DoBIH)

Bwlch Height:  272m (spot height)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 83181 63238 (spot height)

Drop:  30m (spot height summit and bwlch)


Myrddyn Phillips (May 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Ffridd Fawr (SH 914 642) - 69th significant name change

Hill Reclassifications post for Ffridd Fawr


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from detail on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills which are situated in the north-eastern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the B5384 road to its north-west, the A543 road to its south and the A544 road to its east, and has the village of Llansannan towards the north-east.

The hill appeared in the original 300m Welsh P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the partly invented and transposed name of Pen Llyn Beidiog, with an accompanying note stating; Name from lake to the West.


Pen Llyn Beidiog317mSH915642116264Name from lake to the West.


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance use the name of a near lake and prefix it with the word Pen.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

As this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 1378 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Ffridd Fawr in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llansannan and in the county named as Denbigh.

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Ffridd Fawr, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog

Name:  Ffridd Fawr

Previously Listed Name:  Pen Llyn Beidiog

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  318m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 91406 64254 (hand-held GPS via DoBIH)

Bwlch Height:  c 288m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 91154 63416 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 30m (spot height summit and interpolated bwlch)


Myrddyn Phillips (May 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Ffridd Fawr (SH 911 637) - 68th significant name change

Hill Reclassifications post for Ffridd Fawr


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from detail on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills which are situated in the north-eastern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the B5384 road to its north-west and the A544 road to its east, and has the village of Llansannan towards the north-east.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The hill was not included in the Hills to be surveyed sub list that accompanied the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used in this sub category.  It was later listed by the point (Pt. 309m) notation when the P30 lists were re-assessed.

As this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 70 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Ffridd Fawr in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llanfair Talhaearn and in the county named as Denbigh.

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Ffridd Fawr, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog

Name:  Ffridd Fawr

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. 309m

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  309m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 91105 63732 (spot height)

Bwlch Height:  289m (spot height)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 91260 63693 (spot height)

Drop:  20m (spot height summit and bwlch)


Myrddyn Phillips (May 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Coed Gwent (ST 411 943) - 67th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales, with the summit height, bwlch height, their locations, the drop, dominance and status of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

LIDAR summit image of Coed Gwent (ST 411 943)

The criteria for the two listings that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales - Welsh P30 hills whose prominence  equal or exceed half that of their absolute height.  With the criteria for Lesser Dominant status being those additional Welsh P30 hills whose prominence is between one third and half that of their absolute height, with the Introduction to the Mapping Mountains publication of this list appearing on the 3rd December 2015, and which is now available in its entirety on Mapping Mountains in Google Doc format.

The hill is adjoined to the Gwent Is Coed group of hills which are situated in the south-eastern part of South Wales (Region C, Sub-Region C3), and it is positioned with the A449 road to its west, the A48 road to its south and the B4235 road to its north-east, and has the city of Casnewydd (Newport) towards the south-west.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The hill appeared in the original 300m Welsh P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Wentwood, which is a name that appeared near the summit of this hill on Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer maps of the day.


Wentwood309mST411943171/17214/152Marilyn. Clem/Yeaman. Trig pillar.


The intricacies of language and prioritising one in favour of another for listing a hill is fraught with complication, with originating Cymraeg names being anglicised and also originating English names being cymricised, examples such as these are more common in border country and especially so for anglicised forms.  There is no steadfast rule that fits all, but as a standard a name that has its origins in the Welsh language should be prioritised in favour of a contemporary anglicised or English version of the name, and ideally for this to be substantiated by either historic documentation and / or contemporary usage.  Likewise, if a name exists where an element of it is in English and if this name applies to a hill that is situated in a Welsh speaking part of Wales it is standard practice to use a full Welsh term for the name.  It is also standard practice to use a Welsh name for a hill if another name exists that has originated in a different language.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales is Coed Gwent, as the Welsh name for this hill is prioritised over its English counterpart, which for listing purposes is standard practice.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Gwent Is Coed

Name:  Coed Gwent

Previously Listed Name:  Wentwood

OS 1:50,000 map:  171, 172

Summit Height:  309.1m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  ST 41125 94309 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  64.3m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 44099 08545 (LIDAR)

Drop:  244.8m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  79.21% (LIDAR)


Myrddyn Phillips (May 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Ysgeibion (SJ 060 589) - 66th significant name change

Hill Reclassifications post for Ysgeibion


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from detail on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills which are situated in the north-eastern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is encircled by minor roads with the B4501 road further to its north-west, the B5105 road further to its south-east and the A525 road further to its north-east, and has the town of Rhuthun (Ruthin) towards the east.

The hill was not included in the Hills to be surveyed sub list that accompanied the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used in this sub category.  It was later listed by the point (Pt. 338m) notation when the P30 lists were re-assessed.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

As this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 134 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Ysgeibion in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch and in the county named as Denbighshire.

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Ysgeibion, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog

Name:  Ysgeibion

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. 338m

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  338m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 06079 58984 (spot height)

Bwlch Height:  c 317m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 05734 59177 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 21m (spot height summit and interpolated bwlch)


Myrddyn Phillips (April 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Meifod (SJ 043 595) - 65th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from detail on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills which are situated in the north-eastern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is encircled by minor roads with the A543 road further to its north-west, the B5105 road further to its south and the A525 road further to its north-east, and has the town of Dinbych (Denbigh) towards the north.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the directional name of Foel Uchaf North-west Top, with an accompanying note stating; Name from hill to the South-East.


Foel Uchaf North-West Top330cSJ044596116264Name from hill to the South-East


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance use a directional name based on supplanting the name adjoined to the hill to the south-east and adding a directional component to it.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

As this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 120 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as a part of Meifod in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch and in the county named as Denbighshire.

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Meifod, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog

Name:  Meifod

Previously Listed Name:  Foel Uchaf North-west Top

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  c 330m (interpolation)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 04329 59560 (interpolation)

Bwlch Height:  c 305m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 04576 59489 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 25m (interpolation)


Myrddyn Phillips (April 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Ffridd Fawr (SJ 066 512) - 64th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

LIDAR image of Ffridd Fawr (SJ 066 512)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills which are situated in the north-eastern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is encircled by minor roads with the B5105 road further to its north-west, the A5 road further to its south-west and the A494 road further to its south-east, and has the town of Corwen towards the south.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the partly invented and transposed name of Pen Gwerni, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the East.


Pen Gwerni313mSJ066513116264Name from buildings to the East


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

As this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 555 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Ffridd Fawr in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Derwen yn Yal and in the county named as Denbigh.

Extract from the apportionment

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Ffridd Fawr, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog

Name:  Ffridd Fawr

Previously Listed Name:  Pen Gwerni

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  312.8m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 06634 51216 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  287.1m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 06364 50929 (LIDAR)

Drop:  25.6m (LIDAR)


Myrddyn Phillips (April 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Hafod y Foel (SJ 030 478) - 63rd significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from detail on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

LIDAR image of Hafod y Foel (SJ 030 478)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills which are situated in the north-eastern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is encircled by minor roads with the B5105 road further to its north-west, the A5 road further to its south and the A494 road further to its east, and has the town of Corwen towards the south-east.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the partly invented and transposed name of Pen Hafoty Foel, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the South-East.


Pen Hafoty Foel346mSJ030478116264Name from buildings to the South-East


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

As this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 36 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Hafod y Foel in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Bettws Gwerfil Goch [sic] and in the counties named as Denbigh and Merioneth.

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Hafod y Foel, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog

Name:  Hafod y Foel

Previously Listed Name:  Pen Hafoty Foel

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  346m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 03029 47804 (hand-held GPS via DoBIH)

Bwlch Height:  c 293m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 02852 48090 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 53m (spot height summit and interpolated bwlch)


Myrddyn Phillips (March 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Wenlli (SH 845 655) - 62nd significant name change

Summit Relocations post for Wenlli

Hill Reclassifications post for Wenlli


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from detail on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

LIDAR image of Wenlli (SH 845 655)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Rhos group of hills which are situated in the northern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the B5113 road to its west and the A548 road to its south and east, and has the town of Llanrwst towards the south-west.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the partly invented and transposed name of Pen Wenlli, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the North-West.


Pen Wenlli308mSH84665411617Name from buildings to the North-West.


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance, use the name of what I presumed to be buildings and prefix it with the word Pen.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

As this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 814 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Wenlli in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llangerniew [sic] and in the county named as Denbigh.

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Wenlli, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Rhos

Name:  Wenlli

Previously Listed Name:  Pen Wenlli

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  308m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 84520 65553 (hand-held GPS via DoBIH)

Bwlch Height:  c 277m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 83917 65689 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 31m (spot height summit and interpolated bwlch)


Myrddyn Phillips (March 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Ffridd Ganol (SH 846 754) - 61st significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from detail on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Rhos group of hills which are situated in the northern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the B5113 road to its north-west, the B5381 road to its south and the B5383 road to its north-east, and has the town of Bae Colwyn (Colwyn Bay) towards the north.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the partly invented and transposed name of Bryn Glan Gors, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the South.


Bryn Glan Gors300mSH84675411617Name from buildings to the South


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance, use the name of what I presumed to be buildings and prefix it with the word Bryn.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.  As this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 826 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Ffridd Ganol in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llandrillo in Rhos [sic] and in the counties named as Denbigh and Caernarfon.

Extract from the apportionment

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Ffridd Ganol, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Rhos

Name:  Ffridd Ganol

Previously Listed Name:  Bryn Glan Gors

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  300m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 84600 75431 (spot height)

Bwlch Height:  c 276m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 84752 75197 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 24m (spot height summit and interpolated bwlch)


Myrddyn Phillips (February 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Ffridd y Graig (SH 863 704) - 60th significant name change

Hill Reclassifications post for Ffridd y Graig


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from detail on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Rhos group of hills which are situated in the northern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is encircled by minor roads with the B5113 farther to the west and the A548 farther to the south-east, and has the village of Llangernyw towards the south south-east.

The hill was not included in the Hills to be surveyed sub list that accompanied the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used in this sub category.  It was later listed by the point (Pt. c 303m) notation when the P30 lists were re-assessed.  As this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 932 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Ffridd y Graig in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Bettws yn Rhos [sic] and in the county named as Denbigh.

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Ffridd y Graig, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Rhos

Name:  Ffridd y Graig

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. c 303m

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  c 304m (interpolation)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 86341 70410 (interpolation)

Bwlch Height:  c 284m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 86461 70442 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 20m (interpolation)


Myrddyn Phillips (February 2020)






Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Mynydd Sygyn (SH 596 475) - 59th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

LIDAR summit image of Mynydd Sygyn (SH 596 475)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Moelwynion group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with the A498 road to its north-west, and has the village of Beddgelert towards the north-west.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the name of Craig y Llan, which is a prominent name that appears on contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer maps and is associated with a cliff to the west of the summit of this hill.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate.

Since publication of these P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of Ordnance Survey maps made available online, some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map, and it is the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map that uses the name of Mynydd Sygyn, with the series of Six-Inch maps confirming this name’s placement.

Extract from the Ordnance Surveys series of Six-Inch maps

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Mynydd Sygyn, and this was derived from contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer maps, with its position in relation to this hill confirmed via the Ordnance Surveys series of Six-Inch maps.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Moelwynion

Name:  Mynydd Sygyn

Previously Listed Name:  Craig y Llan

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height:  309.8m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 59665 47553 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  249.1m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 60247 48143 (LIDAR)

Drop:  60.7m (LIDAR)


Myrddyn Phillips (January 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Bryn Du (SH 866 014) - 58th significant name change

Survey post for Bryn Du


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that was surveyed for inclusion in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill ascertained from a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

Bryn Du (SH 866 014)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Pumlumon group of hills, which are situated in the north ern part of Mid and West Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B2), and it is positioned with the Afon Twymyn and the A470 road to its north and the B4518 road to its east, and has the village of Llanbrynmair towards the north-east. 

The hill was not included in the Hills to be surveyed sub list that accompanied the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used in this sub category.  It was later listed by the point (Pt. 370m) notation when The Welsh P15s were compiled.  Prompted by the Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey and as this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 1410 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Bryn Du in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Darowen and in the county named as Montgomery.

Extract from the apportionments

Although the hill does not meet the criteria for a Sub-Trichant, it was surveyed for this status and as its listed name does not appear on an Ordnance Survey map it is worth documenting with a Significant Name Changes post under the list that it was surveyed for.  Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by is Bryn Du, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Pumlumon

Name:  Bryn Du

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. 370m

OS 1:50,000 map:  135, 136

Summit Height:  368.4m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 86623 01433

Bwlch Height:  352.1m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 86831 01543

Drop:  16.3m 


Myrddyn Phillips (January 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Grib Ddu (SH 605 483) - 57th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

LIDAR image of Grib Ddu (SH 605 483)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Moelwynion group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with the A498 road to its north and south-west, and has the village of Beddgelert towards the east.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the name of Mynydd Sygyn, which is a prominent name positioned near the summit of this hill on contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer maps.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate.

Since publication of these P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of Ordnance Survey maps made available online, some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map, and it is the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map that places the name Grib Ddu close to the summit of this hill and the series of Six-Inch maps that confirm this placement.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey series of Six-Inch maps

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Grib Ddu, and this was derived from contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer maps, with its position in relation to this hill confirmed via the Ordnance Surveys series of Six-Inch maps.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Moelwynion

Name:  Grib Ddu

Previously Listed Name:  Mynydd Sygyn

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height:  319.7m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 60554 48348 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  281.3m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 60677 48131 (LIDAR)

Drop:  38.4m (LIDAR)


Myrddyn Phillips (January 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Cefn Sarnau (SO 014 341) - 56th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Pedwarau – The 400m Hills of Wales and Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis initially conducted by Aled Williams and subsequently by Myrddyn Phillips.

LIDAR image of Cefn Sarnau (SO 014 341)

The criteria for the two listings that this name change applies to are:

Y Pedwarau – The 400m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 400m and below 500m in height that have 30m minimum drop, accompanying the main Y Pedwarau list are five categories of sub hills, with this hill being listed in the 390m Sub-Pedwar category.  The criteria for 390m Sub-Pedwar status being all Welsh hills at or above 390m and below 400m in height that have 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is co-authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams and is published on Mapping Mountains in Google Doc format.

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Epynt group of hills, which are situated in the south-eastern part of Mid and West Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B2), and it is positioned with the Afon Honddu and the B4520 road to its east, and has the small community of Capel Isaf (Lower Chapel) towards the north-east.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the name of Battle Hill, which is a prominent name positioned near the summit of this hill on contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer maps.  This is also the name the hill was listed by in the 1st edition of the Y Pedwarau published by Europeaklist in May 2013.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

Since publication of the 1st edition of Y Pedwarau there have been a number of Ordnance Survey maps made available online, some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey series of Six-Inch maps

These and other maps enable research in to the use of names recorded by Ordnance Survey, and as the Ordnance Surveys series of Six-Inch maps and the historic 1:25,000 map only records the name of Cefn Sarnau it is evident that the name of Battle Hill is a relatively recent addition, with the land where the summit of this hill is situated also being confirmed as a part of Cefn Sarnau.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey historic 1:25,000 map

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Pedwarau – The 400m Hills of Wales and Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Cefn Sarnau, and this was derived from contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer maps, with the use of the name Battle Hill confirmed a relatively recent addition through the Ordnance Surveys series of Six-Inch maps and the historic 1:25,000 map and the position of the summit in relation to the name now used confirmed via the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Epynt

Name:  Cefn Sarnau

Previously Listed Name:  Battle Hill

OS 1:50,000 map:  160

Summit Height:  397.6m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 01415 34161 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  355.65m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 01482 34779 (LIDAR)

Drop:  42.0m (LIDAR)


Myrddyn Phillips (January 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Murgwyn (SH 351 442) - 55th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from spot heights on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Pen LlÅ·n group of hills, which are situated in the western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with the coast to its north-west and the B4417 to its south-east, and has the village of Llithfaen towards the south.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Gallt y Bwlch, which is a prominent name that appeared close to the summit of this hill on contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer maps of the day.


Gallt y Bwlch300mSH351442123253/254302m on 1984 1:50000 map


During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map

As the summit of this hill comprises bounded land the details for it were examined on the Tithe map.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 814 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Murgibn Ucha in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Pistyll in the county named as Carnarvonshire [sic].

Extract from the apportionments

When researching the data in this and other lists I made extensive place-name enquiries with a number of local farmers, gamekeepers, landowners and academics and it was during this process that I contacted Paul Worsley who lives at the farm of Bwlch (SH 347 434).  At the time of our conversation Paul was aged 66 and had grazed sheep on this hill all of his adult life, with his family having lived at this farm for over 100 years.  Paul told me that the hill is known as Murgwyn and this name was passed down to him by his uncle. 

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Murgwyn, and this was derived from local enquiry, and in all likelihood the meaning of the Tithe name of Murbign is similar, if not the same to that of Murgwyn, and as the latter has come from a contemporary local source it is this name that is being used for that of the hill.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Pen LlÅ·n

Name:  Murgwyn

Previously Listed Name:  Gallt y Bwlch

OS 1:50,000 map:  123

Summit Height:  302m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 35128 44215 (spot height)

Bwlch Height:  274m (spot height)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 35270 44043 (spot height)

Drop:  28m (spot heights)


Myrddyn Phillips (January 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Graig (SO 299 237) - 54th significant name change

Hill Reclassifications post for Graig


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

LIDAR summit image of Graig (SO 299 237)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynyddoedd Duon group of hills which are situated in the eastern part of South Wales (Region C, Sub-Region C3), and it is positioned with minor roads to its west, south and east, with the A465 road further to its south-east, and has the small community of Cwmyoy towards the south.

The hill originally appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the partly invented and transposed name of Moel y Darren, with an accompanying note stating; Name from escarpment edge to the North-West.


Moel y Darren340cSO30023716113Name from escarpment edge to the North-West


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance, use the name of an escarpment and put the word Moel in front of it.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

Since publication of these P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of Ordnance Survey maps made available online, some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map, and it is the series of Ordnance Survey Six-Inch maps that name this hill as Graig.

Extract from the series of Ordnance Survey Six-Inch maps

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Graig, and this was derived from the series of Ordnance Survey Six-Inch maps.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynyddoedd Duon

Name:  Graig

Previously Listed Name:  Moel y Darren

OS 1:50,000 map:  161

Summit Height:  348.4m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 29983 23705 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  318.0m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 30011 23797 (LIDAR)

Drop:  30.4m (LIDAR)


Myrddyn Phillips (January 2020)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Pen y Drum (SH 770 608) - 53rd significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales, with the summit height derived from a spot height and the bwlch height, its location and the drop of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

LIDAR bwlch image for Pen y Drum

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Carneddau group hills which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with the A5 road and the Afon Llugwy to its south and the A470 road and the Afon Conwy to its east, and has the town of Llanrwst towards the east and the village of Betws-y-coed towards the south south-east.

The hill originally appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the partly invented and transposed name of Pen Llyn Glangors, with an accompanying note stating; Name from lake to the South.


Pen Llyn Glangors319mSH77160811517Name from lake to the South


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance, use the name of a lake and put the word Pen in front of it.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

Since publication of these P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of Ordnance Survey maps made available online, some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map, and it is the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local and the series of Six-Inch maps that name this hill as Pen y Drum.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey non-contoured Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map

Extract from the series of Ordnance Survey Six-Inch maps

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Pen y Drum, and this was derived from the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map, and the series of Ordnance Survey Six-Inch maps.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Carneddau

Name:  Pen y Drum

Previously Listed Name:  Pen Llyn Glangors

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height:  319m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 77077 60863 (hand-held GPS via DoBIH)

Bwlch Height:  276.9m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 77362 60573 (LIDAR)

Drop:  42m (spot height summit and LIDAR bwlch)


Myrddyn Phillips (December 2019)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Foel Las (SH 894 687) - 52nd significant name change

Survey post for Foel Las


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop, dominance and status of the hill confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey conducted by Myrddyn Phillips on the 5th April 2016, and latterly substantiated by LIDAR analysis.

Foel Las (SH 894 687)

The criteria for the two listings that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales - Welsh P30 hills whose prominence  equal or exceed half that of their absolute height.  With the criteria for Lesser Dominant status being those additional Welsh P30 hills whose prominence is between one third and half that of their absolute height, with the Introduction to the Mapping Mountains publication of this list appearing on the 3rd December 2015, and which is now available in its entirety on Mapping Mountains in Google Doc format.

LIDAR image of the two Foel Las summits at SH 886 686 and SH 894 687

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills, which are situated in the central northern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the A548 road and the Afon Elwy to its north and west, the B5382 road to its south and a minor road to its east, and has the small community of Llangernyw to the south-west and Llanfair Talhaiarn towards the east north-east.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Tre-pys-llygod, which is a prominent name that appears close to the summit of this hill on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.


Tre-pys-llygod320cSH89568811617Clem/Yeaman


During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate.

As a variety of Ordnance Survey maps place the name Tre Pys Llygod applicable to the land mass taking in this and its adjacent lower westerly hill, I wanted to follow the history of this hill’s recorded name to see if another was more appropriate.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map

As the summit of this hill comprises bounded land the details for it were examined on the Tithe map.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 633 on the 1842 Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Ffridd foelas in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llanfair Talhaiarn in the county named as Denbigh.

Extract from the apportionments

Since publication of these P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of Ordnance Survey maps made available online, some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map.  One of the historic maps now available is the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map which formed the basis for the first publicly available Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map, and it is the Draft Surveyors map that I next examined.

The Draft Surveyors maps consist of the preliminary drawings made by the Ordnance Surveyor’s surveyors between the 1780s and 1840 and formed the basis for the first publicly available One-Inch map.  They were drawn at scales of six inches to the mile for areas considered of particular military significance and down to two inches to the mile for other areas.  Fair copies were then produced from these preliminary drawings to one inch to the mile and then copper plates were prepared for printing.  The Draft Surveyors maps for the whole of Wales are now available online and they form an important part in the study of Welsh upland place-names as they bridge the time frame between the late 18th century and the mid-19th century when the Ordnance Survey produced their first One-Inch maps, and importantly for this hill and its listed name, this map records the name for this and its lower westerly hill as Y Foelas.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map

The next map to examine was the One-Inch ‘Old Series,’ this was the first map that Ordnance Survey published, and they were based on the proceeding Draft Surveyors map.  Their publication culminated from the whole of Britain being surveyed between 1791 and 1874 and the detail gathered therein produced at a scale of one inch to the mile and published in sheet format between 1805 and 1874.  The One-Inch ‘Old Series’ maps for the whole of Wales are now available online; they are also available in map format as enlarged and re-projected versions to match the scale and dimensions of the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger series and are published by Cassini.  This series of maps forms another important part in the study of Welsh upland place-names and bridge the time frame leading to the production of the Ordnance Survey base map of the Six-Inch series.  It is this map that first places the name of Tre-pys-llygod against these hills, with the name of Y Foel las also placed adjacent to the lower westerly hill.    

Extract from the Ordnance Survey One-Inch 'Old Series' map

Finally the series of Ordnance Survey Six-Inch maps were examined and the name of Tre-pŷs-llygod is recorded in large letters, with the name of Foel-lâs being recorded adjacent to the westerly of the two hills next to what looks like a small-holding.

Extract from the series of Ordnance Survey Six-Inch maps

The detail on the Six-Inch map and the use of the term Ffridd on the Tithe map implies that the small-holding existed and it was named Foel Las and the enclosed land taking in the summits of these two hills was a part of their ffridd and this was known as Ffridd Foel Las, with the name of Tre Pys Llygod being a later addition.  

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the summit of Foel Las (SH 894 687)

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Foel Las, and this was derived from a number of sources including the Tithe map, Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map, Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map and the Ordnance Survey series of Six-Inch maps.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog

Name:  Foel Las

Previously Listed Name:  Tre-pys-llygod

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  319.8m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 89473 68747

Bwlch Height:  202.6m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 89078 67030 (LIDAR)

Drop:  117.2m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  36.64% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)



My thanks to Aled Williams for advice relating to this hill’s name

Myrddyn Phillips (December 2019)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Yr Allt (SO 196 358) - 51st significant name change

Hill Reclassifications post for Yr Allt

Summit Relocations post for Yr Allt


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

LIDAR image of Yr Allt (SO 196 358)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynyddoedd Duon group of hills which are situated in the eastern part of South Wales (Region C, Sub-Region C3), and it is positioned with minor roads to its west, north and east, with the A4078 road further to its west and the A438 road further to its north-west, and has the village of Aberllynfi (Three Cocks) towards the north-west.

The hill originally appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Hay Forest The Allt, which are two names that appear near the summit of this hill on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map of the day.


Hay Forest The Allt330cSO19735916113


During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate.

For confirmation of this hill’s name I made local enquires and was put in contact with David Lewis who is aged 72 and has lived the whole of his life in this area; partly in Talgarth and for the last 25 years in Aberllynfi (Three Cocks).  David told me that the forested section of the hill is known as Hay Forest and the hill is known as The Alt (David’s pronunciation).

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The intricacies of language and prioritising one in favour of another for listing a hill is fraught with complication, with originating Cymraeg names being anglicised and also originating English names being cymricised, examples such as these are more common in border country and especially so for anglicised forms.  There is no steadfast rule that fits all, but as a standard a name that has its origins in the Welsh language should be prioritised in favour of a contemporary anglicised or English version of the name, and ideally for this to be substantiated by either historic documentation and / or contemporary usage.  Likewise, if a name exists where an element of it is in English and if this name applies to a hill that is situated in a Welsh speaking part of Wales it is standard practice to use a full Welsh term for the name.  It is also standard practice to use a Welsh name for a hill if another name exists that has originated in a different language.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Yr Allt, and this was derived from the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map, and substantiated locally, with the Welsh originating name for this hill prioritised over the partly English version, which for listing purposes is standard practice.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynyddoedd Duon

Name:  Yr Allt

Previously Listed Name:  Hay Forest The Allt

OS 1:50,000 map:  161

Summit Height:  334.0m (LIDAR, natural summit)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 19677 35879 (LIDAR, natural summit)

Bwlch Height:  301.7m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 20120 35549 (LIDAR)

Drop:  32.3m (LIDAR)


Myrddyn Phillips (December 2019)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Carreg Wen (SH 762 583) - 50th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the summit height and its location derived from a spot height and the bwlch height, its location and the drop of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

LIDAR bwlch image for Carreg Wen

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Carneddau group hills which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with the A5 road and the Afon Llugwy to its south, and has the village of Capel Curig towards the east and the village of Betws-y-coed towards the east south-east.

The hill originally appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the partly invented and transposed name of Pen Llyn Bodgynydd, with an accompanying note stating; Name from lake to the North.


Pen Llyn Bodgynydd327mSH76258311517Name from lake to the North


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance, use the name of a lake and put the word Pen in front of it.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

Since publication of these P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of Ordnance Survey maps made available online, some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map.  One of the historic maps now available is the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map which formed the basis for the first publicly available Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map, and it is the Draft Surveyors map that formed the basis for the change in this hill’s listed name.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map

The Draft Surveyors maps consist of the preliminary drawings made by the Ordnance Surveyor’s surveyors between the 1780s and 1840 and formed the basis for the first publicly available One-Inch map.  They were drawn at scales of six inches to the mile for areas considered of particular military significance and down to two inches to the mile for other areas.  Fair copies were then produced from these preliminary drawings to one inch to the mile and then copper plates were prepared for printing.  The Draft Surveyors maps for the whole of Wales are now available online and they form an important part in the study of Welsh upland place-names as they bridge the time frame between the late 18th century and the mid-19th century when the Ordnance Survey produced their first One-Inch maps, and importantly for this hill and its listed name, it is this map that shows the name of Carreg Wen as applicable to this hill.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Carreg Wen, and this was derived from the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Carneddau

Name:  Carreg Wen

Previously Listed Name:  Pen Llyn Bodgynydd

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height:  327m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 76257 58352 (spot height)

Bwlch Height:  254.4m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 75783 58836 (LIDAR)

Drop:  73m (spot height summit and LIDAR bwlch)


Myrddyn Phillips (December 2019)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Glynllugwy (SH 754 592) - 49th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill determined from detail on the OS Maps website.

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Carneddau group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned between Llyn Bychan to its west, Llyn Goddionduon to its south and Llyn Bodgynydd to its east, with the A5 road to its south and the B5106 road, the Afon Conwy and the A470 road to its east, and has the village of Capel Curig towards the west south-west and the village of Betws-y-coed towards the south-east. 

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the partly invented and transposed name of Pen Llyn Bychan, with an accompanying note stating; Name from lake to the West.



Pen Llyn Bychan
310c
115
17
Name from lake to the West



During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance, use the name of a lake and put the word Pen in front of it.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historical documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found, and as this hill comprises bounded land the Tithe map was consulted.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 45 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Glynllygwy [sic] in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llanrwst and in the county named as Carnarvonshire [sic].

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Glynllugwy, and this was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Carneddau

Name:  Glynllugwy

Previously Listed Name:  Pen Llyn Bychan

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height:  c 309m (interpolation)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 75489 59245 (interpolation)

Bwlch Height:  c 271m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 75308 59501 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 38m


Myrddyn Phillips (December 2019)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Carreg y Frân (SO 184 790) - 48th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Pedwarau – The 400m Hills of Wales and the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Waleswith the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Aled Williams.

LIDAR image of Carreg y Frân (SO 184 790)

The criteria for the two listings that this name change applies to are:

Y Pedwarau – The 400m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 400m and below 500m in height that have 30m minimum drop, accompanying the main Y Pedwarau list are five categories of sub hills, with this hill being listed in the 390m Double Sub-Pedwar category.  The criteria for 390m Double Sub-Pedwar status being all Welsh hills at or above 390m and below 400m in height that have 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is co-authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams and is published on Mapping Mountains in Google Doc format.

Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales.  Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Maelienydd group of hills, which are situated in the north-eastern part of Mid and West Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with the B4355 and the River Teme to its north-east, and has the village of Beguildy towards the north-east.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of the Birches which is a name that appears beside the summit of this hill on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map.  This is also the name this hill was listed by in the 1st edition of the Y Pedwarau published by Europeaklist in May 2013.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The name Carreg y Frân was taken from local and historical sources.  The previously listed name of Birches, which the Ordnance Survey apply to the summit of the hill, strictly refers to enclosed land on the northern side of the ridge (see extract from Tithe map below); refer to 'Upland Place Names in North-East Radnorshire:  Beacon Hill' by A. Williams, Trans. Rad. Soc. (2016) for further details.

Extract from the Tithe map

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Pedwarau – The 400m Hills of Wales and the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales iCarreg y Frân, and this was derived from local and historical sources.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Maelienydd

Name:  Carreg y Frân

Previously Listed Name:  Birches

OS 1:50,000 map:  136, 148

Summit Height:  393.5m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 18443 79055 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  369.2m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 17773 79089 (LIDAR)

Drop:  24.3m (LIDAR)


My thanks to Aled Williams for details relating to this hill name

Myrddyn Phillips (November 2019)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Mynydd yr Hôb (SJ 294 568) - 47th significant name change

Survey post for Mynydd yr Hôb


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill confirmed by LIDAR analysis and a summit survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 conducted by Myrddyn Phillips, with the latter taking place on the 13th October 2015.

LIDAR image of Mynydd yr Hôb (SJ 294 568)

The criteria for the two listings that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales - Welsh P30 hills whose prominence  equal or exceed half that of their absolute height.  With the criteria for Lesser Dominant status being those additional Welsh P30 hills whose prominence is between one third and half that of their absolute height, with the Introduction to the Mapping Mountains publication of this list appearing on the 3rd December 2015.

The hill is adjoined to the Moel y Gamelin group of hills, which are situated in the north-eastern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it has the A541 road to its east and the A5104 road to its north-west and the B5101 road to its west, and has the small communities of Caergwrle and Yr Hôb (Hope) towards the north-east.

This hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Hope Mountain, which is the name appearing close to this hill’s summit on contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer maps of the day.


Hope Mountain
330m
117
256
Marilyn. Clem/Yeaman. Trig pillar. 


During my early hill listing I paid little regard to the use of language, name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate.   

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map

The intricacies of language and prioritising one in favour of another for listing a hill is fraught with complication, with originating Cymraeg names being anglicised and also originating English names being cymricised, examples such as these are more common in border country and especially so for anglicised forms.  There is no steadfast rule that fits all, but as a standard a name that has its origins in the Welsh language and where this is substantiated by either historic documentation and / or contemporary usage should be prioritised in favour of a contemporary anglicised or English version of the name.  Likewise, if a name exists where an element of it is in English and if this name applies to a hill that is situated in a Welsh speaking part of Wales it is standard practice to use a full Welsh term for the name.

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the summit of Mynydd yr Hôb

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales is Mynydd yr Hôb, and this was derived from online sources substantiating the present day use of its Welsh name, and this is prioritised over its English equivalent which for listing purposes is standard practice.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Moel y Gamelin

Name:  Mynydd yr Hô

Previously Listed Name:  Hope Mountain

OS 1:50,000 map:  117

Summit Height:  330.0m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 29476 56892

Bwlch Height:  142.7m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 26903 58849 (LIDAR)

Drop:  187.3m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  56.76% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)









Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Foel Las (SH 886 686) - 46th significant name change

Survey post for Foel Las


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey conducted by Myrddyn Phillips on the 5th April 2016, and latterly substantiated by LIDAR analysis.

LIDAR image of the two Foel Las summits at SH 886 686 and SH 894 687

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills, which are situated in the central northern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the A548 road and the Afon Elwy to its north and west, the B5382 road to its south and a minor road to its east, and has the small community of Llangernyw to the south-west and Llanfair Talhaiarn towards the east north-east.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the directional name of Tre-pys-llygod West Top, with an accompanying note stating; Name from hill to the East.


Tre-pys-llygod West Top
308m
116
17
Name from hill to the East


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance use a directional name based on supplanting the name adjoined to the hill to the east and adding a directional component to it.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.

As a variety of Ordnance Survey maps place the name Tre Pys Llygod applicable to the land mass taking in this and its adjacent higher easterly hill, I wanted to follow the history of this hill’s recorded name to see if another could be used to differentiate one hill from the other.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map

As the summit of this hill comprises bounded land the details for it were examined on the Tithe map.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 633 on the 1842 Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Ffridd foelas in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llanfair Talhaiarn in the county named as Denbigh.

Extract from the apportionments

Since publication of these P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of Ordnance Survey maps made available online, some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is named the Interactive Coverage Map.  One of the historic maps now available is the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map which formed the basis for the first publicly available Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map, and it is the Draft Surveyors map that I next examined.

The Draft Surveyors maps consist of the preliminary drawings made by the Ordnance Surveyor’s surveyors between the 1780s and 1840 and formed the basis for the first publicly available One-Inch map.  They were drawn at scales of six inches to the mile for areas considered of particular military significance and down to two inches to the mile for other areas.  Fair copies were then produced from these preliminary drawings to one inch to the mile and then copper plates were prepared for printing.  The Draft Surveyors maps for the whole of Wales are now available online and they form an important part in the study of Welsh upland place-names as they bridge the time frame between the late 18th century and the mid-19th century when the Ordnance Survey produced their first One-Inch maps, and importantly for this hill and its listed name, this map records the name for this and its higher easterly hill as Y Foelas.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map

The next map to examine was the One-Inch ‘Old Series,’ this was the first map that Ordnance Survey published, and they were based on the proceeding Draft Surveyors map.  Their publication culminated from the whole of Britain being surveyed between 1791 and 1874 and the detail gathered therein produced at a scale of one inch to the mile and published in sheet format between 1805 and 1874.  The One-Inch ‘Old Series’ maps for the whole of Wales are now available online; they are also available in map format as enlarged and re-projected versions to match the scale and dimensions of the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger series and are published by Cassini.  This series of maps forms another important part in the study of Welsh upland place-names and bridge the time frame leading to the production of the Ordnance Survey base map of the Six-Inch series.  It is this map that first places the name of Tre-pys-llygod against these hills, with the name of Y Foel las also placed adjacent to the lower westerly hill.     

Extract from the Ordnance Survey One-Inch 'Old Series' map

Finally the series of Ordnance Survey Six-Inch maps were examined and the name of Tre-pŷs-llygod is recorded in large letters, with the name of Foel-lâs being recorded adjacent to the westerly of the two hills next to what looks like a small-holding.

Extract from the series of Ordnance Survey Six-Inch maps

The detail on the Six-Inch map and the use of the term Ffridd on the Tithe map implies that the small-holding existed it was named Foel Las and the enclosed land taking in the summits of these two hills was a part of their ffridd and this was known as Ffridd Foel Las, with the name of Tre Pys Llygod being a later addition.   

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the summit of Foel Las

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Foel Las, and this was derived from a number of sources including the Tithe map, Ordnance Survey Draft Surveyors map, Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map and the Ordnance Survey series of Six-Inch maps.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog

Name:  Foel Las

Previously Listed Name:  Tre-pys-llygod West Top

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  307.1m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 88690 68624

Bwlch Height:  276.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 88939 68659

Drop:  30.9m



Myrddyn Phillips (November 2019)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Llanbradach Tip (ST 137 916) - 45th significant name change


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the summit height and its location confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips, and its bwlch height and location derived from the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map.

LIDAR image of Llanbradach Tip (ST 137 916)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Cymoedd Gwent group of hills, which are situated in the eastern part of South Wales (Region C, Sub-Region C2), and it is positioned with the B4263 road to its south-west and the A469 road and the Afon Rhymni (Rhymney River) to its east, and has the small community of Llanbradach towards its south-east.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the partly invented and transposed name of Mynydd Llanbradach, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the South-East.


Mynydd Llanbradach340cST139917171166Name from buildings to the South-East


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance transpose the name of a small community and add the word Mynydd to it.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map

Since publication of these P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website research in to appropriate names of hills has been made easier by the availability of the Internet, and a search online names the deposited mine spoil from which this hill and adjacent smaller hills are made of as a part of the Llanbradach Tip, and this is the name this hill is now listed by.

LIDAR summit image of Llanbradach Tip

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Llanbradach Tip, and this was derived from online sources.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Cymoedd Gwent

Name:  Llanbradach Tip

Previously Listed Name:  Mynydd Llanbradach

OS 1:50,000 map:  171

Summit Height:  341.7m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  ST 13737 91651 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  309m (SH)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  ST 13653 91477 (SH)

Drop:  33m (LIDAR summit and bwlch spot height)


Myrddyn Phillips (July 2019)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant


Panelau (SH 613 501) - 44th significant name change

Survey post for Panelau


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the bwlch height and its location confirmed by LIDAR analysis and subsequently the summit, its location and drop of the hill confirmed by a survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 which were conducted by Myrddyn Phillips, with latter taking place on the 18th October 2018.

Panelau (SH 613 501)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and the renaming of it appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Yr Wyddfa group hills which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with the A498 road and Llyn Dinas to its south-east, and has the small community of Beddgelert towards its south-west.

The hill originally appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Gallt y Llyn, which is a name that appears on this hill’s lower easterly slopes on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps, with an accompanying note stating; aka Panelau.


Gallt y Llyn
338m
115
17
aka Panelau


During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

Since publication of these P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of Ordnance Survey maps made available online, some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map.  One of the historic maps now available is the Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map, which was the first map made publicly available by the Ordnance Survey and it is this map that has the name Panelau positioned close to this hill’s summit. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey One-Inch 'Old Series' map

The One-Inch ‘Old Series’ was the first map that Ordnance Survey published, and they were based on the proceeding Draft Surveyors map.  Their publication culminated from the whole of Britain being surveyed between 1791 and 1874 and the detail gathered therein produced at a scale of one inch to the mile and published in sheet format between 1805 and 1874.  The One-Inch ‘Old Series’ maps for the whole of Wales are now available online; they are also available in map format as enlarged and re-projected versions to match the scale and dimensions of the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger series and are published by Cassini.  This series of maps forms another important part in the study of Welsh upland place-names and bridge the time frame leading to the production of the Ordnance Survey base map of the Six-Inch series.    

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Panelau, and this name was derived from the Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Yr Wyddfa

Name:  Panelau

Previously Listed Name:  Gallt y Llyn

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height:  337.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 61301 50197

Bwlch Height:  287.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 61341 50439

Drop:  50.4m


My thanks to Aled Williams for advice relating to this hill name


Myrddyn Phillips (April 2019)







Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Mynydd Penlle’rcastell (SN 664 095) - 43rd significant name change

Survey post for Mynydd Penlle’rcastell


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales, with the summit height, its location and drop of the hill initially confirmed by LIDAR analysis and subsequently by a summit survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 which were conducted by Myrddyn Phillips, with latter taking place on the 1st August 2018.

Mynydd Penlle'rcastell (SN 664 095)

The criteria for the two listings that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and its renaming appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales - Welsh P30 hills whose prominence  equal or exceed half that of their absolute height.  With the criteria for Lesser Dominant status being those addition Welsh P30 hills whose prominence is 33.33% or more and below 50% of their absolute height, with the Introduction to the Mapping Mountains publication of this list appearing on the 3rd December 2015.

LIDAR image of Mynydd Penlle'rcastell

The hill is the highest in its own group, therefore it is adjoined to the Mynydd Penlle’rcastell range of hills which are situated in the western part of South Wales (Region C, Sub-Region C1), and it is positioned with the Afon Llwchwr (River Loughor) to its west and the A 474 to its north and east, and has the town of Rhydaman (Ammanford) to its north-west.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh P30 lists under the 300m height band on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the name of Mynydd y Betws, which is a name consistently applied to the northern part of this hill on Ordnance Survey maps.


Mynydd y Betws371mSN665094159165/178Marilyn. Clem/Yeaman. 374m on 1987 1:50000 map. Trig pillar at 339m to the North-West.

During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map

There are three names that are consistently applied to the upper part of this hill on Ordnance Survey maps, these are:


Mynydd y Betws, which appears on the northern part of the hill.

Penlle’rcastell, which appears close to its summit.

Mynydd y Gwair, which appears on the southern part of the hill.


Having these three names consistently appearing on Ordnance Survey maps for the upper part of this hill indicates that there is a boundary between where these names are applicable to.  Therefore, the Tithe map was consulted.

The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.  However, in this instance the upper part of this hill is open and it is named Mynydd Penlle’rcastell on the Tithe map.

Extract from the Tithe map

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales is Mynydd Penlle’rcastell, and this name was derived from the Tithe map.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Penlle’rcastell

Name:  Mynydd Penlle’rcastell

Previously Listed Name:  Mynydd y Betws

OS 1:50,000 map:  159

Summit Height:  373.3m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 66498 09531

Bwlch Height:  166.4m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 69945 09589 (LIDAR)

Drop:  206.9m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  55.42% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)



Myrddyn Phillips (January 2019)






Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Cwm Faerdy Bank (SO 078 695) - 42nd significant name change

Survey post for Cwm Faerdy Bank

Hill Reclassifications post for Cwm Faerdy Bank


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the summit height, drop and status of the hill being confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey conducted by Myrddyn Phillips which took place on the 10th July 2018.

Cwm Faerdy Bank (SO 078 695)

The criteria for the listing that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and its renaming appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Pegwn Mawr range of hills which are situated in the north-eastern part of Mid and West Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with the Clywedog Brook to its west and the Afon Ieithon (River Ithon) to its east, and has the small community of Abaty Cwm-hir (Abbeycwmhir) towards the north-west. 

The hill appeared in the original Welsh P30 lists under the 300m P30 height band on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the invented name of Mynydd Cwmfaerdy, with an accompanying note stating; Name from wood to the West. 


Mynydd Cwmfaerdy
302m
136/147
200
Name from wood to the West


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance, use the name of a wood that takes its name from that of a near farm and precede it with the word Mynydd.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

Before visiting this hill I was fortunate to speak with the local farmer from Troed-rhiw-felen (SO 083 708) who invited me in to his conservatory where I sat with a drink as a fan gave respite from the increasingly warm conditions outside.  The farmer has asked me not to mention his name or use photographs that he kindly let me take.  He proved very knowledgeable and we talked for upwards of 30 minutes before he directed me to the track for the continuation of my walk.  During our conversation he gave me a number of names relating to local hills and explained that this hill is known as Cwm Faerdy Bank, with the land associated with it being a part of Cwm Faerdy farm (SO 079 699), which is positioned to the north of its summit.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Cwm Faerdy Bank, and this was derived from local enquiry.

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the summit of Cwm Faerdy Bank

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Pegwn Mawr

Name:  Cwm Faerdy Bank

Previously Listed Name:  Mynydd Cwmfaerdy

OS 1:50,000 map:  136, 147

Summit Height:  302.3m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 07842 69512

Bwlch Height:  269.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 08304 69664

Drop:  32.4m (converted to OSGM15)



Myrddyn Phillips (December 2018)






Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Fron Bank (SO 078 708) - 41st significant name change

Survey post for Fron Bank


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the summit height being confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey which took place on the 10th July 2018, and the bwlch height confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

Fron Bank (SO 078 708)

The criteria for the listing that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Sub-Trichant with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list and its renaming appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Pegwn Mawr range of hills which are situated in the north-eastern part of Mid and West Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with the Bachell Brook to its north-west and the Clywedog Brook to its south-west, and has the small community of Abaty Cwm-hir (Abbeycwmhir) towards the west. 

The hill appeared in the original Welsh P30 lists under the 300m P30 height band on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the invented name of Mynydd Fronrhydnewydd, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the East. 


Mynydd Fronrhydnewydd
328m
136/147
200/214
Name from buildings to the East


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance, use the name of a farm and precede it with the word Mynydd.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

After visiting this hill I was fortunate to speak with the local farmer from Troed-rhiw-felen (SO 083 708) who invited me in to his conservatory where I sat with a drink as a fan gave respite from the increasingly warm conditions outside.  The farmer has asked me not to mention his name or use photographs that he kindly let me take.  He proved very knowledgeable and we talked for upwards of 30 minutes before he directed me to the track for the continuation of my walk.  During our conversation he gave me a number of names relating to local hills and explained that the upper southerly part of the hill I had just visited is known as Fron Bank, whilst the upper northerly part of the hill is known as Troedyfelen Bank, with the former a part of land associated with Fronrhydnewydd farm (SO 078 706) and the latter a part of land associated with his own farm of Troed-rhiw-felen with the rhiw part of the farm’s name dropped for the land associated with it.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Fron Bank, and this was derived from local enquiry.

Gathering data with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 at the summit of Fron Bank



The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Pegwn Mawr

Name:  Fron Bank

Previously Listed Name:  Mynydd Fronrhydnewydd

OS 1:50,000 map:  136, 147

Summit Height:  328.0m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 07843 70880

Bwlch Height:  291.7m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 08229 70861 (LIDAR)

Drop:  36.2m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)



Myrddyn Phillips (December 2018)






Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Hoddell Top (SO 238 653) - 40th significant name change

Survey post for Hoddell Top


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the summit height being confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey which took place on the 13th June 2018, and the bwlch height confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

The criteria for the listing that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and the Introduction to the list and the re-naming and publication history of it was published on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Fforest Glud range of hills which are situated in the south-eastern part of Mid and West Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with the Cascob Brook to its west, north and east, and has the village of Kinnerton towards the south south-east. 

Hoddell Top (SO 238 653)

The hill appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the invented name of Ack Wood Hill, with an accompanying note stating; Name from wood to the North-West. 



Ack Wood Hill
377m
137/148
201
Name from wood to the North-West



During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance, use the name of a wood and put the word Hill after it.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historical documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

When visiting this hill I was fortunate to speak with three local farmers, two of whom are father and son, the first being Ron Phillips who is now aged 82 and farms from the Rectory (SO 249 659), Ron gave me a number of names relating to local hills and confirmed that the land where the summit of this hill is situated is a part of Hoddell Farm (SO 253 642) and recommended that I speak with Raymond Thomas who used to farm from Dyffryn (SO 249 654) and now lives in a bungalow below this farm.

Ron Phillips of the Rectory

I later stopped and talked with Ithel Thomas who was spraying 300 sheep and looked as if he needed a rest, Ithel farms from Dyffryn (SO 249 654) and his land is adjoined to that of Hoddell Farm but only goes as far south as the Ackwood Lane which is named on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.  Ithel knows the hill above his farm as Hoddell Top and knew that the high point has a water tank / reservoir on it.

Ithel Thomas of Dyffryn

Thanking Ithel for his time I mentioned that Ron had suggested I speak with his father; Raymond; and Ithel kindly pointed which of two bungalows he lives at.  Raymond Thomas is now ages 80 and used to farm from Dyffryn, when I visited he invited me in and offered a glass of water which I duly drank, Raymond gave me the name of Hoddell Top for this hill without any prompting on my part with mention that this is the name his son had also used.

Raymond Thomas who used to farm from Dyffryn

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Hoddell Top, and this was derived from local enquiry.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Fforest Glud

Name:  Hoddell Top

Previously Listed Name:  Ack Wood Hill

Summit Height:  377.0m (converted to OSGM15)

OS 1:50,000 map:  137, 148

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 23857 65354

Drop:  38.6m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)


Gathering data with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 at the summit of Hoddell Top


Myrddyn Phillips (October 2018)






Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Ffridd Uchaf Cregennan (SH 647 128) - 39th significant name change

Survey post for Ffridd Uchaf Cregennan


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the summit height, drop and status of the hill being confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey which took place on the 23rd May 2018.

The criteria for the listing that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub category entitled the Sub-Trichant consisting of all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and the Introduction to the list and the re-naming and publication history of it was published on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Cadair Idris range of hills which are situated in the south-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A3), and it is positioned above Llynnau Cregennan which are to its north-east and the A 493 road to its north-west, and has the village of Y Friog (Fairbourne) to the west. 

Ffridd Uchaf Cregennan (SH 647 128)


The hill appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the invented name of Bryn Cwm Pen Llydan with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the West.  



Bryn Cwm Pen Llydan
352m
124
23
Name from buildings to the West



During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historical documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found, and in the case of this hill it was a local farmer whose land the summit of this hill is situated on who gave the name of the enclosed land as Ffridd Uchaf Cregennan.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map


Since this hill was first listed there is a greater understanding amongst some hill list authors relating to the cynefin naming system, this incorporates the mynydd (mountain) and the ffridd land adjoined to individual farms:

Many Welsh hills comprise bounded land that is separated either by a fence or wall; these boundaries indicate land that is adjoined to different owners or tenants.  These land boundaries have usually been in place for centuries and in the uplands of Wales they are referred to as the cynefin, or sheep-walk in English.

The sheep-walk is an English term given to enclosed land that is apportioned to a specific farm.  The Welsh term for this land is cynefin, which can be literally translated as habitat, as in that for the sheep.  The cynefin usually takes in land that is known as the mountain land of the specific farm, therefore the name given to this enclosed land is usually that of the name of the farm prefixed with the word mynydd (mountain), this land is usually given over for sheep grazing, hence the term sheep-walk.  When Ordnance Survey maps are examined one can find many examples where this form of cynefin naming system exists, with farms situated in valley’s having their name given to high mountain land and prefixed with the word mynydd.

The bounded land given over to specific farms also takes in middle ground between the higher mountain land and the lower pasture land of the valley, this is known in Welsh as the ffridd and can take in a variety of habitats including heath, moor, grassland, woodland and high pasture.  Again, when Ordnance Survey maps are examined one can find many examples of farm names prefixed with the word Ffridd, and its apportionment to a specific hill is dependent upon where the bounded land is situated and referring to the Tithe maps for confirmation is then advised.

It is the cynefin naming system that usually results in a hill being known by different names in opposing valleys, as in many instances the upper bounded land meet at the watershed on top of the summit ridge and therefore the same hill would be known by two different names, each name a part of a different farm’s cynefin.  

The local farmer I met whilst visiting this hill is Emlyn Lloyd who is aged 72 and is a Welsh speaker and farms from Cregennan (SH 647 140), I met him on the corner of the narrow lane where a track heads south toward this hill, he proved very knowledgeable and as with the majority of farmers that I have had the privilege to meet, he was a delight to speak with.  The bounded land taking in the eastern side of this hill which also incorporates its summit is a part of Emlyn’s land and is a ffridd and known as Ffridd Uchaf Cregennan; the highest ffridd adjoined to the farm of Cregennan.  The land to its west is known as Ffridd Uchaf Cwm Pen Llydan.

Emlyn Lloyd of Cregennan farm


Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Ffridd Uchaf Cregennan, and this was derived from local enquiry.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Cadair Idris

Name:  Ffridd Uchaf Cregennan

Previously Listed Name:  Bryn Cwm Pen Llydan

Summit Height:  351.9m (converted to OSGM15)

OS 1:50,000 map:  124

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 64745 12858

Drop:  26.9m (converted to OSGM15)


Gathering data with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 at the summit of Ffridd Uchaf Cregennan

For details on the survey of Ffridd Uchaf Cregennan

Myrddyn Phillips (September 2018)






Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Seven Valleys (SH 874 151) - 38th significant name change

Survey post for Seven Valleys


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the summit height and drop being confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey which took place on the 21st May 2018.

The criteria for the listing that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and the Introduction to the list and the re-naming and publication history of it was published on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Y Berwyn range of hills which are situated in the south-eastern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A4), and it is positioned between the stream valleys of the Afon Dyfi (River Dovey) to its north and the Nant Cwm Cewydd to its south-east, and has the small town of Dinas Mawddwy to the west. 

Seven Valleys (SH 874 151)

The hill appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Cytir, which is a name that appears close to this hill’s summit on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.  During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate. 


Cytir
    341m
    SH874152
    124/125
23


When visiting this hill I was fortunate to speak with two local farmers, and the first to give me the name of Seven Valleys was Ieuan Davies who was in his tractor turning the ground in preparation for seeding the field adjacent to where the summit of Cefn Coch (SH 868 142) is positioned.  Ieuan is now aged 81 and is a Welsh speaker and farms from Llwyn-y-grug (SH 841 159).  Ieuan explained that Cytir is the common land further along on the left hand side and that it was good for nothing and full of bracken, this is the open access land shown on contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps with its high point not taking in the summit of this hill.

Ieuan Davies

Descending from Cefn Coch I then met Carwyn Pugh at the old ruin of Bwlch Cwm Cewydd (SH 870 146), he had gathered sheep from the hill this article details and was penning them, Carwyn is aged 26 and a Welsh speaker and farms from near Llanymawddwy.  Carwyn gave me the name of Cefn Coch for the hill I had just visited and told me that the hill I was heading to is known as Seven Valleys.  We talked about this name at length and Carwyn said that you can’t see the seven valleys from the summit any longer because of the thin strip of conifer plantation just to the south of the summit, which he thought was put there about 20 years ago.  I said it was unusual that an English name was used for the hill considering it’s in a Welsh speaking area and he surmised that it was probably given by an English speaker and that the name had stuck in the local community.

Carwyn Pugh penning the sheep

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Seven Valleys, and this was derived from local enquiry.


The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data from the summit of Seven Valleys


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Y Berwyn

Name:  Seven Valleys

Previously Listed Name:  Cytir

Summit Height:  340.5m (converted to OSGM15)

OS 1:50,000 map:  124, 125

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 87419 15168

Drop:  52.7m (converted to OSGM15)



Myrddyn Phillips (August 2018)






Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Foel Cocyn (SH 624 042) - 37th significant name change

Survey post for Foel Cocyn


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales, with the summit height being confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH survey which took place on the 14th May 2018, and the drop of the hill being confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

The criteria for the listings that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and the Introduction to the list and the re-naming and publication history of it was published on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales – Welsh P30 hills whose prominence equal or exceed half that of their absolute height.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips with the Introduction to the start of the Mapping Mountains publication of this list appearing on the 3rd December 2015.

The hill is adjoined to the Tarennydd range of hills which are situated in the south-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A3), and it overlooks the B 4405 road and the Afon Fathew to the south-east and the Afon Dysynni to the north-west, and has the small community of Dolgoch to its east and Bryn-crug to its south-west. 

Foel Cocyn (SH 624 042)

The hill appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Ffridd Cocyn.  During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate, and although the name of Ffridd Cocyn has been consistently presented on Ordnance Survey maps, it was enquiries with a number of local farmers who gave the name of Foel Cocyn for this hill. 


Ffridd Cocyn
    313m
    SH625043
    135
23
    Marilyn. Clem/Yeaman.


When visiting this and adjacent hills I was fortunate to speak with a number of local farmers including Edward Cook of Perfeddnant (SH 628 055), who I met on the upper slopes of this hill, Edward was out on his quad bike with a colleague and two sheep dogs and I was surprised when he gave me the name of Foel Cocyn for this hill as I had accepted the map name for many years.  I asked if this should be Ffridd Cocyn and Edward replied ‘no, I know it as Foel Cocyn’.

Edward Cook of Perfeddnant

I descended from this small grouping of hills to Llanerch-goediog (SH 640 050) and met Stephen Jones who has lived at this farm all of his life outside of three years he spent at university.  When asked about this hill Stephen said that it’s known as Cocyn, he later referred to it as Foel Cocyn, I again asked if this should be Ffridd Cocyn, and was told that it’s a foel.

Stephen Jones of Llanerch-goediog

My route continued north-east from Stephen’s farm and I was fortunate to meet Joanne Redman at the summit of the next hill, she helped me with its name which will be documented in a forthcoming Significant Name Changes post, and suggested that I should contact her father; Tomos Lewis who lives and farms from Nant-y-mynach (SH 644 048), she then kindly gave me his telephone number.

The following day I phoned Tomos and two days later then visited him.  Tomos has lived in this area all of his life having been brought up in one of the council houses in Abertrinant and has lived at Nant-y-mynach since the age of six.  He gave me the name of Foel Cocyn for this hill during our telephone conversation and later confirmed this name when we met, I asked about the name of Ffridd Cocyn and he said that ‘we’ve always known the top as Foel Cocyn’.  

Tomos Lewis of Nant-y-mynach

The term ffridd is usually given to land that is enclosed and is lower than the mountain, or mynydd land adjoined to a farm, both are associated with the cynefin naming system, details relating to these are given below:

Many Welsh hills comprise bounded land that is separated either by a fence or wall; these boundaries indicate land that is adjoined to different owners or tenants.  These land boundaries have usually been in place for centuries and in the uplands of Wales they are referred to as the cynefin, or sheep-walk in English.

The sheep-walk is an English term given to enclosed land that is apportioned to a specific farm.  The Welsh term for this land is cynefin, which can be literally translated as habitat, as in that for the sheep.  The cynefin usually takes in land that is known as the mountain land of the specific farm, therefore the name given to this enclosed land is usually that of the name of the farm prefixed with the word mynydd (mountain), this land is usually given over for sheep grazing, hence the term sheep-walk.  When Ordnance Survey maps are examined one can find many examples where this form of cynefin naming system exists, with farms situated in valley’s having their name given to high mountain land and prefixed with the word mynydd.

The bounded land given over to specific farms also takes in middle ground between the higher mountain land and the lower pasture land of the valley, this is known in Welsh as the ffridd and can take in a variety of habitats including heath, moor, grassland, woodland and high pasture.  Again, when Ordnance Survey maps are examined one can find many examples of names prefixed with the word Ffridd, and its apportionment to a specific hill is dependent upon where the bounded land is situated and referring to the Tithe maps for confirmation is then advised.

It is the cynefin naming system that usually results in a hill being known by different names in opposing valleys, as in many instances the upper bounded land meet at the watershed on top of the summit ridge and therefore the same hill would be known by two different names, each name a part of a different farm’s cynefin.

When visiting these farmers I asked if there was a farm named Cocyn in the area which would substantiate the use of the word ffridd in relation to this hill, and was told there wasn’t, with Edward Cook telling me that the word cocyn refers to the small hummocks on the side of the hill. 

Although the name of Ffridd Cocyn has been consistently given on Ordnance Survey maps in relation to this hill, it seems this name is either no longer used in the local community or it was never used and that the transcript of this hill’s name was incorrectly given by Ordnance Survey as Ffridd instead of Foel.

Even if the name of Ffridd Cocyn was once used locally, this would refer to enclosed land incorporating a field, whereas the name of Foel Cocyn refers to the hill and not necessarily to just an enclosed field.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant and in Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales is Foel Cocyn, and this was derived from local enquiry.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Tarennydd

Name:  Foel Cocyn

Previously Listed Name:  Ffridd Cocyn

OS 1:50,000 map:  135

Summit Height:  312.9m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 62455 04290 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  62.5m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 67118 06459 (LIDAR)

Drop:  250.4m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  80.04% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)



Myrddyn Phillips (July 2018)






Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant

Gwernaffel (SO 259 712) - 36th significant name change

Survey post for Gwernaffel


There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the summit height, drop and status of the hill being confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH survey which took place on the 19th April 2018.

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at and above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub category entitled the Sub-Trichant consisting of all Welsh hills at and above 300m and below 400m in height that have 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and the Introduction to the list and the re-naming and publication history was published on Mapping Mountains on the 13th May 2017.

The hill is adjoined to the Beacon Hill range of hills, which are situated in the north-eastern part of Mid and West Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and is positioned with the A488 road to its south and has the small town of Tref-y-clawdd (Knighton) towards its east north-east.

The hill appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the partly invented name of Moel Gilla, with an accompanying note stating; Name from cwm & wood to the North.  


Moel Gilla
   380c
   SO259712
   137/148
201
   Name from cwm & wood to the North.


During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put PenBryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance, use the name of a cwm and wood and prefix this with the word Moel.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historical documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

When visiting this and adjacent hills I was fortunate to speak with a number of local farmers including John and Liz Roberts of the Racecourse Farm (SO 267 732), who I met at the summit of Waun Sidan (SO 250 726), it was an easy task to point to this hill across the intervening Cwm Gilla and ask its name, John told me it is known as Gwernaffel after the estate house of the same name which is situated at SO 267 706 and which has association with Sir Robert Green Price. 

John and Liz Roberts of the Racecourse Farm

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant is Gwernaffel, and this was derived from local enquiry.


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Beacon Hill

Name:  Gwernaffel

Previously Listed Name:  Moel Gilla

Summit Height:  380.4m (converted to OSGM15)

OS 1:50,000 map:  137, 148

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 25947 71212

Drop:  34.3m (converted to OSGM15)



Myrddyn Phillips (June 2018)




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