Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Elenydd

 

15.10.20  Castell (SN 585 789) 

The summit area of Castell with Pendinas in the background

One of the beauties of hill bagging is the element of exploration as a list of hills will take you on an adventure to places otherwise not visited.  Many of these sink to the recesses of memory where one hill merges in to another, whilst some linger in memories eye.  I am sure Castell will be a part of the latter, as today it shone in early morning autumnal light, looking out toward the coast that sprinkled azure like to the distant horizon. 

Today consisted of hill bagging in the ever welcome company of Charles Everett.  We met in Llangurig and I then drove west with Charles navigating on a myriad of narrow country lanes to our pre-planned parking spots for mini-expeditions to nine hills that took a very leisurely, all day to visit. 

Our first hill was Castell, which prior to our visit I had analysed via LIDAR, as I had for all our subsequent hills, with only one summit of the nine not as of yet having LIDAR coverage.  LIDAR is proving a great help when out surveying, and its accuracy in position is an extremely welcome aid and addition.  

LIDAR image of Castell (SN 585 789)

Driving west toward Aberystwyth, Charles then navigated us over the Afon Ystwyth to a narrow lane leading east and then north of the hill.  Google Earth had helped pinpoint suitable parking places and we were soon walking back up the lane to where open hillside rose steeply above.  Approaching the hill from this direction avoided the wood that fringes the lower part of this hill. 

Dew laden and shaded grass swept upward toward the summit of Castell with ever widening views behind us toward the north, where the sea glistened and the monument to the Duke of Wellington on the summit of Pendinas (SN 584 802) was ever present.  I’d surveyed Pendinas in October 2018 and it proved a fine viewpoint. 

Pendinas from the ascent of Castell

The upper part of Castell as its name implies is crowned by an ancient hillfort.  This is steep sided and as Charles headed up I lingered to admire the view.  As I crested the grassed rampart Charles was busy clearing a section of the summit of gorse, which I appreciated. 

Gathering data at the summit of Castell

When I joined Charles near the summit a small herd of cows sauntered through a gap in the earthen ramparts to join us on the inner part of the ancient hill fort.  They seemed interested in what we were doing, but as the Trimble gathered its allotted data, they thankfully kept a safe distance from the equipment, no doubt partly discouraged by the copious amount of gorse. 

Heading on to the ramparts to see what the Trimble is doing

To our south morning mist lingered in the valley, highlighted by the low sun, it was so wonderful to be here quietly surveying the hill in Charles’ company as the cows grazed their way across the summit area. 

Mist laden valley

Once the Trimble was packed away we headed toward a gate and then veered right down the steep field and back to the narrow lane.  Arriving at the car the walk and survey had taken just over 45 minutes and was a fine start to the day’s proceedings.  The next hill on our route is listed as Bryn Bras (SN 573 772) and was no more than 2km to our south-west. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Castell (significant name change)  

Summit Height:  77.2m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000) (significant height revision)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 58516 78997 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  42.3m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 58197 78954 (LIDAR)

Drop:  34.9m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch) (30-99m Sub-Twmpau reclassified to 30-99m Twmpau)

Dominance:  45.21% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet