Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Elenydd

 

15.10.20  Banc (SN 598 714) 

LIDAR image of Banc (SN 598 714)

Finding appropriate parking when visiting smaller heighted hills can be problematic.  Many such hills are situated close to narrow lanes amongst farming communities.  The next hill on our continuing day’s adventure was a prime example as when I drove a Google car on my laptop prior to us visiting, the best place I could find was to leave the car on the lane close to where the road widened on a corner, this was not ideal.  However, when we arrived at this point there was just enough room to squeeze the car on to the track that leads to Penciog leaving just sufficient space for a vehicle to pass if required. 

By the time I gathered my rucksack and camera and locked the car, Charles had headed through a gate leading toward a small disused quarry.  I opted to walk up the track to where the continuation of the public footpath accesses a field through a gate, and a couple of minutes walking up beside a fence and there was Charles waiting for me. 

To our right the land was brambled with small trees and scrub undergrowth, continuing up beside the fence open grazing fields soon appeared, and a short time later via a couple of gates we were at the summit area of the hill. 

Charles approaching the summit of Banc

Prior to us visiting I had analysed this hill’s details via LIDAR and using the Trimble as a hand-held device the ten figure grid reference for its high point now led us toward its summit. 

Within a few minutes the Trimble was set-up on top of my rucksack and the offset between its internal antenna and ground at its base measured and noted, and once the 0.1m accuracy level was attained I pressed ‘Log’ and scampered away to leave it gather its allotted data. 

Gathering data at the summit of Banc

To our south-east the wind turbines close to the summit of Hafod Llŷn (SN 625 700) drew the eye, whilst further south the moorland summit of Hafod Ithel (SN 610 677) poked above the horizon. 

Like many other smaller heighted hill’s, this one was not necessarily memorable.  It is neither dramatic, nor could I in any sincerity recommend it to visit.  However, the 45 minutes we spent walking up it, gathering summit data and reversing our route down it, proved very enjoyable, and like many hills of similar height it gives quiet surrounds with good views. 

 

Survey Result:

 

Banc (significant name change)  

Summit Height:  204.4m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 59804 71470 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  170.1m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 62289 71880 (LIDAR)

Drop:  34.4m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  16.82% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet