Myrddyn Phillips - Mapping Mountains: Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys

24.12.20 Y Golfa (SJ 182 070, previously Trimbled) and Frochas Hill (SJ 194 083, previously Trimbled)

With lock down now re-imposed walks once again start from my front door step and what better way to set proceedings off than with a visit to the summit of one of my local Marilyns; Y Golfa.

I’d proposed this walk a few days ago and walked on the canal towpath toward town and then the back road to the Raven roundabout were I met Linda, who was ready with her winter wellies and gloves at 10.30am. We set off up the paved lane leading to Llanerchydol Hall and with a forecast for dry and mainly sunny conditions, albeit with a chilled northerly wind, the day ahead looked to be a good one.

Early morning reflections beside the canal tow path

We’re lucky to live where we do as the mid Walian countryside is on our doorstep with a number of old and current estates wedging the town in on three sides, including Powys, Llanerchydol and Leighton all giving excellent variety for potential walks.

I hadn’t seen Linda for a while, so there were lots to catch up on and as we gained height toward the old hall we chatted away about all manner of things. There were a number of people out enjoying the Christmas Eve weather with dog walkers a plenty and small groups of mountain bikers.

The paved lane leading toward the old hall continues past it as a track, which continues to gain height at a steady gradient before turning in to a public footpath near the summit of the hill. By now the view toward the north-east had opened up, with the distinct profile of the Breiddin seemingly floating above the Severn Valley and the Shropshire Plain.

The Breiddin from near the summit of Y Golfa

It was decidedly cold on top as we reached the trig pillar, just enough time to take a few photos and then off we leisurely scampered beside manicured greens toward the club house to sit in the lee of the brisk, chilled wind for Christmas nibbles with George the Christmas Cat, who nuzzled beside us and enjoyed bits of mince pie and shortbread. You know when you find a friendly Christmas Cat that the majority is all well in the world!

Linda at the summit of Y Golfa

Heading down toward the club house

Having fed George and ourselves, we continued on a public footpath heading down toward the top of the Frochas Lane with late afternoon winter light giving some beautiful colour against a rich greyed sky.

The Frochas Lane is just the other side of the gate

This paved lane passes Frochas Common and we diverted to take in its summit, scattering a small herd of sheep as we did so. This was a similar walk I had done during the first national lock down and today's conditions were an utter contrast to then, when the ground was dry, the common was a meadow and the air warmed with summer stillness, now the ground was wet, the common cut to a grazing field and the air chilled with a brisk northerly wind.

The Frochas Lane

Leaving the summit of Frochas Hill we re-joined the paved lane and headed down past Frochas Farm to where a public footpath crosses an expansive field. In summer this was awash with swaying wheat, a picture perfect scene of warmed carefree days, today the wheat had been cut and the serenity of the past scene merged with adjacent fields.

Beautiful late afternoon winter light with the finger post pointing our way back home

Down the field we went before descending to an enclosed and muddied stream bank. Beyond this was another open field leading to what in summer was a sandal-wearing crossing of a trickle of water, now in winter this was a wide stream, it was also where Linda found out that her wellies leaked!

Last glimmers of light on St Mary's Church and Cefn Digoll beyond

It was now only a short walk past Lower Llanerchydol to re-join our inward route, with the last glimmers of afternoon colour highlighting St Mary’s Church in Welshpool with the bulk of Cefn Digoll in the distance beyond.

Survey Result:

Y Golfa

Summit Height: 341.4m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference: SJ 18247 07086 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Height: 175.1m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 16645 06017 (LIDAR)

Drop: 166.3m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance: 48.72% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Frochas Hill (significant name change)

Summit Height: 250.7m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference: SJ 19469 08313 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Height: 223.4m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)