Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales

Lan Ddu Cilwenau (SN 572 371) 

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 derived from detail on contemporary maps produced from Ordnance Survey data and LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Lan Ddu Cilwenau (SN 572 371)

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 13^th May 2017, and the Introduction to the Mapping Mountains publication of the list appearing on the 1^st January 2022. 

Y Trichant - The 300m Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips

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.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips with the Introduction to the start of the Mapping Mountains publication of this list appearing on the 3^rd December 2015, and the list is now available in its entirety on Mapping Mountains in Google Doc format. 

Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Pencarreg group of hills, which are situated in the south-western part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with the B4337 road to its north-east, a minor road to its south-west and the B4310 road to its south-east, and has the village of Llansawel towards the east south-east.

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

Lan Ddu Cilwenau West Top

328m

SN576371

146

186

Clem/Yeaman. 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 Pen, Bryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance use a directional name based on supplanting the name of a near hill 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 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.

The website hosting the Welsh Tithe maps also hosts historical and contemporary Ordnance Survey and satellite maps and it is one of the historic Ordnance Survey One-Inch maps that positions the name of Lan Ddu Cilwenau taking in this land incorporating this hill. 

Extract from a historical Ordnance Survey One-Inch map available on the website hosting the Welsh Tithe maps

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 Lan Ddu Cilwenau and this was derived from a historic Ordnance Survey One-Inch map available on the website hosting the Welsh Tithe maps. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Pencarreg 

Name:  Lan Ddu Cilwenau 

Previously Listed Name:  Lan Ddu Cilwenau West Top 

OS 1:50,000 map:  146 

Summit Height:  333.1m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 57277 37147 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  c 211m (interpolation) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 56467 37617 (interpolation) 

Drop:  c 122m (LIDAR summit and interpolated bwlch) 

Dominance:  36.66% (LIDAR summit and interpolated bwlch) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (May 2022)

 

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales

Ffridd Cedig (SJ 006 150) 

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 LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Ffridd Cedig (SJ 006 150)

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 13^th May 2017, and the Introduction to the Mapping Mountains publication of the list appearing on the 1^st January 2022. 

Y Trichant - The 300m Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Esgeiriau Gwynion group of hills, which are situated in the southern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A3), and it is positioned with a minor road to its north, south-west and north-east, and the B4395 road to its south-east, and has the village of Llangadfan towards the south.

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

Fridd Cae-penfras

340c

SJ005149

125

239

 

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. 

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 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 302 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 Cedig in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llangadfan and in the county named as Montgomery. 

Extract from the apportionments

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

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Esgeiriau Gwynion 

Name:  Ffridd Cedig 

Previously Listed Name:  Ffridd Cae-penfras 

OS 1:50,000 map:  125 

Summit Height:  339.7m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 00605 15009 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  309.8m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 00639 14751 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  29.9m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (May 2022)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Brown Clee Hill

05.04.22  Clows Top (SO 716 717)

LIDAR image of Clows Top (SO 716 717)

The day before visiting this hill Charles Everett sat with map in hand going through the Tumps he had not bagged in this area, I then noted each hill and the ten figure grid reference for their summit.  Our main surveying objective for the day was Abberley Hill (SO 751 672), but Charles also wanted to visit at least four other summits.  Clows Top was not one of these hills, so after visiting and surveying the first summit on our mini bagging expedition; Church Hill (SO 710 731), I expected our next port of call would be the summit of Abberley Hill to our south.  However, another P30 lurked just a mile or so from our present position, and we were soon pulled up on a grass verge adjacent to where a public footpath sign pointed us in the direction of its summit.

From the small village at its base the summit of Clows Top is hidden from view, and the route to its summit proved similar to many such hills of comparable height, with one or two obstacles having to be overcome before the high point is reached.

Close to where we parked a public footpath led between houses with Charles dealing with all overhanging branches and vegetation on the way.  When the continuation of this route started heading down toward a field, we veered right on a dried earthen slope leading up to ground above a small industrial site.  We later chose a route down through this site as our descent, which simplified matters and took us straight back to my awaiting car.

As ground levelled we headed between high fir trees toward a fence which gave access to the summit area.  Close to the high point stood a small brick building of unusual design which we were later told was an old military observation post.

Once I had chosen the position for Trimble placement I set the equipment up and waited until the 0.1m accuracy level was obtained before data should be logged.  This took an inordinate amount of time, probably due to its position with the bricked building relatively close and high fir trees above.  However, once the required accuracy level appeared on the screen I pressed ‘Log’ and sat on the steps of the bricked building, whilst Charles lay on the ground a few metres away relaxing in the intermittent sunshine that tantalisingly appeared. 

Gathering data at the summit of Clows Hill 

As we waited for the Trimble to do its stuff, a Red Kite appeared gliding across the sky; it quickly disappeared behind the high fir trees, before silently re-appearing circling overhead.  This made a pleasant distraction from the long wait for the Trimble to achieve the required accuracy level and then to gather data. 

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 set-up position at the summit of Clows Top

Once data were gathered and stored I packed the equipment away and we headed down toward a track which gave access to the small industrial site.  This gave us a quicker and more convenient route back to my car.  Next stop the summit of Abberley Hill. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Clows Top

Summit Height:  231.9m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 71666 71743 (LIDAR)

Col Height:  154.1m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 73186 69331 (LIDAR)

Drop:  77.7m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  33.52% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Significant Height Revisions – Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales

 

Lan Ddu Cilwenau (SN 572 371) 

There has been a Significant Height Revision 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 derived from detail on contemporary maps produced from Ordnance Survey data and LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Lan Ddu Cilwenau (SN 572 371)

The criteria for the two listings that this height revision 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 13^th May 2017, and the Introduction to the Mapping Mountains publication of the list appearing on the 1^st January 2022. 

Y Trichant - The 300m Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips

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.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips with the Introduction to the start of the Mapping Mountains publication of this list appearing on the 3^rd December 2015, and the list is now available in its entirety on Mapping Mountains in Google Doc format. 

Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Lan Ddu Cilwenau, and it is adjoined to the Mynydd Pencarreg group of hills, which are situated in the south-western part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with the B4337 road to its north-east, a minor road to its south-west and the B4310 road to its south-east, and has the village of Llansawel towards the east south-east.

When the original Welsh 300m P30 list was published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was included in the main P30 list with a summit height of 328m, based on the spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map. 

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

However, it was not until LIDAR became available that the details for this hill could be accurately re-assessed.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales. 

LIDAR summit image of Lan Ddu Cilwenau (SN 572 371)

The summit height produced by LIDAR analysis is 333.1m and is positioned at SN 57277 37147, and this comes within the parameters of the Significant Height Revisions used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Significant Height Revisions applies to any listed hill whose interpolated height and Ordnance Survey or Harvey map summit spot height has a 2m or more discrepancy when compared to the survey result produced by the Trimble GeoXH 6000 or analysis of data produced via LIDAR, also included are hills whose summit map data is missing an uppermost ring contour when compared to the data produced by the Trimble or by LIDAR analysis.

Therefore, the new listed summit height of this hill is 333.1m and this was derived from LIDAR analysis, this is 5.1m higher than the previously listed summit height of 328m, which was based on the spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map.

 

ills of Wales, and are reproduced below@

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Pencarreg 

Name:  Lan Ddu Cilwenau 

OS 1:50,000 map:  146

Summit Height (New Height):  333.1m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 57277 37147 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  c 211m (interpolation) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 56467 37617 (interpolation) 

Drop:  c 122m (LIDAR summit and interpolated bwlch) 

Dominance:  36.66% (LIDAR summit and interpolated bwlch) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (May 2022)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales

 

Ffridd Cedig (SJ 006 150) – Trichant reclassified to Sub-Trichant

There has been a reclassification to the list of 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 LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Ffridd Cedig (SJ 006 150)

The criteria for the list that this reclassification 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 13^th May 2017, and the Introduction to the Mapping Mountains publication of the list appearing on the 1^st January 2022. 

Y Trichant - The 300m Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is now listed by is Ffridd Cedig and this was derived from the Tithe map, and it is adjoined to the Esgeiriau Gwynion group of hills, which are situated in the southern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A3), and it is positioned with a minor road to its north, south-west and north-east, and the B4395 road to its south-east, and has the village of Llangadfan towards the south.

When the original 300m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was included in the main P30 category with a summit height of c 340m.

After the sub list was standardised, and interpolated heights and drop values also included the details for this hill were re-evaluated and it was listed with an estimated c 32m of drop, based on an estimated c 341m summit height and an estimated c 309m bwlch height, with both heights based on interpolation of 10m contouring that appear on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map. 

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

However, it was not until LIDAR became available that the details for this hill could be accurately re-assessed.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales.

Therefore, the reclassification of this hill to Sub-Trichant status is due to LIDAR analysis, resulting in a 339.7m summit height and a 309.8m bwlch height, with these values giving this hill 29.9m of drop, which is insufficient for it to be classified as a Trichant. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Esgeiriau Gwynion 

Name:  Ffridd Cedig 

OS 1:50,000 map:  125

Summit Height:  339.7m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 00605 15009 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  309.8m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 00639 14751 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  29.9m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (May 2022)