On Location with S4C

 

On Location with S4C

Introduction:

In June 2014 Mapping Mountains published an article as a part of the Guest Contributor heading on the site, written by Aled Williams and entitled The Islands of Traeth Mawr. 

Traeth Mawr is the land immediately east of the Cob adjacent to Porthmadog in north-west Wales.  The Cob is an embankment which nowadays has a road and rail track running across it.  It was built as a sea defence resulting in the drainage of land for agriculture.  Prior to it being built the sea at high tide would have pushed inland. 

The Traeth Mawr area has many rocky small heighted hills, which when the sea pushed inland prior to the building of the Cob would have formed islands, these islands are now landlocked.  Many are wooded and rough underfoot, but all are well worth investigating. 

Over recent years Aled and I have done just that; visiting and surveying many of these landlocked islands and in the process building up a greater understanding of this area.  Aled’s article concentrated on the history of the Cob and these landlocked islands. 

 

S4C and the Cynefin programme: 

S4C is the Welsh language TV channel and the Cynefin programme is a documentary series that visits different places throughout Wales; with each programme concentrating on one area, highlighting local and unusual stories. 

For one of the programmes in the upcoming series they wanted to concentrate on Porthmadog.  During their research they came across Aled’s article published on Mapping Mountains.  More research unearthed the various surveys we had conducted on the landlocked islands of Traeth Mawr. 

In August of last year I received an email from Llŷr Titus; a researcher working on Cynefin.  They wanted to contact Aled having found his article on Mapping Mountains.  I forwarded this to Aled and he then contacted Llŷr. 

As with many outdoor broadcasts time restraint and weather can dictate schedules and it was not until December of last year that Aled’s continued discussion with the researchers and producer of Cynefin finally set a date to meet.  In the interim I was invited to attend as they wanted the Trimble as a part of the programme, with this being the survey equipment that had put an accurate height and position to many of the summits of these landlocked islands. 

 

Deciding which Island: 

There were a number of possibilities of what island to visit and film from.  However, there was the prospect of large cameras in tow and a number of people making up the Cynefin crew to consider.  As many of these islands are rough underfoot comprising bramble, rock and gorse it was suggested that Ynys Tywyn would be ideal.  This island can be easily accessed from the centre of Porthmadog, with its path leading to a relatively open summit area that gives dramatic and extensive views. 

Ynys Tywyn (SH 571 385)

Meeting in Porthmadog: 

My role in proceedings was secondary, but as owner of the Trimble I needed to be present.  The date given for filming was Saturday 10^th December with an 8.00am meeting time.  Aled suggested being at his home for 7.30am, this meant leaving Welshpool no later than 6.00am, however the forecast was not ideal as snow had recently fallen and iced road conditions were forecast for the west of Wales, therefore I set off at 5.30am.  The journey to Porthmadog was beautiful as moonlight bathed all surrounds, but the journey was also rather exciting as a good dusting of snow lay on the road heading toward Dinas Mawddwy, with lots of snow falling as I continued on my way over the high road past Trawsfynydd.  I arrived at Aled’s at 7.10am and sat in the car waiting for a heavy hail and sleet shower to subside! 

After a paned we drove in to town and met Lleucu Gruffydd; the producer and Heledd Cynwal; the presenter before heading in to the warmth of a near café for a drink and conversation.  It is always good meeting people from the medium of television, the majority put you at ease instantly and it was no different with Lleucu and Heledd.  We were soon joined by Aled Davies-Jones; the director, editor and cameraman and Rhys Thomas; the cameraman.  Next stop Ynys Tywyn. 

Aled with the film crew from the Cynefin programme on S4C; Heledd Cynwal, Aled Davies-Jones, Lleucu Gruffydd and Rhys Thomas

 

Visiting Ynys Tywyn: 

From where we met it was only a short walk over the road to the start of the path that ascents Ynys Tywyn.  As we set off a flurry of rain swept across the land, thankfully this quickly disappeared leaving our time on the summit dry, albeit increasing chilly. 

We stayed on top for almost two hours as Aled was interviewed about the history of the Cob and the islands of Traeth Mawr, this was done with the backdrop of snow-capped peaks occasionally making an appearance through grey winter cloud. 

Away in the distance showers pushed in from the coast, these in the main headed south toward the Rhinogydd, but they were always dramatic with beautiful blue hued winter colour set against the whitened grey of distant sky, with the ever present becalmed sea as foreground.  It certainly was a perfect place to meet and film. 

Porthmadog with winter showers pushing inland from the coast

During filming I stayed in the background and enjoyed watching everyone busy at work.  As a part of the film they wanted to know the processes at work to achieve an accurate result for the height and position of the islands we had surveyed.  Therefore, Aled had brought an Abney level and was filmed explaining its purpose and how to use it.  Afterwards it was time for the Trimble to make its entrance.

After explaining the fineries behind how the Trimble operates, Aled placed it aligned with the highest part of the slanting rock that makes up the summit of Ynys Tywyn and was filmed doing so.  The survey result could then be given to camera as well as further explanation of the processes at work. 

At the summit of Ynys Tywyn with Aled explaining the fineries of the Trimble

After almost two hours on the summit area it was time to leave and head down.  The Cynefin film crew and Aled still had two other places to visit and the filming went on for the remainder of the day, whilst I needed to head back home before the roads froze and darkness fell. 

It had been a very enjoyable experience meeting the film crew from Cynefin and although no date is yet set for when the programme will appear on S4C I look forward to when it does. 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (February 2023)