Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Drygarn Fawr

29.04.23  Esgair Cloddiad (SN 824 573) and Gnol Ddu (SN 823 599) 

Gnol Ddu (SN 823 599)

My only prior visit to Esgair Cloddiad was in June 2003 and I was fortunate to find the section enclosing its summit trig pillar felled of trees, and although the forest track leading close to the trig pillar was gauged and rutted with muddied vehicle tracks, it was only a short stumble across felled forestry to the summit.  The view was extensive and took in the large beehive cairn atop Drygarn Fawr.  The hill has been re-planted and during today’s walk the resulting conifer infestation coursed its usual mayhem.

Esgair Cloddiad and Gnol Ddu are positioned in the Tywi Forest, and it was a part of this forested area that Aled and I investigated three weeks ago.  Today we were back visiting two 500m tops, the further northward of which appears in our Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru and the Y Pellennig – The Remotest Hills of Wales lists.  The forecast gave heavy localised showers breaking out in the afternoon onward and therefore I met Aled relatively early at 7.30am in Caersŵs.

I then drove onward toward Beulah and Abergwesyn and the narrow road leading above the Irfon toward our hills.  The later part of the journey was particularly beautiful with low morning sun casting beautiful colour upon the land.

We parked at the start of a forest track, which on my previous visit I drove a short distance up before parking at a prominent and wide corner.  Today the swing gate across the track was locked. 

On my last visit the swing gate was open and I drove a short distance up this forest track

Aled had come prepared with details of a route to the summit of our first hill of the day; Esgair Cloddiad, used by Mark Trengove in the past.  This we followed to the best of our capabilities, although we did overshoot the green forest ride leaving the main forest track which after retracing our steps, gave access up the south-west flank of the hill.  Toward the top of the ride a narrow path of sorts veered right in to the trees.  This we followed as it became narrower.  We were soon conifer bashing.  Eventually we emerged in a clearing which had a fence forlornly marching across it.  Beyond the fence were mature trees and to our left newly felled forestry.  As we ascended the initial ride we heard the sound of forest workers and therefore seeing their machines off in the distance was not a surprise.  As I waited beside the fence Aled headed to the felled section and scouted an onward route to our second hill of the day; Gnol Ddu.  After re-joining me he reported that there was a track which would connect with the main forest track which we wanted to get back on to for the continuation of our walk.  All we had to now do was find the summit of Esgair Cloddiad before heading back to this clearing for our onward route. 

Before the tree bashing began

To find the summit trig pillar, Aled used the Trimble as a hand-held GPS and followed the grid co-ordinates on its screen as we slowly stumbled our way through the conifers toward the summit via a peaty channel and an awful lot of conifer branches.  Forested hills are not my favourite, but they can on occasion give adventure, today the weather conditions were progressively warming up and I was already knackered by the time Aled found the two summit rocks and trig pillar. 

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the summit of Esgair Cloddiad

Aled beside the trig pillar atop Esgair Cloddiad

We gathered data from the highest rock before taking the customary summit photographs beside the trig pillar.  We then bashed our way out of the conifers back to the clearing and on to the felled section of forestry, where a muddied track led us toward the forest track which in time led toward the second hill of the day.  It felt good to be out of the conifers and on a forest track again.  The track wound its way ever northward loosing height as it did so before reaching a track junction that would give an alternative route down instead of retracing our steps. 

The muddied track leading through the felled section

Heading toward the main forest track

At the junction we veered right and followed the track as it would its way through the forest, gaining height. By now the early morning blue skies had been replaced with deep grey threatening cloud.  Initially this was more evident to our east, but in time the threatening cloud increased and appeared closer to where we now were.  However, the sun still shone and the conditions progressively got warmer over the next hour or so.

We stopped beside a sheep pen and sat on a pallet for a rest and nourishment before heading farther northward.  Eventually the forest track skirted the eastern flank of Gnol Ddu before veering westward, this corner signalled our farthest part of the forest track and also our inward route up to the high point of Gnol Ddu. 

Having just left the forest track this is the initial route up Gnol Ddu

Thankfully the broad summit ridge of this hill is clear of conifers and also delightfully lined with an avenue of stunted Scots Pine, which today stood out in their greenery against the backdrop of sunlit grey sky.  The route to the high point was over bleached moor grass and I slowly followed Aled with the Trimble guiding him in to the trees on our left to the high point of the hill. 

Aled at the summit of Gnol Ddu

We stayed on top for a few minutes and marvelled at the Scots Pine which added variety to the regimented conifer plantation.  The colour stood out with the whitened moor grass and succulent Scots Pine cast against a deepening grey sky, and all highlighted by warming sunlight. 

The beautiful avenue of Scots Pine

A welcome sight

We now reversed our inward route, pausing at the sheep pen for another sit down and more nourishment.  I was not looking forward to retracing our inward route as by now any uphill was proving wearisome and therefore once we left our rest spot, Aled went ahead while I headed down at the track junction on the alternative descent route.  This gave views further westward with the foreground now open and free of conifers, although more forestry loomed in the distance.  By the time the track merged on to tarmac Aled was waiting for me with the car. 

 

Survey Result:

 

Esgair Cloddiad

Summit Height:  532.3m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 82471 57371 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  500.8m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 82237 58334 (LIDAR)

Drop:  31.5m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  5.91% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

Gnol Ddu

Summit Height:  529.9m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 82386 59935 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  512.6m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 82420 60272 (LIDAR)

Drop:  17.2m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  3.25% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet