Monthly Synopsis

 

Synopsis of all major changes detailed on Mapping Mountains during the last calendar month.  These can include new, confirmation and retrospective changes

 

Hill Reclassifications: 

Grug (SN 441 328) - 200m Sub-Twmpau addition

Ffridd (SN 708 986) - 30-99m Sub-Twmpau addition

Graig y Barcut (SN 546 027) - 100m Sub-Twmpau reclassified to 100m Twmpau

Bryn (SH 802 814) - Welsh Sub-P15 deletion

Blackkip (NT 799 043) - Sub-Four addition

Significant Height Revisions: 

Pt. 457.5m (NT 802 125) - The Fours - The 400m Hills of England

Cefn (SH 721 004) - 100m Twmpau and Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales

The Heart's Toe (NT 766 069) - The Fours - The 400m Hills of England

Crugiau Dwy (SN 171 311) - Y Trichant - The 300m Hills of Wales

Penllwyngwyn Mawr (SN 549 007) - 30-99m Twmpau and Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales

Comin Gwauncaegurwen (SN 738 129) - 100m Twmpau

Blackkip (NT 799 043) - The Fours - The 400m Hills of England 

Summit Relocations: 

Pt. 120.4m (SN 507 022) - 100m Twmpau

Pen y Garn (SN 314 371) - 200m Twmpau

Grug (SN 441 328) - 200m Twmpau

Crugiau Dwy (SN 171 311) - Y Trichant - The 300m Hills of Wales

Penllwyngwyn Mawr (SN 549 007) - 30-99m Twmpau and Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales

Significant Name Changes: 

Bishop's Quarries (SH 766 829) - The Welsh P15s

Cnwc yr Hydd (SN 082 344) - Y Trichant - The 300m Hills of Wales

Box Cemetary (SN 520 009) - 30-99m Twmpau

Pt. 120.4m (SN 507 022) - 100m Twmpau

Craig Rofft (SH 776 831) - The Welsh P15s

Ffridd (SN 708 986) - 30-99m Twmpau

Bryn (SH 802 814) - The Welsh P15s

Grug (SN 441 328) - 200m Twmpau

Mapping Mountains – Significant Height Revisions – The Fours – The 400m Hills of England

Blackkip (NT 799 043) 

There has been a Significant Height Revision to a hill that is listed in the The Fours – The 400m Hills of England, with the summit height, col height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Blackkip (NT 799 043)

The criteria for the list that this height revision applies to are:

The Fours – The 400m Hills of England - English hills at or above 400m and below 500m in height that have 30m minimum drop, accompanying the main list is a sub list entitled the Sub-Fours, the criteria for which are all English hills at or above 400m and below 500m in height that have 15m or more and below 30m of drop.  The list is co-authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams and is available to download in Google Doc format from the Mapping Mountains site.

The Fours - The 400m Hills of England by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams

The name the hill is listed by is Blackkip, and it is adjoined to the Thirl Moor group of hills, which are situated in Northumberland, and it is positioned with minor roads to its north, west and east, and the A68 road to its south, and has the small community of Rochester towards the south-east.

When the Introduction to the first group of hills for the updated and revised listing of the The Fours – The 400m Hills of England was published by Mapping Mountains on the 10^th September 2022, it was announced that the accompanying sub lists were being revised with the two 390m categories dispensed with and the criteria and name of the 400m Sub-Fours revised.  The one accompanying sub list is now named the Sub-Fours with its criteria being all English hills 400m and above and below 500m in height that have 15m and more and below 30m of drop.

Prior to this revision this hill was listed with an estimated c 14m of drop, based on the 445m summit spot height positioned at NT 79821 04293 that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map and an estimated c 431m col height, based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 430m – 440m. 

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 Blackkip (NT 799 043)

LIDAR analysis gives the height of this hill as 448.6m positioned at NT 79958 04358, and when compared to its originally listed summit height of 445m 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, Harvey or other interactive 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 with the data produced by the Trimble or by LIDAR analysis.

Therefore, the new listed summit height of this hill is 448.6m and this was derived from LIDAR analysis, this is 3.6m higher than its originally listed 445m summit height, which appears as a spot height on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Thirl Moor

Name:  Blackkip

OS 1:50,000 map:  80

Summit Height (New Height):  448.6m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  NT 79958 04358 (LIDAR)

Col Height:  429.3m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  NT 80006 04487 (LIDAR)

Drop:  19.3m (LIDAR)

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (October 2024)

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 200m Twmpau

Grug (SN 441 328) 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 200m Twmpau, 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 Grug (SN 441 328)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

200m Twmpau – Welsh hills at or above 200m and below 300m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 200m Sub-Twmpau, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 200m and below 300m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward. 

200m Twmpau 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 a minor road to its north and south-east, and the A485 road to its east, and has the town of Llandysul towards the north north-west.

When the original 200m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was not included in the accompanying Hills to be surveyed sub list, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used for this sub category.

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 under the point (Pt. 266m) notation with 25m of drop, based on the 266m summit spot height positioned on a road at SN 44142 32904 that appears on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map and the 241m bwlch spot height that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map. 

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 2553 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 Grug in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llanfihangel-ar-arth and in the county named as Carmarthenshire. 

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 200m Twmpau is Grug, and this was derived from the Tithe map. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Pencarreg

Name:  Grug

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. 266m   

OS 1:50,000 map:  146

Summit Height:  266.6m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 44127 32866 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  240.6m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 45100 33058 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  26.0m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (October 2024)

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – The Welsh P15s

 

Bryn (SH 802 814) 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that was listed in The Welsh P15s, 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 Bryn (SH 802 814)

The criteria for the list that this name change was applicable to are:

The Welsh P15s – Welsh hills with 15m minimum drop, irrespective of their height, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Sub-P15s, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills with 14m or more and below 15m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 10^th May 2019. 

The Welsh P15s by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills, which are situated in the northern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the B5115 road to its north, the A470 road to its south-west and a minor road to its south, and has the town of Llandudno towards the west north-west.

When the listing that became known as The Welsh P15s was being compiled, this hill was included in the P14 sub list under the point (Pt. 122m) notation with an estimated c 14m of drop, based on the 122m summit spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map and an estimated c 108m bwlch height, based on interpolation of 5m contouring between 105m – 110m. 

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

However, it was not until LIDAR became available that the numerical 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 analysis gives the natural summit of this hill as 121.0m and with a 107.2m bwlch height, these values give this hill 13.75m of drop, which is insufficient for it to be classified as a Welsh P15. 

Extract from the Tithe 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 apportionments

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 157 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 Bryn in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llandudno and in the county named as Caernarfon.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by is Bryn and this was derived from the Tithe map. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog 

Name:  Bryn

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. 122m 

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  121.0m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 80242 81475 (LIDAR)                                                  

Bwlch Height:  107.2m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 80175 81398 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  13.75m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (October 2024)

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Glyder Fawr

17.08.24  Elidir Fach (SH 603 613) 

A chilly early morning walk through the upper portion of Chwarel Dinorwig brought me onto the open hillside beneath the summit of Elidir Fach.  Shortly after the release of new Welsh LIDAR data in early 2023, this hill was deleted from the Subs of The Welsh Highlands list due to the resultant 9.8m drop failing the 10.0m qualification threshold.  Ever since, this hill has been high on the priority list for an accurate Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey.

The first survey for summit position and height.  Photo: Aled Williams.

The summit of Elidir Fach consists of a shelter-cairn built around small outcrops of rock, one of which being a contender for the high point of the hill.  Beside the cairn on the north side is another contender, a small outcropping rock, seemingly at the central point of the summit dome.  A third contender is a larger boulder found to the south of the cairn among a collection of weathered outcrops.  I checked each out from various angles with an Abney level, but struggled to definitively rule out one of the others.  There was only one thing for it – three summit surveys were necessary!

The second survey for summit position and height.  Photo: Aled Williams.

I thankfully had the summit all to myself for the duration of the surveying, free of distraction and interruption.  This proved unusual as over the next hour no fewer than eight people would come and go from this minor top.

The summit area with the Trimble at the third summit contender.  Photo: Aled Williams.

The next phase was to survey the bwlch, which I knew in advance would entail two sets of measurements given that LIDAR data gave two positions of equal height.  I was however glad of LIDAR positioning, as the flat expanse of the bwlch made judging the low point by eye extremely difficult.

The bwlch backed by the upper slope of Elidir Fawr.  Photo: Aled Williams.

As data collected on the bwlch, I looked upon the continuation of the Eryri peaks either side of it with the pastoral lands of Môn stretching on beyond the Menai.  I felt glad to be born a Welshman!  I packed up the equipment and headed back down to the car.  It had been an enjoyable morning on the hill and I was looking forward to know the outcome of the surveying work.

Surveying one of the two options for the critical bwlch.  Photo: Aled Williams.

Surveying one of the two options for the critical bwlch.  Photo: Aled Williams.

 

Aled Williams (August 2024)

 

Survey Result: 

 

Elidir Fach

Summit Height:  794.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 60377 61341

Bwlch Height:  784.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 60556 61279

Drop:  10.0m (Welsh Highland Sub reinstatement)

Dominance:  1.26%

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - 30-99m Twmpau

 

30-99m Twmpau – Significant Name Changes

The 30-99m Twmpau (thirty welsh metre prominences and upward) are the Welsh hills at or above 30m and below 100m in height that have a minimum drop of 30m.  Accompanying the main P30 list is a sub list entitled the 30-99m Sub-Twmpau with the qualification to this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 30m and below 100m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop.

The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and the posts that have appeared on Mapping Mountains detailing the significant name changes to the main P30 list and the sub list appear below presented chronologically in receding order.

Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - 30-99m Twmpau

Parc (SH 755 006) - 108th significant name change

Hill Reclassifications post for Parc

 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 30-99m Twmpau, 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 Parc (SH 755 006)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

30-99m Twmpau - Welsh hills at or above 30m and below 100m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 30-99m Sub-Twmpau, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 30m and below 100m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward. 

30-99m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Banc Llechwedd Mawr group of hills, which are situated in the northern part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with the A489 road to its north and a minor road to its south, and has the town of Machynlleth towards the north-west.

When the original 30-99m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was not included in the Hills to be surveyed sub list, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used for this sub category.

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 under the name of Parc Common, which is a prominent name that appears adjacent to the summit of this hill on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map.  With its numerical details given as an estimated c 21m of drop, based on the 58m summit spot height that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map and an estimated c 37m bwlch height, based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 30m – 40m. 

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

The intricacies of language and prioritising one in favour of another for listing a hill is fraught with complication, with originating Cymraeg names being anglicised and also originating English names being cymricised, examples such as these are more common in border country and especially so for anglicised forms.  There is no steadfast rule that fits all, but as a standard a name that has its origins in the Welsh language and where this is substantiated by either historic documentation and/or contemporary usage should be prioritised in favour of a contemporary anglicised or English version of the name.  Likewise, if a name exists where an element of it is in English and if this name applies to a hill that is situated in a Welsh speaking part of Wales it is standard practice to use a full Welsh term for the name.  It is also standard practice to use a Welsh name for a hill if another name exists that has originated in a different language.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 30-99m Twmpau is Parc, with this name prioritised over the mixed language name favoured on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Banc Llechwedd Mawr

Name:  Parc

Previously Listed Name:  Parc Common 

OS 1:50,000 map:  135

Summit Height:  59.15m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 75555 00641 (LIDAR)               

Bwlch Height:  33.8m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 75546 00500 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  25.4m (LIDAR) 

 

My thanks to Aled Williams for advice relating to the listed name of this hill 

Myrddyn Phillips (November 2024)

Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - 30-99m Twmpau

Ffridd (SN 708 986) - 107th significant name change

Hill Reclassifications post for Ffridd

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 30-99m Twmpau, 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 (SN 708 986)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

30-99m Twmpau - Welsh hills at or above 30m and below 100m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 30-99m Sub-Twmpau, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 30m and below 100m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward. 

30-99m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Banc Llechwedd Mawr group of hills, which are situated in the northern part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with the A487 road to its west and a minor road to its east, and has the town of Machynlleth towards the north-east.

When the original 30-99m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was not included in the Hills to be surveyed sub list, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used for this sub category.

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 under the point (Pt. 98m) notation with an estimated c 21m of drop, based on the 98m summit spot height that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map and an estimated c 77m bwlch height, based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 70m – 80m. 

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 980 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 in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Machynlleth and in the county named as Montgomery. 

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 30-99m Twmpau is Ffridd, and this was derived from the Tithe map. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Banc Llechwedd Mawr

Name:  Ffridd

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. 98m 

OS 1:50,000 map:  135

Summit Height:  97.6m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 70875 98692 (LIDAR)               

Bwlch Height:  74.5m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 71072 98917 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  23.1m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (October 2024)

 

Mapping Mountains - Significant Name Changes - 30-99m Twmpau

Box Cemetery (SN 520 009) - 106th significant name change

Hill Reclassifications post for Box Cemetery

 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 30-99m Twmpau, 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 Box Cemetery (SN 520 009)

The criteria for the list that this name change applies to are:

30-99m Twmpau - Welsh hills at or above 30m and below 100m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 30-99m Sub-Twmpau, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 30m and below 100m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward. 

30-99m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Sylen group of hills, which are situated in the southern part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B5), and it is positioned with a minor road to its north-east, the A476 road to its north-west, a minor road and the A484 road to its south-west and the A4138 road to its east, and has the town of Llanelli surrounding it.

When the original 30-99m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was not included in the Hills to be surveyed sub list, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used for this sub category.

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 under the point (Pt. 48m) notation with 19m of drop, based on the 48m summit spot height that apperas on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map and the 29m bwlch spot height that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map. 

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

Since the original publication of the Welsh P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website there have been a number of resources made available online, and a variety of these refer to the area taking in this hill as Box Cemetery.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 30-99m Twmpau is Box Cemetery, and this was derived from a variety of online sources. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Sylen

Name:  Box Cemetery

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. 48m 

OS 1:50,000 map:  159

Summit Height:  48.5m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 52024 00937 & SN 52025 00938 & SN 52028 00939 & SN 52030 00937 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  27.1m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 52103 01769 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  21.4m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (October 2024)