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

Llan Ucha Nantgwared (SN 878 316) 

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 Llan Ucha Nantgwared (SN 878 316)

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 Mynydd Epynt group of hills, which are situated in the central part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with minor roads to its west and south, and the A40 road farther to its south-west, and has the village of Pontsenni (Sennybridge) towards the south-east.

The hill appeared in the original 300m height band of Welsh P30 hills published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the transposed name of Twyn y Wern, with an accompanying note stating; Name from hill to the North.

Twyn y Wern

380c

SN878316

160

12

Name from hill to the North

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 transpose a name of a different hill and use it for that of this hill.  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 490 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 Llan Ucha (of the farm) Nantgwared in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llywel and in the county named as Brecon. 

Extract from the apportionments

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

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Epynt 

Name:  Llan Ucha Nantgwared 

Previously Listed Name:  Twyn y Wern 

OS 1:50,000 map:  160

Summit Height:  380.7m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 87891 31661 & SN 87886 31671 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  354.9m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 88002 32543 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  25.8m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (May 2024) 

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – 200m Twmpau

Porfa Bwlch (SN 987 491) – 200m Sub-Twmpau deletion

There has been a deletion of a hill from the list of 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 Porfa Bwlch (SN 987 491)

The criteria for the list that this deletion 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 name the hill is now listed by is Porfa Bwlch and this was derived from the Tithe map, and it is adjoined to the Mynydd Epynt group of hills, which are situated in the central part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with a minor road to its north and east, and the A483 road farther to its north, and has the town of Llanfair-ym-Muallt (Builth Wells) towards the east north-east.

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 with an estimated c 2om of drop, based on the 276m 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 256m bwlch height, based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 250m – 260m. 

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 deletion of this hill from 200m Sub-Twmpau status is due to LIDAR analysis, resulting in a 273.8m summit height and a 253.8m bwlch height, with these values giving this hill 19.95m of drop, which is insufficient for it to be classified as a 200m Sub-Twmpau. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Epynt 

Name:  Porfa Bwlch 

OS 1:50,000 map:  147

Summit Height:  273.8m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 98775 49136 & SN 98777 49139 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  253.8m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 98928 49112 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  19.95m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (May 2024) 

Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – The Welsh P15s

 

Cae Cenfas Ucha (SN 751 118) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the 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 0f Cae Cenfas Ucha (SN 751 118)

The criteria for the list that this summit relocation applies 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 name the hill is listed by is Cae Cenfas Ucha and this was derived from the Tithe map, and it is adjoined to the Mynydd Du 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 west and south, and the A4068 road to its east, and has the community of Y Gurnos towards the south-east. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map

When the listing that became known as The Welsh P15s was being compiled, this hill was not included as with an uppermost 170m contour and bwlch contouring between 160m – 170m that appear on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map, it was judged not to meet the criterion for the main P15 or the accompanying P14 sub list. 

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 analysis gives the highest ground on this hill as 183.2m positioned at SN 75115 11857.  However, this is a part of a raised field boundary and protocols dictate that as this is deemed a relatively recent man-made construct such ground is discounted from the height of a hill. 

LIDAR summit image of Cae Cenfas Ucha (SN 751 118)

The height produced by LIDAR analysis to the natural summit of this hill is 182.8m and this is positioned at SN 75108 11870, and this comes within the parameters of the Summit Relocations used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Summit Relocations applies to when the high point of the hill is positioned in a different field, to a different feature such as a conifer plantation, within a different map contour, a different point where a number of potential summit positions are within close proximity, when natural ground or the natural and intact summit is confirmed compared to a higher point such as a raised field boundary or covered reservoir that is considered a relatively recent man-made construct, or a relocation of approximately 100 metres or more in distance from either the position of a map spot height or from where the summit of the hill was previously thought to exist.

Therefore, the height produced by LIDAR analysis to the natural summit of this hill is 182.8m and this is positioned at SN 75108 11870, this position is not given a spot height on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map, and is approximately 13 metres north north-westward from where the high point of the raised field boundary is positioned.

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Du 

Name:  Cae Cenfas Ucha 

OS 1:50,000 map:  160

Summit Height:  182.8m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SN 75108 11870 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  164.5m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 75202 12488 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  18.3m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (May 2024)

 

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 100m Twmpau

Bryn y Beudy (SH 507 404) 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 100m 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 Bryn y Beudy (SH 507 404)

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

100m Twmpau – Welsh hills at or above 100m and below 200m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 100m Sub-Twmpau, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 100m and below 200m 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. 

100m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Moel Hebog group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with minor roads to its north and south, the B4411 road to its south-west and the A487 road to its north-east, and has the town of Cricieth towards the south.

When the original 100m 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-assessed and it was listed under the point (Pt. 156m) notation with 22m of drop, based on the 156m summit spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map and the 134m 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 98 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 y Beudy in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Cricieth and in the county named as Caernarfon. 

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 100m Twmpau is Bryn y Beudy, and this was derived from the Tithe map. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Moel Hebog

Name:  Bryn y Beudy

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. 156m   

OS 1:50,000 map:  124

Summit Height:  155.2m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 50785 40428 & SH 50786 40429 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  132.7m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 51229 40222 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  22.5m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (May 2024)

 

 

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – 30-99m Twmpau and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales

Cefn y Coed (SH 667 172) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the 30-99m Twmpau 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 LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Cefn y Coed (SH 667 172)

The criteria for the two listings that this summit relocation 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

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 now listed by is Cefn y Coed and this was derived from the Tithe map, and it is adjoined to the Cadair Idris group of hills, which are situated in the south-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A3), and it is positioned with the A493 road to its south-east, and has the town of Dolgellau towards the 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 included in the main P30 list with a non-interpolated summit height of c 90m positioned at SH 666 172, with an accompanying note stating; Two points of same height, a reference to the two uppermost 90m ring contours that appear on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map. 

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

When 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 64m of drop, based on an estimated c 91m summit height positioned at SH 66668 17206 and an estimated c 27m bwlch height, based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 20m – 30m, with these values giving this hill 70.33% dominance.

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 analysis gives the highest ground on this hill as 89.0m positioned at SH 66751 17241, and this comes within the parameters of the Summit Relocations used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Summit Relocations applies when the high point of the hill is found to be positioned; in a different field, to a different feature such as in a conifer plantation,  within a different map contour, to a different point where a number of potential summit positions are within close proximity, when natural ground or the natural and intact summit of a hill is confirmed compared to a higher point such as a raised field boundary or covered reservoir that is judged to be a relatively recent man-made construct, or a relocation of approximately 100 metres or more in distance from either the position of a map spot height or from where the summit of the hill was previously thought to exist.

Therefore, the height produced by LIDAR analysis to the highest ground on this hill is 89.0m and is positioned at SH 66751 17241, this position is not given a spot height on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map, and is approximately 83 metres north-eastward and placed in a different map contour compared to where the previously listed summit is positioned. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Cadair Idris 

Name:  Cefn y Coed 

OS 1:50,000 map:  124

Summit Height:  89.0m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SH 66751 17241 (LIDAR)               

Bwlch Height:  26.7m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 67045 17182 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  62.3m (LIDAR) 

Dominance:  69.98% (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (May 2024)