Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – 100m Twmpau

 

Cae Mawr (SN 462 175) and Safle Claddu Nant y Caws (SN 468 174) & (SN 469 174) – Dual Summit 100m Twmpau addition

There has been a Dual Summit addition to the list of 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 Cae Mawr (SN 462 175) and Safle Claddu Nant y Caws (SN 468 174 & SN 469 174)

The criteria for the list that this addition 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.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward. 

100m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

 

Dual Summit hills:

A hill classified as a Dual Summit is defined as one which has an extant natural summit coupled with that of a higher artificial summit, with the latter that can be described as stable in character.  In the main, these recent man-made constructions are the result of quarrying activities producing spoil tips, or as in this instance a landfill.  These recent man-made constructions are treated differently to ancient man-made constructions such as hill forts and tumuli, as if the latter are deemed stable and of an earthen character their age dictates that they can be viewed as being permanent in nature and are now effectively a part of the hill.  For those bagging Dual Summit hills, a visit to either the natural high point or the elevated man-made high point is sufficient to claim an ascent of the hill.  With the Dual Summit classification being a relatively new category and fist instigated in January 2018 for a Dual Summit Pedwar.

 

The name the hill is now listed by is Cae Mawr for the lower natural summit and Safle Claddu Nant y Caws for the higher man-made summit, and it 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 the two summits are positioned with the A48 road to their north and a minor road to their south-west, and has the town of Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen) towards the north-west. 

When the original 100m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, the natural summit was included in the main P30 list with a 155m summit height, based on the spot height adjoined to a triangulation pillar positioned at SN 46405 17608 that appears on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map. 

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

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 then separated in to its two component parts, with the man-made summit listed with an estimated c 59m of drop, based on an estimated c 156m summit height and an estimated c 97m bwlch height, with both heights based on interpolation of 5m contouring that appeared on the interactive mapping hosted on the OS Maps website.  With the lower natural summit listed with a 155 summit height and the bwlch between these two summits estimated as c 138m, which if separating these hills would give an estimated c 17m of drop.

However, it was not until LIDAR became available that the details for these summits 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 addition of this hill to Dual Summit 100m Twmpau status is due to LIDAR analysis, resulting in a 155.1m summit height for the natural summit and a 163.8m summit height for the man-made summit, and a 98.5m bwlch height, with these values giving the natural summit 56.6m of drop and the man-made summit 65.3m of drop, with the details for the higher summit prioritised within the list. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Sylen

Name:  Cae Mawr (natural Dual Summit) and Safle Claddu Nant y Caws (artificial Dual Summit)

OS 1:50,000 map:  159

Summit Height:  155.1m (natural Dual Summit) (LIDAR) and 163.8m (artificial Dual Summit (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 46268 17566 (natural Dual Summit) (LIDAR) and SN 46899 17416 & SN 46900 17411 (artificial Dual Summit) (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  98.5m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 39491 11374 & SN 39493 11375 (LIDAR)

Drop:  56.6m (natural Dual Summit) (LIDAR) and 65.3m (artificial Dual Summit) (LIDAR)

 

Myrddyn Phillips (January 2025)

 

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

Coed Issa (SN 681 990) 

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 Coed Issa (SN 681 990)

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.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, 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 Tarren y Gesail 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 west and a minor road to its east, and has the town of Machynlleth towards the east 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 included in the Hills to be surveyed sub list under the transposed name of Penmaen Bach, which is a prominent name appearing adjacent to the hill on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map.

Penmaen Bach

50c

SN682991

135

23

Three points of same height

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 the name of a farm and use it for that of the 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 112 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 Coed Issa in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Tywyn and in the county named as Merioneth. 

Extract from the apportionments

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

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Tarren y Gesail

Name:  Coed Issa

Previously Listed Name:  Penmaen Bach 

OS 1:50,000 map:  135

Summit Height:  53.2m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 68145 99017 (LIDAR)               

Bwlch Height:  28.2m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 68129 99337 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  24.9m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (January 2025)

 

 

  

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

 

Upper Hill (SN 995 783) 

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 Upper Hill (SN 995 783)

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 Hirddywel group of hills, which are situated in the northern part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B2), and it is positioned with minor roads to its north-west, south and east, and the B4518 road to its west, and has the town of Llanidloes towards the north-west.

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 Garth Fach, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the East.

Garth Fach

354m

SN995783

136/147

214

Name from buildings 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 transpose a name of a farm and use it for that of the 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 749 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 Upper Hill in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llandinam and in the county named as Montgomeryshire. 

Extract from the apportionments

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

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Hirddywel 

Name:  Upper Hill 

Previously Listed Name:  Garth Fach 

OS 1:50,000 map:  136, 147

Summit Height:  353.85m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 99565 78366 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  329.5m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 99937 78706 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  24.4m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (January 2025)

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – The Fours – The 400m Hills of England

 

Pt. 426.8m (NY 272 143) – Sub-Four addition

There has been an addition to the listing of 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 Pt. 426.8m (NY 272 143)

The criteria for the list that this addition 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 hill is listed by the point (Pt. 426.8m) notation, and it is adjoined to the High Raise group of hills, which are situated in the English Lake District, and it is positioned with the B5289 road to its west, and has the small community of Rosthwaite towards the west north-west.

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 not listed, with subsequent interpolation giving it an estimated c 10m of drop, based on an estimated c 427m summit height and an estimated c 417m col height, with both heights based on interpolation of 10m contouring 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.

Therefore, the addition of this hill to Sub-Four status is due to LIDAR analysis, resulting in a 426.8m summit height and a 411.1m col height, with these values giving this hill 15.7m of drop, which is sufficient for it to be classified as a Sub-Four.

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  High Raise

Name:  Pt. 426.8m

OS 1:50,000 map:  89, 90

Summit Height:  426.8m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  NY 27236 14340 (LIDAR)

Col Height:  411.1m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  NY 27236 14507 (LIDAR)

Drop:  15.7m (LIDAR)

 

For the additions, deletions and reclassifications to The Fours – The 400m Hills of England reported on Mapping Mountains since the December 2013 publication of the 1^st edition of this list by Europeaklist please consult the following Change Registers:

 

The Fours

 

Sub-Fours

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (January 2025)

 

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 200m Twmpau

 

Cross Lane Piece (SJ 097 084) 

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 Cross Lane Piece (SJ 097 084)

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.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, 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 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 immediate north-east, the A495 road to its north-west and the A458 road to its south, and has the town of Llanfair Caereinion towards the south south-east.

When the original 200m 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 under the invented and transposed name of Bryn Garth-lwyd, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the South-East.

Bryn Garth-lwyd

220c

SJ097084

125

215/239

Name from buildings to the South-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, with little consideration for the meaning of the name and where it was appropriately applied to.  My preference was to use farm names and put Pen, Bryn or Moel in front of them.  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 1512 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 Cross Lane Piece the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llanfair and in the county named as Montgomery. 

Extract from the apportionments

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

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Esgeiriau Gwynion

Name:  Cross Lane Piece

Previously Listed Name:  Bryn Garth-lwyd   

OS 1:50,000 map:  125

Summit Height:  221.7m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 09744 08444 & SJ 09744 08446 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  178.6m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 09877 08060 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  43.1m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (January 2025)