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

 

Daufraich (SM 661 236) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the Y Pellennig – The Remotest Hills of Wales and the 30-99m Twmpau, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey and its de-twinning reliant upon LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

Daufraich (SM 661 236)

The criteria for the two listings that this summit relocation applies to are:

Y Pellennig –The Remotest Hills of Wales - Welsh hills whose summit is at least 2.5km from the nearest paved public road and the hill has a minimum 15m of drop.  The list is co-authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams and is available as a downloadable e-booklet or print-booklet version on Mapping Mountains Publications with the up-to-date master list available on Mapping Mountains to download in Google Doc format. 

Y Pellennig - The Remotest Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams

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 name the hill is listed by is Daufraich and it is adjoined to the Garn Fawr group of hills, which are situated in the south-western part of South Wales (Region C2, Sub-Region C2A), and it is positioned on an island to the west of mainland Wales with a minor road on the mainland to its east, and has the city of Tyddewi (St David’s) on the mainland also 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 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. 

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 listed with 21m of drop, based on the twin 21m summit spot heights positioned at SM 66198 23680 and SM 66173 23699 that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map. 

The summit area of Daufraich

Looking from the higher to the lower summit of Daufraich

However, it was not until the survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 and subsequent LIDAR analysis 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. 

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the summit of Daufraich (SM 661 236)

The height produced by the Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey to the summit of this hill is 21.7m and is positioned at SM 66199 23673, with LIDAR giving the other top as 21.4m positioned at SM 66200 23673, 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 either on Ordnance Survey maps or interactive mapping, 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 considered a relatively recent man-made construct, or the listing of a new twin summit or de-twinning of a summit, 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. 

LIDAR image of Daufraich (SM 661 236)

Therefore, the new listed summit height of this hill is 21.7m and this is positioned at SM 66199 23673 and this was derived from a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey, this matches the approximate position of one of the spot heights and has resulted in the de-twinning of this hill.

 

ills of Wales, and are reproduced below@

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Garn Fawr

Name:  Daufraich

OS 1:50,000 map:  157

Summit Height:  21.7m (converted to OSGM15) 

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SM 66199 23673 

Bwlch Height:  N/A (island) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  N/A (island) 

Drop:  21.7m 

Remoteness:  6.450km

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (September 2026)

Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – Y Pellennig – The Remotest Hills of Wales, The Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru and 600m Twmpau

Carnedd Llechwedd Llyfn (SH 857 444) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the Y Pellennig – The Remotest Hills of Wales, The Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru and the 600m Twmpau, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Aled Williams. 

LIDAR image of Carnedd Llechwedd Llyfn (SH 857 444)

The criteria for the three listings that this summit relocation applies to are: 

Y Pellennig –The Remotest Hills of Wales - Welsh hills whose summit is at least 2.5km from the nearest paved public road and the hill has a minimum 15m of drop.  The list is co-authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams and is available as a downloadable e-booklet or print-booklet version on Mapping Mountains Publications with the up-to-date master list available on Mapping Mountains to download in Google Doc format. 

Y Pellennig - The Remotest Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams

The Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru – Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 15m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Highland Subs, the criteria for which is all Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 10m or more and below 15m of drop.  This list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams with the Introduction to the list published on Mapping Mountains in November 2015 and the latest update relating to the list published on Mapping Mountains in January 2023.

The Welsh Highlands - Uchafion Cymru by Aled Williams and Myrddyn Phillips

600m Twmpau - Welsh hills at or above 600m and below 700m in height with 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 600m Sub-Twmpau with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 600m and below 700m 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.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and is available to download in Google Doc format from Mapping Mountains. 

600m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Carnedd Llechwedd Llyfn and it is adjoined to the Carnedd y Filiast group of hills, which are situated in the central part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with minor roads to its north-west and north-east, the A5 road farther to its north, the B4407 road farther to its north-west and the A4212 road to its south, and has the town of Y Bala towards the south-east.

When the original list that later became known as the The Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru was first compiled, this hill was listed with an estimated c 25m of drop, based on the 643m summit spot height positioned at SH 85778 44459 that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map, and an estimated c 618m bwlch height, based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 600m – 610m. 

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

Since the original compilation of these lists there have been a number of maps made available online.  Some of these are historic such as the series of Six-Inch maps on the National Library of Scotland website.  Whilst others were digitally updated such as the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map, whilst others are current and digitally updated such as the interactive mapping on the Magic Maps and WalkLakes websites.

The details for this hill were re-assessed when the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map became available online.  This mapping had many spot heights not on other publicly available Ordnance Survey maps and for this hill it had a twin 643m summit spot height positioned at SH 85789 44665 (latterly shown on the DataMapWales) and a 618m bwlch spot height, with these values giving this hill 25m of drop and resulting in the hill being listed as a twin top. 

Extract from the DataMapWales

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 Carnedd Llechwedd Llyfn (SH 857 444)

The height produced by LIDAR analysis to the summit of this hill is 644.1m and is positioned at SH 85783 44460, whilst LIDAR gives the highest ground adjacent to where the 643m spot height appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map as 643.6m positioned at SH 85785 44677 and SH 85782 44676 and SH 85785 44674 and SH 85779 44667, 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 either on Ordnance Survey maps or interactive mapping, 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 considered a relatively recent man-made construct, or the listing of a new twin summit or de-twinning of a summit, 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 new listed summit height of this hill is 644.1m and this is positioned at SH 85783 44460 and this was derived from LIDAR analysis, this position approximately matches that of the spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map and has resulted in the de-twinning of this hill.

 

ills of Wales, and are reproduced below@

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Carnedd y Filiast

Name:  Carnedd Llechwedd Llyfn

OS 1:50,000 map:  124, 125

Summit Height:  644.1m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SH 85783 44460 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  618.7m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 86005 44925 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  25.4m (LIDAR) 

Remoteness:  2.860km

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (September 2026) 

Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – Y Pellennig – The Remotest Hills of Wales

Graig Wen (SN 786 629) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the Y Pellennig – The Remotest 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 Graig Wen (SN 786 629)

The criteria for the list that this summit relocation applies to are:

Y Pellennig –The Remotest Hills of Wales - Welsh hills whose summit is at least 2.5km from the nearest paved public road and the hill has a minimum 15m of drop.  The list is co-authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams and is available as a downloadable e-booklet or print-booklet version on Mapping Mountains Publications with the up-to-date master list available on Mapping Mountains to download in Google Doc format. 

Y Pellennig - The Remotest Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams

The name the hill is listed by is Graig Wen, and this was derived from local enquiry and it is adjoined to the Esgair Wen 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 north-west and the B4343 road farther to its north-west, and has the village of Pontrhydfendigaid also towards the north-west.

When the listing that became known as the Y Pellennig – The Remotest Hills of Wales was first compiled, this hill was listed with an estimated c 16m of drop, based on the 479m summit spot height positioned at SN 78618 62909 that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map, and an estimated c 463m bwlch height, based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 460m – 470m. 

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 479.3m positioned at SN 78613 62923.  However, this is to the top of what LIDAR indicates is a raised ridge line of trees 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 o Graig Wen (SN 786 629)

The summit area of this hill is intermittently covered by conifer plantation and therefore this whole area has been disturbed by man, however the height produced by LIDAR analysis to the highest centralised contour and to what could be deemed the natural summit of this hill is 479.2m and is positioned at SN 78619 62908, 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 either on Ordnance Survey maps or interactive mapping, 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 considered a relatively recent man-made construct, or the listing of a new twin summit or de-twinning of a summit, 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 new listed summit height of this hill is 479.2m and this is positioned at SN 78619 62908 and this was derived from LIDAR analysis, this position is approximately 15 metres south south-eastward from where the high point of the raised line of trees is positioned.

 

ills of Wales, and are reproduced below@

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Esgair Wen

Name:  Graig Wen

OS 1:50,000 map:  146, 147

Summit Height:  479.2m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SN 78619 62908 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  459.9m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 78426 63149 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  19.3m (LIDAR) 

Remoteness:  3.000km

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (February 2026) 

Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – Y Pellennig – The Remotest Hills of Wales, Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru and 900m Twmpau

 

Foel Fras (SH 696 681) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the Y Pellennig – The Remotest Hills of Wales, Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru and 900m Twmpau, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from a Leica RX1250 survey conducted by Alan Dawson. 

Foel Fras (SH 696 681) from the summit of Trwsgl (SH 663 679)

The criteria for the three listings that this summit relocation applies to are:

Y Pellennig –The Remotest Hills of Wales - Welsh hills whose summit is at least 2.5km from the nearest paved public road and the hill has a minimum 15m of drop.  The list is co-authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams and is available as a downloadable e-booklet or print-booklet version on Mapping Mountains Publications with the up-to-date master list available on Mapping Mountains to download in Google Doc format. 

Y Pellennig - The Remotest Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams

Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru – Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 15m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Highland Subs, the criteria for which is all Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 10m or more and below 15m of drop.  This list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams with the Introduction to the list published on Mapping Mountains in November 2015 and the latest update relating to the list published on Mapping Mountains in January 2023.

Welsh Highlands - Uchafion Cymru by Aled Williams and Myrddyn Phillips

900m Twmpau - Welsh hills at or above 900m and below 1000m in height with 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 900m Sub-Twmpau with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 900m and below 1000m 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.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and is available to download in Google Doc format from Mapping Mountains.

900m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Foel Fras and it is adjoined to the Carnedd Llywelyn group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with the A55 road to its north-west, the A5 road to its south-west and the B5106 and A470 roads to its east, and has the town of Bethesda towards the west south-west. 

When the original list that later became known as the Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru was first compiled, this hill was listed with 58m of drop, based on the 942m summit spot height adjoined to a triangulation pillar positioned at SH 69652 68173 that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map, and the 884m bwlch spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map.

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

However, the summit area of this hill is rocky and includes a number of substantial upright rock spikes.  One of the earliest Abney Level surveys to ascertain the high point of this hill was conducted in 2011 by Graham Jackson.  This survey concluded that a rock spike approximately 55 metres south-wesward of the trig pillar is the highest point of this hill. 

This rock spike was subsequently surveyed by Alan Dawson using the Leica RX1250, resulting in a 944.1m summit height positioned at SH 69611 68118, 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 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.

The Leica RX1250 gathering data at the summit of Foel Fras (SH 696 681).  Photo: Alan Dawson  

Therefore, the new listed summit height of this hill is 944.1m and this is positioned at SH 69611 68118 and this was derived from a Leica RX1250 survey, this position is approximately 55 metres south-westward from where the triangulation pillar is positioned and importantly it is positioned to a different feature.

 

ills of Wales, and are reproduced below@

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Carnedd Llywelyn

Name:  Foel Fras

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height:  944.1m (converted to OSGM15, Leica RX1250) 

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SH 69611 68118 (Leica RX1250) 

Bwlch Height:  881.3m (converted to OSGM15, Leica RX1250) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 68799 66515 (Leica RX1250) 

Drop:  62.8m (Leica RX1250) 

Remoteness:  3.975km

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (August 2024)