Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 100m Twmpau

Comin Gwauncaegurwen (SN 738 129) 

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 Comin Gwauncaegurwen (SN 738 129) 

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 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 the A4068 road to its north-east, the A4069 road to its west and a minor road to its south-east, and has the village of Brynaman towards the west north-west.

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 with no significant contours of note on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map it was difficult to know whether any hill of note existed. 

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 that could be deemed as natural as 196.6m, and with a 174.7m bwlch height, these values give this hill 21.8m of drop, which is sufficient for it to be classified as a 100m Sub-Twmpau.

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.

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 195 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 a part of Gwauncaegurwen Common on the Tithe map and in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llan-giwg and in the county named as Glamorgan. 

Extract from the Tithe 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 listed by in the 100m Twmpau is Comin Gwauncaegurwen and this was derived from the Tithe map with the prioritised language protocol being used. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Du 

Name:  Comin Gwauncaegurwen 

Previously Listed Name:  unclassified 

OS 1:50,000 map:  160

Summit Height:  196.6m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 73812 12929 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  174.7m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 73776 13436 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  21.8m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (November 2024)

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 100m Twmpau and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales

 

Cefn (SH 721 004) 

There has been confirmation of a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 100m 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 (SH 721 004)

The criteria for the two listings 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

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 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 north and the A487 road to its south, and has the town of Machynlleth towards the east.

When the original 100m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill appeared under the transposed name of Cefn, with an accompanying note stating; Name from buildings to the North-West.

Cefn

110c

SH722004

135

23

Five points of same height. Name from buildings to the North-West.

 

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 508 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 a part of the farm of Cefn in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Pennal and in the county named as Merioneth. 

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is listed by in the 100m Twmpau and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales is Cefn, and this was derived from the Tithe map.  Although the listed name of this hill remains unchanged, it is worth documenting that the Tithe confirms where its summit is situated as being a part of the lands associated with the farm of Cefn, whereas in its original listing this was based on convenience and transposing. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Tarren y Gesail

Name:  Cefn

Previously Listed Name:  Cefn   

OS 1:50,000 map:  135

Summit Height:  118.2m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 72126 00402 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  59.0m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 72569 00795 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  59.2m (LIDAR) 

Dominance:  50.08% (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (November 2024)

 

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – 30-99m Twmpau

Parc (SH 755 006) – 30-99m Sub-Twmpau addition 

There has been confirmation of an addition to the list of 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 addition 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 name the hill is now listed by is Parc, and it 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 with 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

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 confirmation of the addition of this hill to 30-99m Sub-Twmpau status is due to LIDAR analysis, resulting in a 59.15m summit height and a 33.8m bwlch height, with these values giving this hill 25.4m of drop, which is sufficient for it to be classified as a 30-99m Sub-Twmpau. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Banc Llechwedd Mawr 

Name:  Parc 

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) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (November 2024)

 

  

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

Cefn Lladron (SO 058 908) 

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 Cefn Lladron (SO 058 908)

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 the A489 road to its north and minor roads to its south-west and south-east, and has the town of Y Drenewydd (Newtown) towards the 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 Cefn-nith, with an accompanying note stating; aka Penstrowed Hill.

Cefn-nith

315m

SO059908

136

214/215

317m on 1986 1:50000 map. aka Penstrowed Hill

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 used and where it was appropriately applied to.  My preference was to use farm names and put Pen, Bryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance transpose a prominent name that appears near the summit of this hill on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map.  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

Since the original publication of the Welsh P30 lists on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website 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 that was 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, and it is the series of Ordnance Survey Six-Inch maps that form the basis of the change in the listed name of this hill. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey series of Six-Inch maps

The Ordnance Survey series of Six-Inch maps formed the base map Ordnance Survey used for many decades leading to the production of the 1:10,000 Series of maps, both have now been superseded by the digitised Master Map.  The series of Six-Inch maps are excellent for name placement and especially so compared to the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map, and it is the series of Six-Inch maps as well as the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map that place the name of Cefn Lladron adjacent to the summit of this hill.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales is Cefn Lladron and this was derived from the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map and confirmed by the Ordnance Survey series of Six-Inch maps. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Hirddywel 

Name:  Cefn Lladron 

Previously Listed Name:  Cefn-nith 

OS 1:50,000 map:  136

Summit Height:  316.4m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 05867 90814 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  288.1m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 05336 90482 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  28.3m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (November 2024)