Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 200m Twmpau

 

Pentre Hill (SJ 110 151) 

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 Pentre Hill (SJ 110 151)

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 Foel Cedig group of hills, which are situated in the central part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A3), and it is positioned encircled by minor roads, with the B4393 road farther to its north, the B4382 road farther to its west and the A495 road farther to its south-east, and has the village of Meifod towards the east 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 listed under the invented and directional name of Ffynnon Arthur South Top, with an accompanying note stating; Name from hill to the North.

Ffynnon Arthur South Top

260c

SJ110151

125

239

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 use a directional name based on supplanting the contentious name of a near hill and adding a directional component to it.  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

During a walk to the north of this hill I met John Evans, who farms from Tyncelyn, which is situated to the north-east of this hill.  When I met him he was shepherding sheep up the country lane to their field, once the sheep were penned in we talked about a number of hills which in the main were on the land he farms.  However, I also pointed toward this hill which was just to our south, it was prominent to distinguish as it has the remains of a wind turbine on it whose blades no longer exist.  John and his colleague; Aled Watkins both knew it as Pentre Hill, with the farm of Pentre positioned to its north-west.

Aled Watkins (on left), and John Evans

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 200m Twmpau is Pentre Hill, and this was derived from local enquiry. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Foel Cedig

Name:  Pentre Hill

Previously Listed Name:  Ffynnon Arthur South Top   

OS 1:50,000 map:  125

Summit Height:  261.5m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 11034 15122 & SJ 11035 15123 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  234.2m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 11144 15205 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  27.3m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (December 2024)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – The Welsh P15s

Cae West (SH 813 819) 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is 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 Cae West (SH 813 819)

The criteria for the list that this name change is 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-east, 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 main P15 list under the point (Pt. c 81m) notation with an estimated c 18m of drop, based on an estimated c 81m summit height and an estimated c 63m bwlch height, with both heights based on interpolation of 5m contouring. 

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 72 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 Cae West in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llandudno and in the county named as Caernarfon. 

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in The Welsh P15s is Cae West and this was derived from the Tithe map. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog 

Name:  Cae West

Previously Listed Name:  Pt. c 81m 

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  80.3m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 81343 81957 (LIDAR)                                                  

Bwlch Height:  63.0m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 81395 81871 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  17.3m (LIDAR) 

 

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

Myrddyn Phillips (December 2024)

  

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – 100m Twmpau

Parc y Lan (SN 454 156) – 100m Sub-Twmpau addition

There has been confirmation of an addition to the list of 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 Parc y Lan (SN 454 156)

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

The name the hill is now listed by is Parc y Lan and this was derived from the Tithe map, 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 it is positioned with the A48 road to its north and the B4306 road to its 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, 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 with 26m of drop, based on the 148m summit spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map and the 122m 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

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 100m Sub-Twmpau status is due to LIDAR analysis, resulting in a 148.5m summit height and a 123.7m bwlch height, with these values giving this hill 24.9m of drop, which is sufficient for it to be classified as a 100m Sub-Twmpau. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Sylen 

Name:  Parc y Lan 

OS 1:50,000 map:  159

Summit Height:  148.5m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 45458 15666 & SN 45457 15664 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  123.7m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 46262 16790 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  24.9m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (December 2024)

 

 

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – 30-99m Twmpau

 

Cae Ynys Edwin (SN 678 963) – Double Sub-Twmpau addition 

There has been 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 Cae Ynys Edwin (SN 678 963) 

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 with 30m minimum drop, this height band of hills has two accompanying sub lists, the first of which is 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, and the second sub category is entitled the Double Sub-Twmpau with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 20m and below 30m 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 now listed by is Cae Ynys Edwin and this was derived from the Tithe map, 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 a minor road to its immediate south-east and the A487 road farther to its south-east, and has the small community of Ffwrnais (Furnace) towards the south south-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 with an estimated c 15m of drop, based on an estimated c 23m summit height and an estimated c 8m bwlch 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 Double Sub-Twmpau status is due to LIDAR analysis, resulting in a 29.5m summit height and a 4.2m bwlch height, with these values giving this hill 25.3m of drop, which is sufficient for it to be classified as a Double Sub-Twmpau. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Banc Llechwedd Mawr 

Name:  Cae Ynys Edwin 

OS 1:50,000 map:  135

Summit Height:  29.5m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 67832 96352 (LIDAR)               

Bwlch Height:  4.2m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 67880 96073 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  25.3m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (December)

 

 

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – Y Trichant – The 300m Hills of Wales

Pt. 323.6m (SN 987 839) 

There has been a Summit Relocation 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 Pt. 323.6m (SN 987 839)

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

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 being listed by the point (Pt. 323.6m) notation, and it 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 A470 road to its north and minor roads to its west and east, and has the town of Llanidloes towards the west.

When the original 300m 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 c 320m summit height, based on non interpolation of its uppermost contour that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Exlorer map.  The summit height was subsequently amended to 323m and its position given as SN 98757 83947 when the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map became available online. 

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 323.95m positioned at SN 98833 84026.  However, this is a part of a raised field boundary at the edge of a minor road 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 Pt. 323.6m (SN 987 839)

The height produced by LIDAR analysis to the natural summit of this hill is 323.6m positioned at SN 98748 83949, and this position in relation to the raised field boundary 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 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 summit height produced by LIDAR analysis is 323.6m and this is positioned at SN 98748 83949, this is relatively close to where the 323m spot height appeared, and is approximately 85 metres south-westward from where the high point of the raised field boundary is positioned. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Hirddywel 

Name:  Pt. 323.6m 

OS 1:50,000 map:  136

Summit Height:  323.6m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SN 98748 83949 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  284.3m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 98638 83494 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  39.3m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (December 2024)