23.02.16 Pentre
Clawdd Gorse (SJ 311 442)
Pentre Clawdd Gorse (SJ 311 442) is the wooded summit on the left of this photograph |
The summit of Pentre
Clawdd Gorse is linked with that of Wynnstay Park (SJ 310 429) which is an
approximate kilometre due south, and the latter was Trimbled on the 20th
October 2015. During that survey I thought that Wynnstay Park was the highest summit in the area that connected to the bwlch at SJ 307 441. It was only later when examining a number of maps that I noticed that Pentre
Clawdd Gorse had two small 140m ring contours at its summit, and as Wynnstay
Park was Trimbled as being 141.2m high and its drop to a natural bwlch at SJ 307 437
being surveyed as 29.5m, it meant that Pentre Clawdd Gorse could be the higher
summit, and if it was surveyed as being 0.5m higher than Wynnstay Park it would
also become Wales’ newest P30.
Wynnstay Park (SJ 309 429) from close to the summit of Pentre Clawdd Gorse |
Parking next to the
Broth Lodge I walked back across the A 539 toward a foot stile giving access to
a footpath and field on the north side of the road. I’d used this same footpath when surveying the natural bwlch in October of last year, then I’d followed the field ridge fence and
connected with another footpath which brought me down to the area of the bwlch,
today I remained in the field and followed its ridge northward beside the
remains of a section of Wat’s Dyke.
The view over the hedge on the roadside with Wat's Dyke following the left hand ridge from the wooded summit of Pentre Clawdd Gorse |
Wat’s Dyke is an
earthwork approximately 64 km (40 miles) in length and which straggles the
countryside between Maesbury in Shropshire in the south and Basingwerk Abbey
near to the River Dee estuary in the north.
For much of this distance it runs parallel with its more famous cousin;
Offa’s Dyke.
I hoped that the high
point of the first of the two 140m ring contours was not obstructed by
undergrowth and trees, as this may prove problematic for satellite reception. As I gained height I left the field and
walked on the Dyke, still following the footpath as it continued through the
tree lined canopy. The first high point
proved relatively easy to identify and although it was positioned under a
number of trees it had a fairly good view of the sky. I set the Trimble up on my rucksack and
waited in the field below, from this vantage point the Dyke rose by at least 2m
from its base and as the 140m ring contour took in the base of the earthwork I
thought its height would be sufficient for the hill to gain P30 status.
After ten minutes or so
the accuracy level attained 0.1m and I pressed Log, and scampered down the bank
to wait in the field below. To my west
the continuous hum of traffic on the A483 road steadily meandered its way through
the otherwise tranquil countryside.
After pressing the ‘Done’ button on the Trimble I took a number of
photographs of it perched on my rucksack at the high point of this section of
Wat’s Dyke.
Gathering data from the summit of Pentre Clawdd Gorse |
My next and last
objective of the day was the second 140m ring contour; this is placed at the
top of a turnip field which conveniently has a footpath crossing it close to
its summit. As the Trimble gathered its
data I stood admiring the colour cast down on the surrounding land as the
afternoon light lit all around. Just
before closing the Trimble down I noticed another high point buried behind a
holly tree, this seemed unusually shaped, but when I walked to it, it was solid
underfoot, this meant one last Trimble survey was necessary for me to walk away
happy in the knowledge that all summit contenders had been surveyed.
Gathering data in a field full of turnips and which constitutes where the second 140m ring contour is placed, with the summit of Pentre Clawdd Gorse in the background on the left of this photograph |
This last survey took an
age as the Trimbe was obstructed by a canopy of mature trees, I waited
patiently for about 15 – 20 minutes until the 0.1m accuracy level appeared
before data should be logged, once this magical mark appeared on the screen, I
quickly pressed Log and stood behind the trees and waited for five minutes of
data to be collected.
The last data set of the day proved to be where an old quarry is marked on old maps |
Balanced on top of a solid mound of earth the Trimble gathers its last data set of the day |
Looking toward where the second 140m ring contour appears on the ground with the remains of the old quarry hidden in the trees |
On my way back I chatted
with a man who was out walking his two dogs, I’d noticed him from afar and on
my way down the field he had stood motionless, just looking east, taking in the
view and the light, when I approached we said our hello’s and both commented
what a beautiful afternoon it was. And
indeed it was, a glow was cascading down upon the landscape, a rather magical
late afternoon winter’s glow that percolated one’s need to be out in such
surroundings and brought a contented happiness to one’s being.
Survey Result:
Pentre Clawdd Gorse
Summit Height: 142.0m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000 and confirmed as higher than Wynnstay Park [SJ 31001 42958])
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 31131 44252 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) (summit relocation confirmed)
Bwlch Height: 109.8m (LIDAR)
Summit Height: 142.0m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000 and confirmed as higher than Wynnstay Park [SJ 31001 42958])
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 31131 44252 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) (summit relocation confirmed)
Bwlch Height: 109.8m (LIDAR)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 30789 44141 (LIDAR)
Postscript: It had been a good day on the hill, with four
places visited and an impressive reclassification hit rate achieved as evidenced
below:
Parc y Borth (SH 558 375) –
reclassified from a Dominant to a Lesser Dominant.
Moel y Gadair (SH 521 391) –
reclassified from a 30–99m Twmpau to a 30-99m Sub-Twmpau, and also deleted from
the Lesser Dominant list.
Pt. 258m (SH 811 542) – Re-instated
as a 200m Twmpau from a 200m Sub-Twmpau.
Pentre Clawdd Gorse (SJ 311
442) – new 100m Twmpau.
For the post detailing the
bwlch survey of Pentre Clawdd Gorse please click {here}
For further details please
consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet click {here}
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