10.01.21 Upper Park (SJ 189 052, previously Trimbled)
and Cromwell Hill (SJ 182 048, previously Trimbled)
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| Upper Park (SJ 189 052) |
It was chilly at 7.00am
as I set out on the canal towpath heading toward the main street in
Welshpool. Half an hour later and I was
at the top of town adjacent to the Catholic Church and I could see a dimmed
figure waving as she made her way up the pavement from the Raven.
Our plan for the day was
to visit Upper Park, this is the high point of Powys Park and sadly access is
not encouraged, but as we were keeping to Covid restrictions and taking
exercise from our front door we hoped our visit would not disturb anyone.
From where we met, a track
heads up opposite the Church and culminates at a field adjacent to an old
solidly built stone wall whose boundary then continues as a high deer fence. We were soon in the park following a vehicle
track on the grassed field as dawn lightened our surroundings. As we gained height the Breiddin dominated
the easterly view, with their distinctive profile on display.
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| Looking past Welshpool and Yr Allt toward the Breiddin |
The field butts up
against a large and mature plantation that continues toward the summit of the
hill firstly as conifers and then mixed woodland. It gives a good route toward the summit. We were in the wood by 8.15am and quietly
continued ever upward.
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| 8.15am and now in the wood |
The track through the
wood is at first indistinct, but soon turns to a better maintained track and
the higher we got a sprinkling of snow on the ground showed that a vehicle had
recently used it, as well as a myriad of animals with their prints
criss-crossing in all directions.
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| Crown Wood |
Toward the high point
the track reaches an open field were a chilled strong breeze blew across the
hill. A short distance further gave us
access to Crown Wood; it is here that the summit of the hill is situated. It was good to be back, but it is not an
ascent I will repeat soon or encourage anyone else to do so, as the estate’s lack
of access does not encourage walks to this wood.
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| Approaching the summit of Upper Park |
Close to the summit is a
building known as Lady Powys’ Summer House.
It has a picnic bench outside which was dry and well sheltered. After visiting the high point we sat at the
bench and enjoyed lunch and a well-earned rest for half an hour or so.
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| Lady Powys' Summer House from the summit of Upper Park |
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| Dinner time - yummy!!! |
After tea and boiled
eggs we walked across the upper field and headed down to the bwlch that
connects with Cromwell Hill. We were
soon at its summit looking out toward Y Golfa and further in the distance sun
glinted off the higher summits of the Y Berwyn.
It was grey immediately above with intermittent misted murk sweeping across
the hill, but the higher hills to our north-west remained in sunlight whilst we
were on these two summits.
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| Cromwell Hill (SJ 182 048) |
It was now downhill all
the way, and after reversing our route back to the bwlch we connected with one
of many tracks that led down through the plantation toward Powys Castle. On the way we met two sets of estate workers,
both were extremely friendly and helpful, directing us toward the best route
and gates to use. Once on the upper part
of the Red Lane we headed down to the canal towpath and used this to walk back
in to Welshpool.
Survey Result:
Upper Park
Summit Height: 354.0m (converted to OSGM15, from previous
Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey) (significant height revision)
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 18980 05270 (from previous Trimble GeoXH
6000 survey) (summit relocation confirmed)
Bwlch Height: 177.0m (converted to OSGM15, from previous
Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 16792 05090 (from previous Trimble GeoXH
6000 survey)
Drop: 177.0m (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000
survey)
Dominance: 49.99% (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000
survey) (Lesser Dominant status retained)
Cromwell Hill (significant name change)
Summit Height: 343.2m (converted to OSGM15, from previous
Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey))
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 18222 04885 (from previous Trimble GeoXH
6000 survey)
Bwlch Height: 303.8m (converted to OSGM15, from previous
Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey))
Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 18565 05114 (from previous Trimble GeoXH
6000 survey)
Drop: 39.3m (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000
survey)
Dominance: 11.47% (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000
survey)
For the post detailing the survey of these two hills
For the post detailing the 3rd visit to these two hills
For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet
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