24.08.21 Rhinog Fawr (only bwlch surveyed, SH 657 290), Rhinog Fach (SH 664 270) and Pt. 558.3m (SN 661 267)
Rhinog Fach (SH 664 270) |
For many years my walking was dominated by the Welsh 2,000ft hills with many repeated ascents, nowadays it is mainly on lower heighted hills, and to an extent is led by my surveying. However, when opportunity arises to visit those higher 2,000ft’s it is one not to miss.
Today I wanted to visit a hill I had been up on 18 previous occasions and one that was long overdue an accurate survey. The hill is Rhinog Fach which is positioned in the northern Rhinogydd.
Rhinog Fach is currently listed with an estimated c 148m of drop, just a tantalising 2m short of the 150m drop criterion for Marilyn status. Over recent years Alan Dawson; the hill list compiler of the Marilyns and author of the Relative Hills of Britain book, has surveyed many hills marginal to the 150m drop criterion. The majority of these hills are in Scotland, but there is one hill in Wales that also requires an accurate survey to determine its drop value and status, and that hill is Rhinog Fach.
With a high pressure system centred over the country giving relatively dry conditions, albeit with drizzly morning’s around the eastern part of Mid Wales, and with a forecast of west is best and lots of sun symbols on the Trawsfynydd Met Office web page, I headed toward Coed y Brenin to park at the end of a narrow paved road that heads west from the busy A470. I knew even before seeing the Rhinogydd that their higher tops would be immersed in morning clag, as the tops of all other hills heading west from Welshpool were cloaked in cloud. However, I was in no rush and leaving my car I proceeded to slowly make my way through the undergrowth constituting the public footpath toward Graigddu-isaf, an old farm house that is now an Airbnb let.
The old farmhouse is positioned in a small clearing with the forest track leading past it; I was soon on it walking along the forest track heading south. Overhead the sky was grey with a constant cloud blanket that stretched the full width of Wales. But I knew as time progressed the cloud would rise and if the same weather condition were applicable to this part of Wales, as to Welshpool, the sun would break through by early afternoon.
I lazily plodded up the continuation of the forest track, eventually emerging at a sign that pointed confidently toward Bwlch Drws Ardudwy. At this junction the conifer infestation had been felled giving an unobstructed view of the two Rhinog hills; Fawr and Fach; both heading skyward in to the morning murk.
The way to the bwlch with Rhinog Fach enshrouded in early morning clag |
My first planned survey of the day was the bwlch of Rhinog Fawr and as I walked up the path heading toward it, the open nature of the hillside quickly closed in, with the boulder strewn slopes of Rhinog Fawr rising upward on my right and the steep slopes of Rhinog Fach doing likewise on my left. It was a humbling place to find myself.
The steep path leading up Rhing Fach from Bwlch Drws Ardudwy |
Gathering data at the bwlch of Rhinog Fawr |
The cloud base was still relatively low and would remain so for another 90 minutes, therefore I was in no rush and with the steep slope immediately in front of me I made slow, but steady progress up it. I rested frequently and looked out east where the cloud still hung to all high hills. Behind me the cloud danced on the upper section of Rhinog Fawr with the brisk breeze whisking it across the summit rocks.
Eventually the steepest section of the ascent was behind me and cresting a rise the upper part of the hill bulged up in front. This resembles a cone of a hill seemingly plonked on top of what is already quite a substantial land mass, thankfully by the time I was looking up at this scene the cloud base was slowly edging ever higher and the route ahead was clear.
The path eventually crests the northern ridge of Rhinog Fach, at this point I had just walked up in to the mist which was being skimmed across the hill by a strengthening breeze, so much so that I contemplated stopping to put on my one skin jacket as my arms were getting quickly chilled, I persevered without and continued following the path toward the summit of the hill.
The summit of Rhinog Fach consists of a small protruding rock about 2 metres from the base of an untidy cairn. I quickly set the Trimble up aligned with the highest part of the rock and set it to gather data. I was thankful that the summit was easy to identify as I wondered if I would have to take a number of data sets from various points surrounding it. But to compare survey results I wanted to gather a second data set with the Trimble now positioned over the highest rock and on my rucksack. As I was setting the equipment up I was joined by two walkers, one from Llanelli and the other from Caerffili who were bagging hills around the Rhinogydd for a few days based in Maentwrog. As the Trimble gathered the second summit data set we sat below the equipment chatting about the hills.
Gathering data at the summit of Rhinog Fach |
I walked part of the way down toward the connecting bwlch in the company of the two walkers from south Wales, but as I opted for my normal descent route on the western side of the stone wall, they reversed their inward route on its eastern side. We met again down on leveller ground and walked to the bwlch together. They still had a long day ahead with Y Llethr, Diffwys and a walk back in to Cwm Nantcol ahead, whilst I now concentrated on the bwlch adjoined to Rhinog Fach.
Y Llethr rising above Llyn Hywel |
I was at the bwlch for over 40 minutes and watched the two South Walian walkers crest the upper part of Y Llethr and disappear from view. By now the full extent of Rhinog Fach was on view and would remain so for the remainder of the walk.
Gathering the first of three data sets on the area of the bwlch |
The path led to the outflow of the lake, I now wanted to survey the small prominence hill that overlooks Llyn Hywel from the lake’s western edge and therefore followed the continuation of the path around the western shore, only leaving it to head up toward the connecting bwlch of the hill. This bwlch was typical northern Rhinogydd country as it has large boulders strewn around it, many amongst reed grassed tussocks. I soon picked my preferred spot and soon the Trimble was gathering its seventh data set of the day.
Gathering data at the bwlch of Pt. 558.3m |
Gathering data at the summit of Pt. 558.3m (SH 661 267) |
The route back toward Llyn Hywel with Y Llethr in the background |
The mountain goats of the northern Rhinogydd |
Rhinog Fawr with Llyn Cwmhosan in the foreground |
The wall leading to Bwlch Drws Ardudwy |
I slowly continued on the path leading back to the felled section of forestry and the gravelled path leading down to the junction with the forest track. On the way I watched a multitude of butterflies feeding on buddleia plants, which added their light purples to the bloom of heather and the red berries of the rowan. I stopped to watch and take a few photographs and looked back toward the hill, now free of clag and bathed in late afternoon sunshine.
Jen, Rog and Archie Lewins |
Survey Result:
Rhinog Fawr
Summit Height: 720m (spot height)
Summit Grid Reference: SH 65700 29012 (hand-held GPS via DoBIH)
Bwlch Height: 352.6m (Trimble GeoXH 6000)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SH 66446 28164 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)
Drop: 367m (spot height summit and Trimble GeoXH
6000 bwlch)
Dominance: 51.02% (spot height summit and Trimble GeoXH
6000 bwlch )
Rhinog Fach
Summit Height: 711.6m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SH 66485 27017
Bwlch Height: 560.6m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SH 66561 26533
Drop: 151.0m (Submarilyn reclassified to Marilyn)
Dominance: 21.22%
Pt. 558.3m
Summit Height: 558.3m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SH 66160 26783
Bwlch Height: 535.3m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SH 66225 26636
Drop: 23.1m
Dominance: 4.13%
For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet
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