Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pumlumon

 

12.08.21  Tan y Llwyn (SN 914 802), Hen Borfa (SN 921 805), Borfa Ganol (SN 930 808), Tyn Bryn (SN 929 813), Blaen Pathiog (SN 927 820) and Sheep Pasture (SN 935 821) 

Tyn Bryn (SN 929 813) on the right with Marsh's Pool below

Today I had the pleasure of a two car linear walk with Suzanne, centred on Marsh’s Pool and taking in six hills, with three being P30s.  I was at Suzanne’s for 7.30am and we soon dropped her car off about a mile south-west of Llanidloes close to the Felindre Bridge.  I then drove to Llangurig and parked on the minor road heading north-east out of the village.  This is the old road to Llanidloes, presumably used when the railway line was in operation.  The rail line used to cross what is now the A470 road; and formed one of a number of surveys when I determined the height and position for the bylchau of Pegwn Mawr and Great Rhos. 

I had contemplated combining these hills for a number of years, but until today had not visited any of them, and with Suzanne living in Llanidloes it was ideal for a two car walk, enabling us to descend the north-westerly ridge of Sheep Pasture; an almost forgotten P15 that unobtrusively lingers after the higher summit of Blaen Pathiog to its west.  Following the course of this ridge is a public footpath and even on the map it looked a good descent route.  It lived up to its expectation. 

Suzanne near the summit of Tan y Llwyn

Having found a parking place for my car above Llangurig, we headed toward a gate which gave access to a vehicle track on the opposing grazing field, this led up toward the summit of our first hill of the day; Tan y Llwyn.  As I set the Trimble up on the summit, Suzanne walked down to a fence and kept a close look out for any cows, of which she is easily spooked. 

Gathering data at the summit of Tan y Llwyn

The early morning gave wonderful conditions with deep shadowed areas accentuating the rich coloured hillsides.  A breeze whisked across the hill, and this progressively increased in strength as we continued on our walk.  With the first data set safely stored we headed across the upper north-easterly part of Tan y Llwyn aiming for a public footpath on a track that leads down to the farm of Pen-hyle-mawr. 

Before walking in to the farmyard we visited the adjoining bungalow, where we were met by a smiling Mrs Howells, having explained my interest in surveying and hill names, she said that her husband; David, would be back in a minute or so and soon he was, accompanied by their son Christopher. 

David and Christopher Howells of Pen-hyle-mawr 

Their farmyard incorporates the bwlch for the highest hill of the six that we planned on visiting during the day, the summit of this hill is given a map spot height of 393m and therefore is classified as a Trichant and a 390m Sub-Pedwar, it is currently listed by the point (Pt. 392.2m) notation, with the height from LIDAR analysis.  This hill remains unnamed on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.  David and Christopher had no problem with me surveying their farmyard and Christopher told me that the hill is known as Tyn Bryn, after the old farm of the same name, with the land having been owned by Coedcochion Mawr and recently sold.  The old farm is named as Ty’n-y-Bryn on the Six-Inch series of maps and is positioned at SN 93177 81299. 

Having thanked them for their time we headed down to the farmyard, it was relatively easy to pinpoint where the valley to valley traverse met that of the hill to hill traverse and soon the Trimble was set up gathering data at the bwlch of Tyn Bryn. 

Gathering data at the bwlch of Tyn Bryn

Leaving the farm we walked up a green track heading north and then eastward  across a field to visit the high point of our second hill of the day, which the Tithe names the uppermost field as Hen Borfa, this when translated can mean old pasture, a rather eloquent name for a field of this height.

Blaen Pathiog on the right with Bryn y Fan dominating the background

The high point was immersed in a sea of brightly morninged green with the whole field comprising closely cropped grass given over for grazing.  As the Trimble collected data I stood a distance away and soaked in the view to our remaining hills toward the north-east, with the profiles of Borfa Ganol and Tyn Bryn looking particularly good.

Gathering data at the summit of Hen Borfa

Prior to visiting these hills I had examined them with available LIDAR,  building up contours for each summit and bwlch, with all summit areas and with three of the bylchau covered, hence the survey of the bwlch adjoined to Tyn Bryn which is not currently covered by LIDAR. 

LIDAR summit image of Tyn Bryn (SN 929 813) 

Leaving the summit of Hen Borfa we took a direct line toward the southern edge of Marsh’s Pool which was now just visible.  This soon led us to a footpath that in time passed the house of Penllyn.  We stopped for a few minutes here, wondering whether to knock on the door and ask permission to visit the lake, which although still used by locals, is private.  We decided to press on and headed away from the house on a track until a gate gave access to the steepening southerly slopes of our third hill of the day; Borfa Ganol, which is another name given on the Tithe, with many of these hills unnamed on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps. 

Reclaimed land

As I surveyed the summit of Borfa Ganol, Suzanne hunkered down for a bite to eat with a view taking in the expanse of Marsh’s Pool.  Once data were gathered and stored I joined her and sat and ate and enjoyed the good conversation, company and view.  By now the early morning breeze had strengthened, thankfully not so much as to prove problematic for surveying.  At points the breeze almost made it chilly, which was at contrast to our last walk south of Machynlleth when temperatures soared and any shade was a welcome relief. 

Gathering data at the summit of Borfa Ganol

From the position of our early lunch stop we spotted a few people walking the track leading to Marsh’s Pool and other than calling at two farms, these were the only people we saw on the walk all day. 

Tyn Bryn (SN 929 813)

Leaving our lunch time spot with a view, we headed down to the track connecting with Marsh’s Pool and walked a short distance up it in the opposing direction, before accessing the upper southerly slopes of Tyn Bryn through an open gate.  The ten figure grid reference produced from LIDAR analysis led me to the high point of the hill and soon the Trimble was set up gathering its fifth data set of the day. 

Gathering data at the summit of Tyn Bryn

During data collection Suzanne wandered down to the near copse of fir trees which gave a heightened foreground against the background of the lake and the hills we had visited.  I left the Trimble quietly beeping away gathering its individual datum points and sauntered down to the field’s boundary fence and took a number of photographs as the play of light highlighted colour and shade.  The upper field of this hill comprises closely cropped grass, like many such summits of similar height; this seemed at odds with its westerly slope comprising fir trees and bracken leading down to the lake.  This hill gives a welcoming profile and it was good to now be on it, as it was also good to now have a locally known name for the land incorporating its summit. 

Marsh's Pool

Once the Trimble was packed away I joined Suzanne and we followed the periphery of the near conifer plantation, which is just to the north from the summit of Tyn Bryn, and to the east as we walked beside it.  Beech and Rowan blended toward the conifers, with the Rowan’s now with reddened berries.  This for me gives the first sign of the impending end of summer and the autumnal months near at hand. 

The path beside the conifer plantation led through a gap in thick gorse and down to a track through the forestry.  We continued outside of the conifer plantation and soon connected with the continuation of a path leading up the slopes of Blaen Pathiog. 

Aran Fawddwy from Blaen Pathiog

As the Trimble gathered data from the summit of Blaen Pathiog, Suzanne cwtched down out of the breeze in a small copse of fir trees just to the east of the summit.  The walk was nearing its end, but we still had one last hill to visit, this is now classified as a Welsh P15 and I can’t imagine many hill baggers have purposely visited its summit for an all-important tick in their list! 

Gathering data at the summit of Blaen Pathiog

Between us and the summit of our last hill of the day, which the Tithe names its upper field by the apt name of Sheep Pasture, was a myriad of fields, fences and hedges.  Approaching Sheep Pasture from the higher summit of Blaen Pathiog gave a view of what fields and gates to use to get us toward its summit.  We were soon there and the Trimble was set up on a fence post over the hill’s high point gathering its seventh and last data set of the day. 

Sheep Pasture (SN 935 821)

Gathering data at the summit of Sheep Pasture

From here we had a wonderful route down, following the course of an old green lane, which in its time may have been a drover’s route across the hills.  It aimed confidently north-eastward in a straight line, with an avenue of stunted trees forming a canopy to walk under.  It breathed an old life, one now gone that incorporated a passage on foot and horse, a slower life, one now easily romanticised, but one I wonder if we can learn from, as sometimes a slower pace in life is more rewarding. 

The old way

We stopped en route to sit under a line of small trees for a bite to eat and another welcome rest.  During our time there the tree behind me groaned, it seemed to be talking to us, on occasion as I looked around at it, the groaning stopped, only to start again when I turned to face forward.  I wondered if my hearing was playing tricks and asked Suzanne if she could also hear it, she could.  We laughed at the thought that we had a talking tree as a newly acquired friend. 

Leaving the talking tree we now arrived at Cefn-y-bwlch, this is the last farm house at the end of the paved road leading up Cwmbelan.  We were met by a barking dog, who notified John Davies that he had walkers passing his farm, he came out to investigate.  We spent about 30 minutes with John, Suzanne knew his wife.  We chatted about all manner of things and soon befriended Poppy, his dog.  We told him the route we had taken and I asked about the name of the highest hill; ‘that would be Tyn Bryn’ came the reply.  It is always good to have a name substantiated and especially so from opposing sides of the hill.  I then asked about field names and he proceeded to give names for all the fields adjoined to his farm. 

John Davies and Poppy the dog of Cefn-y-bwlch

Eventually we dragged ourselves away, with John directing us down the continuation of the footpath, with a part of it having been recently re-directed.  The continuation of the route proved wonderful, down through a wood and out on to a large open field which John told us is known as the Elephant Field, as the person who owned it used to run the Elephant pub in Llanidloes. 

We lazed on a bank of grass for a few minutes, soaking up afternoon sunshine before heading back to where Suzanne’s car was parked.  On our way she asked if she had left her keys in my car, I said yes as she had asked if it was all right to leave them in the glove compartment.  I didn’t think anything of this as she would obviously not leave her car keys in my car above Llangurig, she needed these for when we walked back to her car on the outskirts of Llanidloes.  She had.  I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  I couldn’t believe it.  All was not lost though as she phoned Gary; her partner, who kindly went to Suzanne’s house, and brought her spare car keys to us on the edge of town. 

As Gary left us with the spare car keys handed to Suzanne, I started to change and soon two people appeared coming through the gate leading to where Suzanne’s car was parked.  It was Hannah and her brother, Hannah is one of Suzanne’s lifelong friends and she had recently lost her husband who had died about a month ago.  I offered a sympathetic hug and joked it would be from a semi-naked fat person who at that specific point was wearing one walking boot with the other foot bootless.  Not to be sexist with my offering of hugs and so as not to offend, I also offered a hug to her brother, he advisedly declined. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Tan y Llwyn

Summit Height:  360.4m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 91408 80236 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  c 337m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 91507 80739 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 23m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and interpolated bwlch)

Dominance:  6.49% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and interpolated bwlch)

 

 

Hen Borfa (significant name change)

Summit Height:  372.2m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 92191 80590 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)   

Bwlch Height:  c 338m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 92817 80777 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 34m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and interpolated bwlch)

Dominance:  9.18% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and interpolated bwlch)

 

 

Borfa Ganol (significant name change)

Summit Height:  378.2m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 93014 80867 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)   

Bwlch Height:  355.2m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 93109 80999 (LIDAR)

Drop:  23.1m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  6.10% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

Tyn Bryn (significant name change)

Summit Height:  392.1m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 92957 81324   

Bwlch Height:  326.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 91955 80581

Drop:  65.9m

Dominance:  16.81%

 

 

Blaen Pathiog

Summit Height:  376.3m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000) (significant height revision)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 92775 82001 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) (summit relocation confirmed)   

Bwlch Height:  343.3m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 92760 81765 (LIDAR)

Drop:  33.1m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch) (Sub-Trichant reclassified to Trichant)

Dominance:  8.79% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

Sheep Pasture (significant name change)

Summit Height:  355.3m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 93587 82145 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)  

Bwlch Height:  336.4m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 93150 82163 (LIDAR)

Drop:  18.9m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch) (Sub-Trichant deletion)

Dominance:  5.31% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet