Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Mynydd Epynt

18.05.25  Pen y Crug (SO 029 303) 

Pen y Crug (SO 029 303)

Hill celebrations are always wonderful occasions.  They are culminations of what for many people are years of ticking off hills in a list.  They are also occasions when old and new friends meet, and if combined with beautiful weather, as today was, they can be a shear joy to experience.

Today was the finish of Mark Trengove’s Welsh Hump completion.  For the uninitiated, a Hump is a 100m prominence hill.  There are 368 qualifying Welsh hills that meet this criterion and the one Mark had singled out for his last was Pen y Crug, which connects with the Mynydd Epynt group of hills.  Although much of this hill range is out of bounds due to a military training area, Pen y Crug is positioned on the southern periphery and well away from any out of bounds land.

I had been up the hill once before, in September 2017, when Lou and I ascended from the south-east on a good track that turned to a friendly green path leading up through the autumnal colour to the trig pillar that sits atop the summit.  On this day the tops of the higher Beacons were just skimmed with cloud, otherwise the hill gave excellent views.  Today the sky was an unadulterated blue with skylarks singing above and a welcome slight breeze cooling proceedings.  It was a perfect day for a hill celebration.

Mark drove from Mold to Welshpool, from where I then drove south to the car park at the base of the hill to its north.  This was close to its bwlch and gave me a chance to experience the hill from a different perspective and approach, which I always enjoy.

Our meeting time was midday and we arrived with 20 minutes to spare.  Soon cars started to appear, Rick and Jenny, Brent Lynam, Alex Cameron and Tony Jenkins soon arrived, followed by Barry Smith, Chris Bienkowski, Adrian Rayner and Keith Anderson.  It was good to see all, many who I had not seen for quite sometime.

I made an excuse to wander off to take a few photos of the hill, and asked Mark to keep everyone at bay for a few minutes; this gave me opportunity to head in to an adjacent field to get a few photographs, but also gave opportunity to gain a few minutes on everyone else and sneak away for a leisurely plod up the path leading to the open hillside above.

It felt good to be out in the sunshine, slowly wandering taking in the surrounds with skylarks singing, bees buzzing and bluebells and greenery all around, and all with the backdrop of the blue sky.  The path led up with greened hedgerows either side and manicured grazed fields beyond.  The enclosed path gave views directly toward the higher hill, which loomed above in a gently curved profile.

The path led to a gate which gave access to the open upper hill, from where an earthen dried path contoured up giving extended views past hillsides of bluebells to the light grayed ridges of the Black Mountains away to the east. 

The view east toward the Black Mountains

My pace was leisurely and all too soon I was caught by the throng of people following.  We soon crested the ridge that affords views south toward the higher Beacons.  Beyond the greened path led toward the ancient embankment and ditches that encircle the upper hill. 

I was soon caught up

Arriving at the summit we waited for Mark, who sauntered up behind us.  As he approached the high point there was a guard of honour waiting for him, with raised walking poles leading him over the summit of the hill toward the trig pillar.  He’d completed the Welsh Humps.  

Mark approaching the summit of Pen y Crug

All hill lists can take you on a journey to places that otherwise you would not visit; this is part of their appeal.  There is of course the small bonus that hills can afford tremendous experience and I’m sure the Welsh Humps have given Mark some excellent days on the hill. 

The guard of honour leading Mark to the summit

The next hour was one of those special occasions on the hill, with lots of conversation small glasses of Welsh whiskey, cake, strawberries and lots of nibbles and photos. 

Mark celebrating his completion of the Welsh Humps

During our time on the summit someone mentioned that Pen y Crug was also Adrian’s 7,000 Tump.  Another remarkable achievement and soon Adrian was beside the trig pillar kindly posing for a few photos.  He had kept this quiet, allowing for Mark’s celebration. 

Adrian at the summit of his 7,000th Tump

After we had finished off much of the celebratory food and drink things started to be packed away and as we waved Rick and Jen off down the hill, the rest of us followed ten minutes or so afterward. 

A nice touch brought by Mark for cake adornment

Leaving the summit we headed north down the upper part of the hill until connecting with the earthen ramparts, and then followed these around the hill, before connecting with our inward route and following this back down through the heat of the afternoon to the awaiting cars below. 

At the summit of Pen y Crug, from left to right we have; Bryher, Rick, Jenny, Barry, Alex, Keith, Adrian, Tony, Brent, Chris and Mark

It had been an excellent time on the hill and was rounded off with a visit to a pub on the outskirts of Brecon for a good meal and more interesting conversation. 

 

Survey Result:

 

Pen y Crug 

Summit Height:  331.2m (converted to OSGM15) (previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)  

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 02927 30312 (previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Height:  219.9m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 02162 30880 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  111.4m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  33.62% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch) (Lesser Dominant addition)

 

 

For details on the summit survey of Pen y Crug

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Y Berwyn

Carole Engel Completes the Welsh Humps

24.11.18  Pen y Boncyn Trefeilw (SH 962 283, previously Trimbled), Stac Rhos (SH 969 279, previously Trimbled), Foel Cedig (SH 981 283, previously Trimbled) and Y Groes Fagl (SH 988 289, previously Trimbled)

With the hill meet organised by Alex Cameron at the old Workhouse on the outskirts of Llanfyllin being so close to the Y Berwyn it gave an opportunity for a number of people to visit Foel Cedig, whose qualifying summit for a number of lists, including the Marilyns, Humps, Simms, Hewitts, Pellennig, Yr Uchafion and Nuttalls was earlier this year relocated from Cyrniau Nod.

As a part of this Carole Engel had decided to postpone her Welsh Hump completion for a week and re-scheduled this to coincide with the hill meet.  By doing so there was a prospect of being joined on top of Foel Cedig by a number of other baggers, but with many different agendas and with people approaching this hill from different directions and starting their ascents at different times, it would be interesting to see how many gathered at this summit when Carole was having her celebration.

Having attended the Friday evening meal at the Workhouse I drove back home in wet conditions through mist and thick fog and wondered if the weather gods were to put a dampener on proceedings for the following day.  Thankfully although the weather was grey and murky, the rain resisted temptation and the tops were clear of low clag.

I met Alan Caine at the Workhouse just before 9.00am and we drove in two cars to the car park at the north end of Llyn Efyrnwy (Lake Vyrnwy) where Carole, and Jeff and Enid Parr were already waiting.  It was good to see all three, and this is one of the joys of occasionally dipping in to the community of hill baggers as friends have been made and will be kept, and all three; Carole, Jeff and Enid are people who I look forward to meeting up with time and again.

Having donned my winter wellies I then drove the five of us to the top of Cwm Hirnant and parked opposite the gauged out track that leads toward the summit of Foel Cedig.  This track eases passage to these heather clad hills, and if not for it the task of bagging these hills would be a daunting one.

On our way to Foel Cedig we visited the summits of Pen y Boncyn Trefeilw and Stac Rhos, which were later in the day surveyed by Alan Dawson with his Leica RX1250.  To our east the grey morning clag was just grasping on to the upper part of Foel Cedig, but this would lift as the morning progressed.

Carole with Foel Cedig in the background

During our journey on the track beside the moorland Alan Caine zoomed off in to the heather and bog to bag any summit going, with Bridges and one or two ‘Deleted Tops’ in the Nuttalls book all being fair game.

Approaching Foel Cedig Carole led the way through the heather as I tried to keep up with a digi-camcorder in hand, she reached the top and completed the Welsh Humps and immediately set about logging her ascent online, which made me smile.  One quick wind-blown interview later and the bottles were opened and cake passed round.

As we arrived at the summit Denise and Richard McLellan were just about to leave, they turned back and remained with us as more and more people started to appear from different directions.  Richard’s ascent of Foel Cedig was also of significance as he was re-completing the Marilyns and him and Carole sat centre stage on the little rocky knoll that makes up the high point as everyone else gathered around for the customary summit photograph.

Richard's re-completion of the Marilyns on top of Foel Cedig

The walk back on the track was enjoyable and we reached my car 4½ hours after setting off.  It was good to see Carole, Jeff and Enid again and many others who were on the summit of Foel Cedig and also at the Workhouse, and thanks to Alex for organising the hill meet and Carole’s invitation to join her on her special day of celebration in completing the Welsh Humps.

Celebratory gathering at the summit of Foel Cedig

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Arenig Fach

06.11.16  Arenig Fach (SH 820 415)    

Arenig Fach (SH 820 415)

Today Steve Smith completed the Nuttalls; the 2,000ft mountains of both England and Wales.  He had chosen Arenig Fach as his final hill having dashed toward completion during the settled weather of October.

We met at the car park on the western shore of Llyn Celyn between Y Bala and Trawsfynydd.  As I drove west over Y Berwyn the sky darkened a forbidding slate grey giving wintry showers over the hills, with the land to the north swamped in rain cloud, whilst the land west and south still had a relatively high cloud base showing the signs of the first snows of the season on the higher summits.

Pulling in to the car park I watched a Buzzard sitting on a large rock only a few metres away, I donned full wet proofs as the prospect of the ascent being dry was rapidly disappearing and by the time I’d sorted my gear the rain had started.  I took shelter in my car as Tony arrived, closely followed by Adrian and Ayako.  By the time Steve arrived with Gina, Josie and Simon a number of people were ready to set off hoping to get a reasonable start over the quicker people in the group.

Gathering in the car park for Steve's final Nuttall

We followed a graveled track from the roadside that soon merged in to a vehicle track on the moor and then a path of sorts continued toward the fence line on the eastern broad ridge of Arenig Fach.

Heading toward Arenig Fach with Mynydd Nodol in the background

(L-R) Simon, Josie, Ayako, Adrian and Gina

By now the weather had closed in with squally showers submerging the land, a sleet grey scene emerged as we headed toward a ladder stile where the main part of the group waited for the others to join them.  I took advantage and slowly plodded onward and upward following the fence line as the rain chilled to sleet and then wet snow.  I rarely go out in such conditions as I am fortunate and can pick my days on the hill, but I found the weather to be invigorating as the wind blew and the land became chilled in its early winter’s grip.

By the time the gradient lessened some of the others had caught up, I headed toward the small cairn east of the recognised summit hoping to get a data set from the high point of the land beside it.  By now it was cold and although I had two sets of gloves on my fingers were chilled from the incessant wet weather.  I quickly took a five minute data set and aimed toward the trig pillar where Steve had just arrived.

Gathering the first data set on the summit area of Arenig Fach

Arriving at the trig everyone was taking shelter behind the large wind shelter at the summit, photos were taken, handshakes had and congratulations given, but the weather dictated that we couldn’t stay here too long and the celebratory cake would have to wait until back at the cars.

Steve Smith completes the Nuttalls atop Arenig Fach

Before everyone left I had chance to gather another five minute data set on top of a rock which was about five metres from the trig pillar, but another larger erratic also vied for the high point of the hill, and as the group wisely left the summit and disappeared from view in to the thickness of murk to head down I positioned the Trimble for a third data set.  Jon Glew kindly waited with me, and once five minutes of data were gathered I packed the equipment away and followed Jon in to the murk to find the descent route.

Gathering the second data set on the summit area of Arenig Fach

Gathering the third data set on the summit area of Arenig Fach

My fingers were now wet and chilled, but it was a cold that was not unwelcome, one that was manageable, and as we quickly lost height the severity of the chill lessened and the wet snow turned itself back to the customary rain, which then lessened still as we joined the path and vehicle track back to the road.

We gathered beside Steve’s camper van for cake and drinks and tried to shelter as best we could as another squally shower sped across the land.  It had been another excellent day on the hill which proved somewhat cold but also rejuvenated my pleasure with the higher of the Welsh hills and many congratulations to Steve for a fine achievement in completing the 2,000ft Nuttalls.

 

Survey Result:

Arenig Fach

Summit Height:  688.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 82020 41583

Bwlch Height:  390.6m (converted to OSGM15, from subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 78593 38716 (from subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Drop:  298.3m

Dominance:  43.30%

For details on the bwlch survey of this hill

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pembrokeshire Islands

24.07.16  Green Scar (SM 796 226)    

Green Scar (SM 796 226)

Another island adventure organised by Adrian Rayner off the Pembrokeshire coast in the capable hands of Venture Jet, we met just before 9.00am at St Justinian’s which is situated west of St David’s and is the departure point for boats visiting Ynys Dewi (Ramsey) and where the RNLI Lifeboat Station is situated.  The weather was not ideal with coastal drizzle and grey murk predominating, however it was good enough to set off and with three islands scheduled to visit we skimmed across the water toward the first; Emsger (South Bishop).

Leaving St Justinian's aboard the Venture Jet RIB with (L-R) Tony, Alex, Adrian, George and Alan

I’d visited Emsger (South Bishop) once before in mid-May of this year when the sea was calmer and the blue sky and sun gave us a window of opportunity for an unrushed visit.  Today as the RIB headed off in to the bleakness and the lighthouse atop the island came in to view the waves chopped against the steep lower rock of the island and the swell did not look inviting.

As we neared the landing place the RIB was maneuvered in to place and three people stood up; Alex, Doug and Tony, with Alan and George deciding to sit this one out as the landing looked a little unwelcome due to the swell.  Also on board were Adrian, Rob, Jon and myself and as we’d all visited the island in May we also decided to remain on board.

As the boat neared the landing place and instruction given for Alex, Doug and Tony to each in turn make the step ashore, the boat reared up as the swell hit the island, all three made it and the RIB was then positioned away from the rock and remained relatively sheltered from the waves hitting the west of the island.

We couldn’t linger as there were another two islands to attempt a landing on, and so within a few minutes of being dropped off Alex, Doug and Tony were back down waiting to be plucked off the rock and make the step from solid ground back on to the RIB.  The RIB was again maneuvered in to place as the swell reared up necessitating  it to back off and try again, this happened a few times before instruction was given to come aboard.  As Alex made the step from relatively dry land toward the RIB the swell took the boat away from the landing spot and although Alex made it safely on board, he only just did so.  This proved a foreteller of what was to happen next as the RIB again approached the rock and Doug waited, as he made his move the swell took the RIB away from the rock and Doug stepped out in to thin air and disappeared in to the sea.

As it was raining I was protecting my camera and didn’t turn round to see where Doug was, but he was definitely sea bound.  I sat and hoped that he was OK.  The RIB was quickly driven away from the rock protecting Doug from being squashed between both and turned round to be beside him, the life jacket worked perfectly and had inflated on impact.  Within a minute or so Doug had been brought on board and he quickly stripped off two outer layers and put on a dry fleece and outer water proof jacket that were stored on board.  Thankfully he was all right, dampened by the experience we continued east toward our next island; Green Scar.

Doug after his dunking back on board and in dry clothes

Green Scar lies off the southern coast of St Brides Bay and is adjacent to the harbour feeding south from the small community of Solfach (Solva).  Today it was a forlorn place, devoid of sunshine it reared up out of a grey landscape where sky and sea met.

We were brought around to the eastern part of the island seeking shelter from the westerly bash of sea upon rock.  The island was another impressive bastion of lower rock crowned by greenery with a multitude of Gannets circling overhead, and the occasional Cormorant resting on the rock.

The eastern part of Green Scar

There weren’t many places to land safely but eventually a spot was singled out that was relatively sheltered and where the rock would not bottom out the RIB when nestled against it for our landing.  The main problem was our onward route beyond the landing spot as there wasn’t much to cling on to when dropped off, but soon Jon and Rob were on the island and finding hand and foot holds and by the time I joined them they were above the main difficulty and on slanting rock which gave relatively safe passage toward the summit of the island.

Much of the ascent required a steadying hand on rock, and these were covered in bird goo, as indeed was much of the island, it seemed to ooze out of every crevice and added some unwelcome interest to the ascent.  The high pint has the remains of a small cairn on it and soon the Trimble was positioned in place gathering its customary five minutes of data.

Gathering data from the summit of Green Scar

During Trimbling time the others investigated the westerly arm of the island which was connected to its higher easterly bulk by what looked like a slender land bridge.  As they neared its high point the last of the 300 data points were stored and I switched the equipment off. 

Looking toward the westerly point of the island

Although the ground beyond the westerly arm looked easier for us to get back on to the RIB, the others slowly made their way back across the slender land bridge and we descended through the bird goo to the waiting RIB.  The slither down the final rock and the last landlocked point where just one foot was resting before that final step out in to the void wasn’t as bad as I had expected and we all made it safely on board.

Only Gewni remained to visit, this is a tidal island to the north of Green Scar and Rob and a few others had previously investigated its connection to the mainland and thought it precarious.  By the time we arrived beside the island and investigated the landing opportunities the grey conditions pervaded all around, we remained on this side of the island and went back and forth looking for a safe place to land but it was decided that the day’s conditions weren’t conducive and the island and its summit would have to wait for another day.

Gewni (SM 797 236)

To the right of the arch is where Gewni is connected to the mainland at low tide

Going through the arch

Therefore we skimmed back to St Justinian’s with two out of three islands visited, one person a little wetter than planned and another part of this beautiful coastline investigated.

(L-R) Tony, Alex, Adrian, George, Alan, the skipper, Jon, Doug and Rob

 

Survey Result:

Green Scar 

Summit Height:  36.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SM 79641 22648

Bwlch Height:  N/A

Bwlch Grid Reference:  N/A

Drop:  36.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Dominance:  100.00%

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet.

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pembrokeshire Islands

15.05.16  Carn Ysgubor (SM 699 246), Carn Llundain (SM 696 234), Foel Fawr (SM 705 225) and Pt. 23.8m (SM 706 236)

Foel Fawr (SM 705 225)

Ynys Dewi (Ramsey or Ramsey Island as tautologically given on current Ordnance Survey maps) is the fourth largest island in Wales after Ynys Môn (Anglesey), Ynys Gybi (Holy Island) and Skomer.  It lies off the Pembrokeshire coast in south-west Wales and is positioned on the northern side of St Brides Bay.  Its name is testament to its association with Dewi Sant (Saint David) as is association with that of his confessor; Saint Justinian, as it is from St Justinian’s that boat trips to the island depart.

I’d chosen a perfect day for my visit as when I awoke the chill of a starlit night had brought unbroken blue sky and a welcome warmth to the air by the time of the 10.00am departure.  The only boat company with permission to land passengers is Thousand Island Adventures, and for those interested in contacting them, their telephone number is 01437-721721.

The RNLI Lifeboat station at St Justinian's, St David's

Boarding the boat to Ynys Dewi (Ramsey)

As the boat pulled out from the bay Ynys Dewi looked tantalisingly close, elongated in shape from north to south it has three hills of note that I wanted to visit and Trimble, two are over 100m in map height, whilst its southerly outlier; Foel Fawr has a drop very close to 30m and therefore its resulting Trimble data was of particular interest.

The northern part of Ynys Dewi from the east

The eastern profile of Carn Ysgubor

The boat trip only takes a few minutes and once docked we clambered off and made our way up steps and a paved track to an outlying building where Sarah gave us an introductory and informative talk about the island, this came with a pamphlet by the RSPB which included a map of the island with the pathways shown in blue and red, this proved a helpful addition to the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map I had brought, on which paths are hard to distinguish from the placement of near contour lines.  On my way to the outlying building I noted that there were two lumps of rock and earth adjacent to where the boat had docked, if time permitted I thought I should Trimble both on my return for the 4.00pm departure, the furthest east was an island now joined to the rest of Ynys Dewi by the steps and track, whilst its adjacent neighbour looked slightly lower in height and was joined to the mainland by an approximate 1.5m – 2m high pebbled bit of land.

Once Sarah had told us all about the island I followed the continuation of the track as it made its way up to the aptly named ‘The Farmhouse’, from here the track turned in to a delightful green path leading past walled enclosures and over radiantly green fields to the steepening slopes of my first hill of the day; Carn Ysgubor.

Carn Ysgubor stands as the island’s northern outlier and given a map height of 101m, according to the map its connecting bwlch to its higher neighbour; Carn Llundain is narrow with its valley to valley contours almost meeting, and as I approached it I noted that there were two places where its critical bwlch may be positioned, both would need Trimbling.

Carn Llundain above Aber Mawr from its connecting bwlch to Carn Ysgubor

Beyond the bwlch the path continued upward through twigs of moorland surrounds which on such an island was a welcome addition to its vegetation.  The summit of the hill is crowned by a largish cairn with embedded rocks around its periphery; I thought two points needed Trimbling, each on opposite sides of the cairn and both of similar height.  As the Trimble gathered the second of these summit data sets the first people appeared on the horizon, I sauntered over and explained what I was doing and they kindly waited until the five minutes of allotted data had been gathered.

The set-up position for the first data set taken from the summit area of Carn Ysgubor

The set-up position for the second data set taken from the summit area of Carn Ysgubor

Leaving the summit I quickly retraced my steps back to the bwlch and positioned the Trimble on top of my rucksack at the first position that needed Trimbling.  As the equipment gathered its all-important data I stood below it and took in the scene of cliffs and blue sea.

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Carn Ysgubor

The vantage point of these two positions for critical bwlch gave me superb views back to Carn Ysgubor being flanked by its immediate southerly cliff face, a towering face of verticality edged against the tranquil waters of Aber Mawr and a contrast to the relative salubrious surrounds of its summit.

Carn Ysgubor (SM 699 246)

To my south Carn Llundain bulged up beyond the immediate greenery of field which filled the foreground, this was my next hill and at a map heighted 136m, the highest point of the island.  The path leading to it from this connecting bwlch was an absolute delight; it was a sheer pleasure to be on it as no one else was around, except for one distant picnicker cast adrift on a grassy ridge above a horrendous vertical drop to the sea below. 

A lovely place for a picnick

Carn Ysgubor stands proud and framed by the blue of sea and sky

As the warmth of the sun beat down I continued on the path, past small hill meadows of tiny wild flowers as gulls and ravens and an occasional chough with its distinct red coloured legs darted past me, it was good to be here, and as the day continued I thought about these places, these island places, their distinct habitat and their inner feeling, that feeling that they give, and I considered their essence, and wondered about an apt description that I would give if anyone was inclined to ask, and I decided upon one word, a word that summarises my feelings, that word is – uplifting.

The red-billed Chough

Nearing the summit of Carn Llundain I checked my watch, it was nearing 12.00 midday and as I touched the large cairn and trig pillar on the summit the next boat leaving St Justinian’s was approaching the island, on board were Adrian and Ayako, who planned on catching me up as I Trimbled my way around the island.  They had four hours on the island and the three of us were booked on the 4.00pm departure.  I hoped that the next survey would not take long as I still had Foel Fawr to investigate and those two lumps of rock and earth next to where the boat docked.

The 12.00 midday boat to Ynys Dewi with Adrian and Ayako on board

I scratched around the base of the summit cairn for quite some time, and not wanting to disturb it I did not investigate its inner realms, but happy that I’d found the highest embedded rock at its base I positioned the Trimble on top of my rucksack above it and set it to gather data.  Wanting to position the front of the Trimble landward it meant that it was positioned between the cairn and trig pillar but its 0.1m accuracy level before data should be logged was achieved remarkably quickly and after 300 data points were collected I switched it off, packed it away and walked over to the lower 128m map heighted southerly summit and drank in the view.  By now the early morning sunshine had turned hazy, but it was still a wonderful day to be out in such a place.

Gathering data from the summit of Carn Llundain

On my way to the southerly summit I spotted two roe deer lower on the hill’s eastern slope, almost camouflaged against the dulled colour of heather, they stood peering up at me, with an occasional flick of their heads as they nibbled on some juicy tit-bit.

A narrow path led from the lower southerly summit back to the main path and down toward the south-westerly spit of land that pokes out to sea.  The main path bisects hereabouts with one branch heading eastward toward the harbour and the other hugging the coastline ever southward, I opted for the path beside the coast and followed it to the top of a minor bump which was covered in delicate blue flowers and gave views toward Foel Fawr.

The next stretch of path was magical as Foel Fawr rose pyramidal against a backdrop of impressively shaped islands with Ynys Gwelltog particularly daunting, a great lump of beautifully carved steep rock capped with a greened summit, beyond was Ynys Cantwr and Ynys Bery, all invitingly close in distance but much farther away in reality, all a dream for budding ascensionists with one if not two distinctly doable.

The impressive Ynys Gwelltog

The view from the southern part of Ynys Dewi is particularly spectacular with (L-R) Foel Fawr, Ynys Gwelltog, Ynys Cantwr, Midland and Ynys Eilun in the background

From every viewpoint Ynys Gwelltog is impressive

I’d envisaged the connecting bwlch between Foel Fawr and Carn Llundain to be difficult to pinpoint and imagined it swamped in heather, but even from afar it was easy to see that its critical point was positioned on the eastern side of the area that took in the whole of the bwlch, and as I walked toward it this is what I found.

I gathered data from two positions a few metres apart and both on the valley to valley traverse, the ground hereabout has small undulations and therefore exact pinpointing of the critical bwlch to inch perfect would be hard to prove even with a level and staff.

Gathering data at the bwlch of Foel Fawr

Ahead lay the summit of Foel Fawr, a hill that is currently listed as a Pellennig and Sub-Twmpau with c 29m of drop.  Its profile between bwlch and summit leads me to believe that it has over 30m of drop, but the human eye is not the best to judge such things.

The south-westerly side of Foel Fawr gives a good ascent route with spectacular views

Another impressive view of Ynys Gwelltog

Once at the summit I found two small rocks that vied for the accolade of highest point, with the one nearer to a very large drop to the sea below being the one I favoured for the summit.  Because of its proximity to a large and horrible death via the dastardly bottomless drop in to the sea I decided to set the Trimble up on its dog lead, this can be clipped to its hand strap and enables me to hold it at a safe distance and positon myself under its internal antenna and yet still manage to save it if it was either blown overboard or dislodged from its alignment with the tip top and highest bit of rock, thus becoming airborne and in the process attempting to base jump down in to the bottomless depths.

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Foel Fawr

My view of the dog lead during the first five minute data set at the summit of Foel Fawr

By the time that the safer second summit survey was being set-up a fellow walker was approaching on the path to the summit, I’d chatted with this person earlier in the day, and she kindly waited whilst five minutes of data were gathered.

Gathering data during the second data set on the summit area of Foel Fawr

Only the two lumps of rock and earth beside the landing place remained to visit and I wondered if I should ask permission to do so, as they were both off piste as far as fellow visitors were concerned. 

I came across Sarah on the path as I headed toward the harbour and explained what I hoped to do; I don’t think my directional detailing helped in pinpointing the exact places I wanted to survey so thought it wise to make further enquiries at The Farmhouse.  Approaching the house I spotted three roe deer beside the path, I back-traced to watch and photograph them, they are slender beasts, proud looking and robustly delicate.

Roe Deer with Carn Llundain in the background

One of the small herd of Roe Deer on Ynys Dewi (Ramsey)

Roe Deer with Carn Ysgubor in the background

As I rounded the corner next to the house the Warden was working beside the outlying building, I walked down and said my hello’s and explained the fineries of surveying and pointed up toward the slender summit of Ynys Fach, which is the easterly of the lumps of rock and earth, I was told that it is off limits as a canoeist fell to their death whilst on top taking photographs, I explained that I’m used to knife edged ridges and had a head for heights, but no charm on my part could persuade them otherwise.  However, I was given permission to visit the lower of these two lumps, and after a relaxing half hour in the sun on a bench outside of The Farmhouse, and after the Warden had told me that the higher and most easterly of the two lumps; Ynys Fach, is also known locally as The Axe, as according to legend this was the last point where St Justinian used his axe after creating the Bitches, I sauntered down the track and clambered up to the top of the lower lump.  This unfortunately doesn’t have a local name, although it is quite prominent to the eye.

Once on the summit I positioned the Trimble on top of my rucksack above the high point of earth and prayed that a gust of breeze would not deposit it in the ocean as it was positioned straight above an almighty drop.  As it gathered data Adrian came bounding up to meet me, he and Ayako had had a great time on the island but said that he’d had to run to bag Foel Fawr as four hours on the island proved insufficient.  When Adrian arrived we peered over toward the higher Ynys Fach and estimated that it was an approximate 1.5m – 2m higher than the summit being Trimbled.  Once five minutes of data were collected I packed the Trimbe away and sauntered down the small hill with Adrian.

Gathering data from the summit of Pt. 23.8m

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Pt. 23.8m

All that remained was to wait for the boat to load its awaiting passengers on board and head back to St Justinian’s and the mainland.  As I walked toward the boat I took a few last photos of Ynys Fach and its great sweep of carved rock before getting on the boat, Ayako was already aboard having enjoyed her stay on the island and agreed that four hours was insufficient to visit all summits and fully investigate Ynys Dewi.

Ynys Fach which is also known locally as The Axe (SM 707 237)

Leaving Ynys Dewi

Ynys Fach

Ayako and Adrian

It had been a great few days investigating the hills and islands positioned around the Pembrokeshire coast and after saying my goodbye to Adrian and Ayako I quickly sorted my gear and car, and set the direction firmly eastward towards the delights of Worcester.

Survey Result:

Carn Ysgubor

Summit Height:  102.4m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SM 69953 24603

Bwlch Height:  51.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SM 70106 24328

Drop:  51.2m

Dominance:  49.99% (Lesser Dominant reclassified to Dominant [pre OSGM15]) (Dominant reclassified to Lesser Dominant [post OSGM15])

   

Carn Llundain

Summit Height:  135.8m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SM 69609 23456

Drop:  135.8m

Dominance:  100.00%

Foel Fawr

Summit Height:  72.0m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SM 70542 22567

Bwlch Height:  41.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SM 70511 22665

Drop:  30.1m (30-99m Sub-Twmpau reclassified to 30-99m Twmpau)

Dominance:  41.78% (Lesser Dominant addition confirmed)

  

Pt. 23.8m

Summit Height:  23.8m

 

Summit Grid Reference:  SM 70677 23686

Bwlch Height: 5.0m (estimated from LIDAR analysis)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SM 70634 23719 

Drop:  18.8m (Double Sub-Twmpau addition) (Double Sub-Twmpau deletion)

Dominance:  78.96%

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet.