09.07.22 Banc yr Ŵyn (SN 741 902)
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| Banc yr Ŵyn (SN 741 902) |
The only time I had
visited this hill was 22 years ago in August 2000, during a four hill Dewey
walk taking 2 hours 50 minutes. I have
slowed since those heady days when hills were easy affairs to get up. Nowadays my hill walking is more circumspect,
with route, distance and amount of ascent being factors that all too easily
keep me away from the higher hills. Although
my pace has slowed, the fact that I’ve visited the higher Welsh hills on a
multitude of occasions is also a determining factor and as I always enjoy
venturing on to new ground, it is always a pleasure to visit new hills.
Earlier in the morning
Aled and I had visited Disgwylfa Fawr (SN 737 847) and Disgwylfa Fach (SN 756
838). By the end of the walk the conditions
were warming to an uncomfortable degree, therefore the hills we planned on now
visiting consisted of small walks and we chose wisely with an ascent of Banc yr
Ŵyn
from the convenience of its forest track to the north proving ideal as my last
walk of the day.
It took a long time to
drive from the track beside Llyn Syfydrin to the track heading toward the
forestry that surrounds Banc yr Ŵyn. However, the land hereabouts is stunning in
its simplicity with openness predominating, with lakes and hills adding depth
and perspective to the landscape.
Having driven on the
track leading in to the forestry Aled navigated as I continued toward the
junction of tracks with a narrower one leading south toward the summit of the
hill, it was here that we parked.
Leaving the car we
followed the track as it headed confidently southward, gaining height through
dappled light that cast down from a deep blue sky. The track soon led toward the upper, open
hillside and nestled its way on the eastern side of the summit ridge before reaching
close to the high point of the hill.
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| LIDAR image of Banc yr Ŵyn (SN 741 902) |
Prior to visiting the
hill Aled and then I had LIDARed it. The
bwlch only has partial LIDAR coverage with its critical point just missing
LIDAR. However, its summit is covered
and as the area taking in its high point consists of long grass at this time of
year I knew it would be all too easy to miss the exact high point with the
Trimble placement.
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| Heading up the track leading to the summit |
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| Gathering data at the summit of Banc yr Ŵyn |
I soon had the Trimble
set up gathering summit data and joined Aled sitting in thick grass looking out
toward the Sub-Pedwar of Castell, which now has its upper section felled of
conifers. It looked a fine hill from
this direction. It was good to rest and
enjoy the brisk breeze as it skimmed across the upper hill. For me the uphill of the day was now over,
which was a relief as conditions were decidedly warm and would continue to be
so for a number of hours to come.
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| Castell from Banc yr Ŵyn |
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| Approaching the car at the end of another good, albeit hot day on the hill |
Once the Trimble had
gathered its allotted data I switched it off, took a few photographs and packed
it away. Leaving the summit we reversed
our inward route down the track to the awaiting car. It had been good to be out in blissful sunny
conditions, with the hills chosen just giving enough for the day, without the
warming conditions becoming too torturous.
Survey Result:
Banc yr Ŵyn
Summit Height: 501.7m (LIDAR)
Summit Grid Reference: SN 74195 90213 (LIDAR)
Bwlch Height: c 428m (interpolation)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SN 74031 90845 (interpolation)
Drop: 73.7m (LIDAR summit and interpolated bwlch)
Dominance: 14.69% (LIDAR summit and interpolated bwlch)
For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet
