Showing posts with label Cefn Cwm Coel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cefn Cwm Coel. Show all posts

Tuesday, 16 July 2019

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – Yr Uchafion


Cefn Cwm Coel (SN 891 647) – 500m Sub-Uchaf deletion

There has been a deletion to a hill that is listed in the Yr Uchafion, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey conducted by Myrddyn Phillips on the 27th February 2019, with the bwlch position based on LIDAR analysis conducted by Aled Williams.

Cefn Cwm Coel (SN 891 647)

The criteria for the list that this deletion applies to are:

Yr Uchafion – This is the draft title for the Welsh 500m P15s list that takes in all hills in Wales at or above 500m in height with 15m minimum drop.  Accompanying the main list are three sub lists, these are; 500m Sub-Uchaf, 490m Sub-Uchaf and the Double Sub category, with this hill being deleted from the 500m Sub-Uchaf category, the criteria for which are all Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 14m or more and below 15m of drop.  The list is co-authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams with the Introduction to the list being published on Mapping Mountains in November 2015.

The name of the hill is Cefn Cwm Coel and it is adjoined to the Elenydd group of hills which is situated in central part of Mid and West Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B2), and is positioned with the Claerwen Reservoir to the west and the Garreg Ddu Reservoir to the east, and has the town of Rhaesdr Gwy (Rhayader) towards its east north-east.

This hill was included when the original list of Welsh 500m P15s was compiled and given an estimated drop of c 18m based on the 504m spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map and an estimated bwlch height of c 486m based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 480m – 490m.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The details for this hill were reassessed when the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website became available online, and which is entitled the Interactive Coverage Map.  This mapping compliments the 504m summit spot height given on the 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 map and also includes a 489m spot height on the area of this hill’s bwlch, with these values giving this hill 15m of drop, which is the minimum required for Uchaf status.

Extract from the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website

However, it was not until LIDAR became available that the details for this hill could be accurately re-assessed.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales. 

LIDAR only covers the bwlch of this hill and therefore its listed summit height remained at 504m, but as LIDAR analysis produced a bwlch height of 489.6m positioned at SN 88436 65271 this hill was reclassified from Uchaf status to 500m Sub-Uchaf status with 14m of drop.

The summit and bwlch of this hill have now been surveyed with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 resulting in a 503.0m summit height and a 489.6m bwlch height, with these values giving this hill 13.4m of drop, which is insufficient for its continued classification as a 500m Sub-Uchaf.

Gathering data at the summit of Cefn Cwm Coel

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Cefn Cwm Coel


The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Elenydd

Name:  Cefn Cwm Coel

OS 1:50,000 map:  147

Summit Height:  503.0m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 89142 64733

Bwlch Height:  489.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 88436 65372
   
Drop:  13.4m
 

For the additions, deletions and reclassifications to Yr Uchafion / The Welsh 500m P15s reported on Mapping Mountains please consult the following Change Registers:










For details on the survey of Cefn Cwm Coel

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (July 2019)

Wednesday, 29 May 2019

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Carn yr Hyrddod


27.02.19  Cefn Cwm Coel (SN 891 647), Craig Fawr (SN 879 638) and Pen Garn Ddu (SN 891 628, only bwlch surveyed)

Cefn Cwm Coel (SN 891 647)

The hills of the Elenydd are some of the most tranquil, and yet also some of the roughest anywhere in the country.  They are in the main open hills, with only a few fences crossing their ridges, and consist of rough grassland which in summer can be energy sapping and soul destroying.  However, in late winter / early spring when Sky Larks sing overhead and a cooling breeze sweeps across their desolate land there are few other places I would rather be.

Today was forecast to be the last day of the unseasonably warm weather and therefore with clear conditions I decided to visit the hills between the Claerwen and Garreg Ddu / Caban Coch reservoirs to the south-west of Rhaeadr Gwy (Rhayader).

As I set off on the track leading toward the farm of Henfron blue sky radiated from above casting early morning colour with the sun glinting through the trees that sprung up beside the waters of the Garreg Ddu Reservoir.  The track led through old deciduous woodland and gave to a leisurely pace. 

Glinting light

The bridge spanning the Garreg Ddu and Caban Coch reservoirs

The bridge spanning the waters between the Garreg Ddu and Caban Coch reservoirs merged grey in the background giving an ethereal feel to the land.  Although the track was shaded with dappled light the sun and blue sky heralded a warm day ahead on the hill.

The track leading to Henfron farm

As I gained height past the farm of Henfron the wilderness of the Elenydd opened up with its bleached moor and rough grassland.  Ahead lay the summit of Cefn Cwm Coel which had been reclassified to 500m Sub-Uchaf status in February 2017 with 14m of drop based on the 489.6m LIDAR bwlch data analysed by Aled and the 504m Ordnance Survey summit spot height.  I wanted to take summit and bwlch data with the Trimble to ascertain this hill’s accurate drop value.

Beyond the last gate I followed vehicle tracks on the moor and only left these when the summit ridge came in to view.  Once off the vehicle track the underfoot conditions became rough with grassed tussocks and heather the order of the day.  Surrounding me the land shone a tinged subtle and bleached yellow, a marvellous sight.

I spent 40 minutes on the summit of Cefn Cwm Coel and took data sets from four potential summit positions.  During this I looked out on my next objective; this hill’s connecting bwlch to Craig Dyfnant, and it looked a wild inhospitable place consisting of an extremely large bog.

One of four data sets gathered on the summit area of Cefn Cwm Coel

The openness of these hills can take time to adjust to, as there are few features for the eye to follow, just rising land to more open hills and rounded grassed ridges leading in to the distance.  Once I had packed the survey equipment away I tried to follow a sheep track through the tussocks down to the connecting bwlch.  By now my mind was adjusting to the landscape with its openness a thing of beauty however rough the underfoot conditions.

Nearing the bwlch the land turned from bleached tussock to dulled brown heather, and the grid reference produced for the critical point from Aled’s LIDAR analysis led me through a never ending land of heather and bog, which today after the warm weather of late was thankfully relatively dry.

I stood and enjoyed my surroundings as the Trimble gathered its customary five minutes of data.  The bog only ended as the land rose toward the eastern slopes of Craig Dyfnant, and I wondered where my best route lay toward the next survey point; the bwlch of Craig Fawr.  Once the Trimble had gathered its allotted data I set off on a direct course toward the next bwlch and soon regretted my decision as the underfoot conditions proved extremely rough, soon however I found another sheep track that thankfully led me toward another relatively dry bog.

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Cefn Cwm Coel

This next bwlch proved to be situated in another stunning place, with a slender water course indicating the slow ebb of the ups and downs.  I took two data sets and after activating the equipment to log data I marched off across the bog so as not to get in the way of satellite reception and straight in front of me a large bird silently took flight, I had a glimpse of a rounded head as it flew away to nestle back on the moor.  I had disturbed a Short-eared Owl.

Gathering data at one of two positions surveyed for the critical bwlch of Craig Fawr

It proved a slow plod up to the summit of Craig Fawr which has a number of contenders for its summit position.  I took data from three points, during which I looked out on the blued waters of the Claerwen Reservoir as the first signs of delicate westerly mist slowly rolled in.

The Claerwen Reservoir

Once all points judged to be worthy of summit contention had been surveyed I packed the Trimble away and headed east toward a slight rise overlooking steepening ground.  I’d overheated on my ascent but had welcomed the morning’s cooling breeze as height was gained, but now I needed to convert my walking trousers to shorts and take my spring fleece off as it was so warm, I cannot remember having to do this on the hills in February before.

Gathering data at the summit of Craig Fawr

I did wonder if I should continue to Pen Garn Ddu and Gurnos but decided that time and the warmth of the day dictated that it was time to descend, but not before one last survey of the critical bwlch of Pen Garn Ddu.

This was again placed in a large bog that was thankfully relatively dry.  Its yellowed tinge almost glowed in the afternoon sunlight.  I sat during data collection and let my mind wander, as I also did once the equipment was packed away and I walked the few metres back toward a gate.

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Pen Garn Ddu

It had proved a beautiful day on these hills, and again I stopped by the next gate entrance and rested in the warmth of the day.  This gave access on to a track which led through the conifer plantation to my awaiting car.

Having followed the forest track down I lingered beside the road bridge spanning the Garreg Ddu and Caban Coch reservoirs taking a series of photos and talking with a number of people who were out enjoying the warmth of the day.

The Garreg Ddu Reservoir and Valve Tower

The subtle greys of the morning against this bridge had been replaced with succulent colour and dappled reflections.  I was in no rush and savoured the time here.  Just looking and enjoying.  But as with everything, there comes a time to leave.  It had been a good day on the hill with the Elenydd beckoning for another visit shortly.           

      

Survey Result:


Cefn Cwm Coel

Summit Height:  503.0m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 89142 64733

Bwlch Height:  489.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 88436 65372

Drop:  13.4m (500m Sub-Uchaf deletion)

Dominance:  2.66%




Craig Fawr

Summit Height:  517.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 87939 63846

Bwlch Height:  475.7m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 88241 64748

Drop:  42.1m

Dominance:  8.14%




Pen Garn Ddu

Summit Height:  466.5m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 89125 62814 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  415.2m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 88854 63617 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Drop:  51.3m (LIDAR summit and Trimble GeoXH 6000 bwlch)

Dominance:  11.00% (LIDAR summit and Trimble GeoXH 6000 bwlch)







Sunday, 12 February 2017

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – Welsh Highlands - Uchafion Cymru


Cefn Cwm Coel (SN 891 647) - Uchaf reclassified to 500m Sub-Uchaf

Please note; this hill has subsequently been surveyed with the Trimble GeoXH 6000, resulting in a 503.0m summit and 489.6m bwlch height, with these values giving this hill 13.4m of drop.  Therefore, this hill has been deleted from 500m Sub-Uchaf status, with the details below remaining as originally written for future reference.


There has been a reclassification to the listing of Yr Uchafion instigated from analysis of LIDAR data by Aled Williams.  Yr Uchafion is the draft title for a list of the Welsh 500m P15s that takes in all hills in Wales at or above 500m that have a minimum drop of 15m, the list is a joint compilation with Aled Williams.  Details relating to this list were published on the Mapping Mountains site in November 2015.

Cefn Cwm Coel (SN 891 647)

The listing of Yr Uchafion includes three sub lists; the 500m Sub-Uchaf, 490m Sub-Uchaf and the Double Sub-Uchaf category.  The reclassification of this hill is from Uchaf to 500m Sub-Uchaf, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 500m in height that have 14m or more and below 15m of drop.

The hill is situated in the Elenydd group of hills with its Cardinal Hill being Carn yr Hyrddod (SN 790 704) and is placed in the Region of Mid and West Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B2).  The hill is situated with the small community of the Elan Village to its east and is positioned above the Claerwen Reservoir to its west and the Graig-ddu Reservoir to its east.

The hill can be accessed from its east south-east, starting from a picnic place where a public footpath heads west through conifer and then deciduous woodland contouring round the south-western part of the Graig-ddu Reservoir.  A track then leads up the lower slopes of the hill to open access land and a faint path marked on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map then heads toward the summit.

The hill was listed as an Uchaf with 15m of drop which is the minimum required for inclusion in the main list, this was based on detail from Ordnance Survey maps, with the 1:50,000 Landranger, the 1:25,000 Explorer and the enlarged map hosted on the Geograph website all giving a summit spot height of 504m, with the latter map also giving a bwlch spot height of 489m.

The name of the hill is Cefn Cwm Coel and its reclassification from an Uchaf to a 500m Sub-Uchaf is due to analysis of LIDAR data by Aled Williams.  LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) is highly accurate height data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales.  As LIDAR data does not cover this hill’s summit, only the bwlch data can be analysed.

Aled’s analysis of LIDAR data gives the hill the following details:


Cefn Cwm Coel

Summit Height:  504m

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 89101 64730

Bwlch Height:  489.6m (LIDAR data)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 88436 65371

Drop:  14m (LIDAR data for bwlch)


Therefore, the 504m summit spot height on Ordnance Survey maps at SN 89101 64730 and the 489.6m LIDAR data produced for the bwlch position at SN 88436 65371 gives this hill 14m of drop which is insufficient for it to retain its Uchaf status as its drop is below the minimum of 15m required.


The full details for the hill are:

Cardinal Hill:  Carny yr Hyrddod

Summit Height:  504m

Name:  Cefn Cwm Coel

OS 1:50,000 map:  147

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 89101 64730 
  
Drop:  14m (LIDAR data for bwlch)


This now brings the overall total for Yr Uchafion / The Welsh 500m P15s to 628 hills and the overall total for the 500m Sub-Uchaf category to 26.

The additions, reclassifications and deletions to Yr Uchafion / The Welsh 500m P15s reported on Mapping Mountains are ills of wales as follows:



UCHAF ADDITIONS








UCHAF RECLASSIFICATIONS





Cefn Cwm Coel (LIDAR data for bwlch) (SN 891 647) Uchaf reclassified to 500m Sub-Uchaf with 14m of drop




UCHAF DELETIONS






Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (February 2017)