Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Fforest Glud

12.060.21  Colfa Hill (SO 194 553, previously Trimbled), Cefn Hir (SO 205 550), Caety Traylow (SO 197 561) and Cnwch Bank (SO 186 554) 

Cefn Hir (SO 205 550)

With the weather set fine, albeit warming up in the afternoon, I headed back to the Radnorshire hills in the company of Aled.  Today we wanted to visit the hills around and including Colfa Hill.  This small grouping of hills form a block of high land between the main Fforest Glud massif to the north and Gwaun Ceste and Glascwm to the west and south-west respectively. 

We had a number of surveying objectives that unusually didn’t include the highest hill; Colfa Hill, which had been surveyed with the Leica GS15 and Trimble GeoXH 6000 in October 2015, this was also the last survey that John, Graham and I did together. 

Having asked permission to park on a small strip of tarmac adjacent to the narrow lane and a house close to Colfa Farm, we were walking by 9.10am following a track up to a path through the periphery of a near wood and then out on to fields and eventually the open hill. 

Ahead lay the continuation of the track heading off in to the distance with infant fern sprouting their new and fresh greens and darkened heather all intimating that in these parts if a path or track is found it is best to follow it.  As height was gained the view soon opened up and in the distance the distinctive profile of the Malvern Hills was easily picked out. 

Always a welcome sight to see when on the hill

We soon stopped to watch three moorland ponies who nonchalantly looked our way, two white and one brown; they stood close to a sea of fern on a small patch of cropped grass with the near hillside descending to the valley below and distant hills forming a backdrop.  It was a lovely scene to behold early in the morning, where except for a welcoming cooling breeze and the ever present song of the Skylark nothing seemingly stirred. 

One of the moorland ponies on our way to Colfa Hill

Leaving the ponies we continued on the track toward a small pool.  We had a number of options how to visit the hills on our circuit with Colfa Hill; our high point of the day, either being the first or third hill to visit.  From beside the small pool the triangulation pillar on top of Colfa Hill looked ever so close and as the track headed up toward it we decided to visit this hill first. 

The small pool on the way to Colfa Hill

I hadn’t visited Colfa Hill since surveying it with John and Graham in October 2015, prior to this I had visited the hill on three occasions and therefore this was my fifth visit.  A surprising total when I checked my tick-lists.  As the summit had already been surveyed with the Leica and Trimble I did not gather further data and stood enjoying the view after taking a few photos of Aled beside the trig pillar. 

Aled at the summit of Colfa Hill

Leaving the summit of Colfa Hill we soon found an overgrown track heading in the direction of our next hill; Cefn Hir, which lay ahead of us as a patchwork of browns and greens with patches of cut heather giving a hope of relatively easy underfoot conditions leading to its summit. 

Heading toward Cefn Hir

The track wound its way around the upper part of a steep sided dingle that glowed back as sunlight and shade worked magical tricks upon the land.  From here we set off over patches of heather toward the connecting bwlch which was the first point to survey.  Two positions were surveyed for the critical point, both on the valley to valley traverse. 

Nearing the bwlch of Cefn Hir with Mynyddoedd Duon in the background

After packing the equipment away we re-joined the track and were soon standing on the summit of Cefn Hir.  We spent a few minutes assessing the lay of land for the high point and having decided the summit lay close to the edge of a patch of cropped heather the Trimble was soon set up gathering its allotted data.  During data collection Aled sat looking out to the wilds of deepest, darkest England which spread out before him, whilst I stood scribbling all necessary detail in my surveying notebook. 

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Cefn Hir

When the sun is out and a cooling breeze skims across the tops, the Radnorshire hills are always a delight to visit.  They are quiet places, with few hill walkers, but they give a tranquil habitat where peace of mind is easily found with contentment of place and view that much other upland in Wales cannot match. 

Looking beyond the Mawn Pools to our route from Cefn Hir

Our route now headed north-westward toward the summit of Caety Traylow with another more than welcome track leading us toward its high point.  This track stretched out across the moor, a beacon not to waver from.  We stopped beside the Mawn Pools which nowadays is mainly a flat bedded land of cotton grass and no doubt bog, but a pool still exists, although probably much smaller than in years gone by.  Following the land of the Mawn Pools west would lead to the bwlch of Caety Traylow, but first its summit was to be visited and surveyed. 

LIDAR summit image of Caety Traylow

We left the track to head off over small patches of heather and bilberry to the summit of Caety Traylow, this was the only point on the day’s walk that was covered by LIDAR.  Having arrived at the summit and assessing the lay of land we were of the opinion that slightly higher ground was to be found about three metres from where LIDAR gives the position of the summit, and this is where the Trimble was set up.  During data collection I sat with Aled and ate an egg sandwich; a much needed bit of replenishment as the heat was slowly but surely taking its toll. 

Gathering data at the summit of Caety Traylow

The next point on the day’s surveying agenda was the bwlch of Caety Traylow which looked as if it was placed in a bog.  This is the continuation of the land heading up from the Mawn Pools which we had passed on our way to the hill’s summit.  On our way to the bwlch a lone walker was spotted heading up a track between the summits of Caety Traylow and Colfa Hill.  As we approached the area of the bwlch the same walker was heading back down, and except for this sighting we just had Skylarks as company, these little birds gave a background of ever present song; a joy to here at this time of year. 

I used the ten figure grid reference from the spot height that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local that was hosted on the Geograph website to zero in to the position of the bwlch.  However, land hereabouts comprised heather, reed grass, tussocks, a number of small grassed channels and small stagnant pools, therefore its critical position may be best decided upon when LIDAR is available for this area.  As the Trimble quietly beeped away gathering data I sat on a tussock savouring the position I was now in, if not for this esoteric pastime of surveying hills I would never have visited this place.  Probably for good reason, as I suspect during much of the year this bwlch is a quagmire of bog, thankfully today it was relatively dry and a delight to visit. 

Gathering data at the bwlch of Caety Traylow

Just one hill remained to survey; Cnwch Bank, which forms the descending westerly ridge of Colfa Hill.  Using this ridge as our descent gave an alternate route down as otherwise we would have doubled back on our inward route.  It also gave an opportunity to add accurate heights for this low prominence hill for both its summit and bwlch. 

We took two data sets from the bwch of Cnwch Bank on the hill to hill traverse and a further two data sets for its high point, with the first of the latter sets our preferred position for this hill’s summit.  As the Trimble gathered the last of these data sets I knew the heat had battered me.  Unfortunately my body does not react well to heat, it never has, however enjoyable a warm summer day can be and especially so when on the hill.  Over many years I have accustomed myself to be wary of undue exercise when summer temperatures increase, therefore nowadays I try and pick routes with less mileage than perhaps a few years ago; just enough to enjoy, but not too much to hinder. 

Gathering data at the summit of Cnwch Bank

As we left Cnwch Bank, we also left behind the welcome breeze and although the descent down the hill’s southerly ridge was on a beautiful green track, the lack of breeze meant that for me it was like descending in to a hot cauldron.  I felt battered and this was to continue for the next hour or so. 

The route down was beautiful; it was like descending in to summer.  Stilled mature trees canopied the land with yellowed buttercups swarming across near fields.  The only vestiges of cloud were high in the sky and delicate wisps leaving a deep blue colour dominating.  The scene was to be savoured, but it was also warm and I suffered, so much so that our plan to visit Glascwm and Black Hill later in the afternoon was shelved.  I think if I had attempted these two hills I may have ended up in serious trouble. 

Colfa Hill with conditions beginning to get uncomfortably warm

The track led down to Middle Fynnonau where we stopped and chatted to a woman, it was a welcome rest.  Beyond, the track headed through a ford with a footbridge near at hand.  The sun continued to beat down. 

The ford beyond Middle Fynnolau

Eventually the rough track merged with a narrow paved lane, this led back on to the lane where the car was parked.  Between us and it was a slight uphill, by now I was wilting under the heat and just wanted to stop and bury my head in a bucket of water. 

The Church of St David's at Colfa

The much needed rest came with the peaceful surrounds of St David’s Church.  I sat inside this building recovering a semblance of decorum and turned my brow beaten mind away from the increasing temperatures outside and just sat and slowly recovered.  Remnants of painted frescoes adorned the walls with an old skull and crossbones standing out; a sign of the inevitability of death and the hope of resurrection. 

The skull and crossbones in Colfa Church

Leaving the Church it was only a short distance to Colfa Farm where we met Jane Lloyd.  We stopped and talked with Jane for a number of minutes.  She had lived at this farm all her life with her parents moving here from Herefordshire.  She led us across the hills and named all the ones we had visited earlier in the day.  She seemed quite impressed with our route; I was tempted to say ‘so was I’. 

It was a pleasure meeting Jane and she kindly posed for a few photos just before we set off toward the awaiting car.  I so enjoy meeting people from the farming community, many have a great wealth of knowledge for the hill or mountain that they work.  This knowledge is to be savoured and also saved as it forms a part of our rich heritage and culture and spans the time between historic and present times. 

Jane Lloyd of Colfa Farm

Arriving at the car was a delight, it took an inordinate amount of time for me to change in to dry and clean clothes.  I was in no rush, I munched on an apple that Aled offered me, waved at farm vehicles as they passed on the narrow lane, luxuriated in getting my walking boots off and then feeling the warmth of the sun on my body that up until now had wilted under its heat. 

The day was rounded off with a good meal in the beer garden in the Severn Arms in Pen-y-bont, the pub where Linda and I had also eaten on my last walk a week or so ago. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Colfa Hill

Summit Height:  532.2m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)  532.2m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Leica GS15 survey)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 19449 55397 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 and Leica GS15 surveys)

Bwlch Height:  387.8m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)  387.7m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Leica GS15 survey)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 17968 55359 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 and Leica GS15 surveys)

Drop:  144.4m (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)  144.6m (from previous Leica GS15 survey)

Dominance:  27.16% (from previous Leica GS15 survey)

 

 

Cefn Hir

Summit Height:  510.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 20521 55051

Bwlch Height:  495.1m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 20261 55163

Drop:  15.4m

Dominance:  3.01%

 

 

Caety Traylow

Summit Height:  522.3m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 19789 56130

Bwlch Height:  501.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 19299 55578

Drop:  21.1m

Dominance:  4.05%

 

 

Cnwch Bank

Summit Height:  508.8m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 18692 55406

Bwlch Height:  500.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 18806 55498

Drop:  8.2m

Dominance:  1.62%

 

 

For details on the survey of Colfa Hill

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Beacon Hill

 

22.04.21  Rhos Crug (SO 167 743), Pool Hill (SO 177 753), Cnwch Bank (SO 178 746), Pt. 487.8m (SO 184 751), Beacon Hill (SO 176 767) and Stanky Hill (SO 163 764) 

Beacon Hill (SO 176 767)

Seasonal change can bring beauty to the hills, be it the greens and warmth of summer merging to autumn’s chilled morning’s and coloured display or this then turning in to the deadened winter months.  The merging in to spring is always welcome when that first seasonal warmth heralds new growth and when walking in the hills winter gear is dispensed in preference for short sleeved tops and shorts.  Although winter can bring magical days when new crisply laden snow is almost ethereal in nature, its passing in to spring brings radiance with longer daylight hours and the strengthening of the sun.  And today, with ever present blue skies above, welcome warmth offset by a cooling breeze and the constant background sound of serenading Skylarks, there were few other places that I would prefer to be other than on the Radnorshire hills. 

The higher Radnorshire hills are moorland in nature, with heather and rough grass dominating.  However, many of these hills have good tracks and paths leading between them and in many instances to their summits.  They are in the main open hills, with few fences enclosing their land.  And with that ever present song of Skylarks chirping against a brisk early morning breeze with an unadulterated blue sky above and no one else on the hill; today I could not imagine any other place so welcoming and giving tranquillity and peace of mind. 

Today I had a circuit of six hills planned, with each summit and many of their connecting bylchau to survey.  I’d visited four of these hills before, but not as a combined walk.  The highest; Beacon Hill I had last visited in 2005, and prior to this only once before in 2000. 

I was parked to the west of my first hill of the day; Rhos Crug, and walking up the narrow lane leading north by 8.20am.  Rhos Crug is easily identified from its surrounding hills as it has the remains of two distinctive ancient tumuli on the area of its summit, and as I walked up the lane these and the hill they are a part of rose above the valley and the River Aran which gently flowed down valley below me.  I soon headed down to the river, which at this point is no more than a stream and found a crossing place before quietly making my way up through pastured fields where lambs scampered in the early morning sunshine. 

Looking toward Fforest Glud from the ascent of Rhos Crug

The pastured fields gave way at a fence boundary to the upper part of the hill where a good track follows the western ridge of Rhos Crug ever upward toward its high point, only merging to a narrower path near its summit.  I made good progress toward the summit with its high point the top of the westerly tumulus and soon after arriving the Trimble was set up gathering data. 

Gathering data at the summit of Rhos Crug

During data collection I stood below the tumulus and looked out on the moorland surrounds and wondered how much of my onward route would be through rough grass and heather.  I also picked out the next two survey points, each a contender for this hill’s bwlch position and after the Trimble had gathered its allotted summit data I sauntered back down the narrow path toward a dried pool which constitutes one of the potential bwlch positions. 

Gathering data at the first of two positions surveyed for the bwlch of Rhos Crug

Having gathered the allotted data beside the dried up pool I wandered over grass and between clumps of heather to the continuation of the ridge that connects Rhos Crug with its higher neighbours of Pool Hill and Beacon Hill.  This route now consisted of what for these hills is one of the main earthen tracks.  The second point surveyed for the bwlch position of Rhos Crug was just to the south of this rack.  Progress was being made but there were still many summits and bylchau to survey. 

Gathering data at the second of two positions surveyed for the bwlch of Rhos Crug

My next objective was the summit of Pool Hill which from this direction looked a bulk of a moorland hill with little weakness, with it protected by moor grass and heather, but again one of the beauty of these hills are the tracks and paths leading from one to another, and approaching the summit of Pool Hill from the direction of Rhos Crug was a relatively easy affair. 

Rhos Crug and the source of the River Lugg

The summit of Pool Hill consists of a large patch of closely cropped grass which is at contrast with its moorland surrounds.  The Trimble was soon set up gathering data.  During data collection I basked in the morning sunshine and looked back on my inward route and that of the route ahead. 

Gathering data at the summit of Pool Hill

My next two hills lay in the opposite direction to the main continuation of this walk toward Beacon Hill, one lay directly to the south of the summit of Pool Hill and the other toward the east, both are listed as 400m Sub-Pedwar hills and I had not visited either. 

The route down from Pool Hill toward the bwlch connecting with the first of these two hills; the 499m map heighted Cnwch Bank could easily have been rough, but it wasn’t.  Tracks, paths and moor grass led between the heathered slopes down to the connecting bwlch.  The area of the bwlch after prolonged rain would no doubt be an uninviting boggy realm, but today the moor grass was crisp and dry.  The land hereabouts is quite wild, although it does have another one of the arterial routes between these hills crossing over it. 

Gathering data at the bwlch of Cnwch Bank

The bwlch and summit of Cnwch Bank had previously been LIDARed by Aled.  I had for many years wanted to visit this hill as its map height is a tantalising 1m below the 500m height and today after surveying its bwlch I followed sheep paths up its heathered slopes to its summit. 

The connection between Pool Hill and Cnwch Bank was the roughest underfoot conditions I experienced during the day, but this was never difficult.  The ground was dry and the moor grass crisp and the going relatively easy. 

Gathering data at the summit of Cnwch Bank

Once summit data were gathered and stored I left Cnwch Bank and retraced my route back to its connecting bwlch and followed the path north-eastward toward the next bwlch that connects with the second 400m Sub-Pedwar, which remains unnamed on the map.  As I crossed the bwlch I quickly assessed the lay of land and decided to press on to its summit, leaving the bwlch survey for my return. 

The summit of this hill was relatively easy to pinpoint and as the Trimble gathered data I watched a tractor chug up the track leading to Beacon Lodge, which is positioned close to a conifer plantation taking in much of the southerly domain of this hill.  The tractor disappeared around a corner and that was the only other human movement I saw on these hills during the day.  I always find meeting a fellow hill walker welcome when on the hill, even if only a wave of recognition is given, it is an acknowledgement toward someone of like mind, greetings and conversation are again always welcome, but it is also a pleasure to be on a hill and not meet or see another person, this form of fleeting solitude brings a perverse sense of contentedness and comfort. 

Gathering data at the summit of Pt. 487.8m (SO 184 751)

I was soon back at the connecting bwlch and having picked my preferred position for its critical point I set the Trimble up and listened as it quietly beeped away collecting its individual datum points.  This bwlch is placed close to another one of the main tracks that head through these hills, but whereas the tracks from earlier in the walk were earthen and green, this one was gravelled and its route was easy to follow as it meandered above the upper reaches of Lawn Brook toward the hill named as Fron Rocks on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps. 

Gathering data at the bwlch of Pt. 487.8m (SO 184 751)

Once the Trimble had gathered and stored the allotted data I joined the gravelled track and followed it toward the eastern flank of Beacon Hill, only diverting from it to explore the connecting bwlch of Pool Hill.  I had thoughts that this bwlch would consist of a large moorland bog, but in reality it was a short walk on closely cropped grass to another dried up pool.  This was the last bwlch survey of the day and as the Trimble gathered data I sat and looked up at Beacon Hill and marvelled at the blue sky above, which from this position was now a deeply rich colour. 

The track leading toward Beacon Hill

Gathering data at the bwlch of Pool Hill

During much of this walk the song of the Skylark accompanied me.  These little birds are a delight during spring time.  They flutter and chirp against a blue and radiant sky bringing solace to wearied legs.  Whilst sitting on a clump of grass scribbling all necessary details in my surveying notebook as the Trimble gathered its last bwlch data set of the day, I looked up and watched one of these little birds as it sang.  Its wings flapped against the breeze and its song pieced the quiet surrounds and gave such a beautiful background sound to the day. 

I was nearing the end of the walk, but still had two summit surveys to conduct and having left the connecting bwlch of Pool Hill I re-joined the gravelled track for a short distance as it began to gain height, only leaving it in preference for a green track that headed up toward the summit of Beacon Hill. 

Once at the summit I positioned the Trimble on top of my rucksack with its internal antenna aligned with the highest ground which is about 1 metre from the base of the triangulation pillar that marks the summit of Beacon Hill.  Then after measuring the offset to the ground at its base I waited for the 0.1m accuracy level to be attained before data should be logged and once the equipment was activated to gather data, I again sat and soaked in my surrounds.  It was good to be back on this hill after a sixteen year interval. 

Gathering data at the summit of Beacon Hill

All that remained was the summit survey of Stanky Hill; which I had surveyed on two previous occasions, once with my old basic levelling staff and the second with John, Graham and Aled when we gathered data with the Leica 530 and also line surveyed the hill for drop.  This time I wanted to Trimble the summit. 

Leaving the summit of Beacon Hill I followed a good path down to its connecting bwlch with Stanky Hill and then continued up to the last summit of the day.  When we had gathered data from this summit with the Leica 530 we positioned the equipment on an area of loose stones close to a small pool.  I knew where this position was, but when I arrived I examined the surrounding land and compared this position to that of a small grassed hummock that when I stood on its top, was solid.  This small grassed hummock was higher than the position where Leica data had previously been gathered, the grassed hummock was solid, natural and definitely a part of the hill and therefore it was where I positioned the Trimble to gather summit data. 

Gathering data at the summit of Stanky Hill

Once the allotted data were gathered and stored, I packed the equipment away and descended the south-westerly slopes of Stanky Hill, veering eastward to join the main greened path heading down toward Rhydhir farm. 

Beacon Hill from the descent of Stanky Hill

By now the chilled morning breeze had been replaced by afternoon warmth and by the time I arrived in the farmyard at Rhydhir I was looking forward to a few minutes rest.  This soon turned in to a welcome 20 minutes, as I met Roy and Mair Wilson and their son; Rhys, a lovely family more than welcome to give their time to a stranger who had just turned up at their home. 

Rhys, Mair and Roy Wilson of Rhydhir farm

Local farmers are usually a hive of information and we chatted about the hills and their names and also names of lower places, all around the valley that Roy and Mair call home.  It was a delight to meet them at the end of this walk and having thanked them for their time I headed toward the narrow paved lane that wound its way back to my car. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Rhos Crug

Summit Height:  508.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 16712 74388 

Bwlch Height:  488.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 16625 74662

Drop:  20.4m

Dominance:  4.01%

 

 

Pool Hill

Summit Height:  514.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 17726 75373 

Bwlch Height:  450.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 17761 76003

Drop:  64.3m

Dominance:  12.48%

 

 

Cnwch Bank

Summit Height:  499.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 17876 74628 

Bwlch Height:  473.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 17840 74933

Drop:  25.6m

Dominance:  5.12%

 

 

Pt. 487.8m

Summit Height:  487.8m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 18492 75116 

Bwlch Height:  465.8m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 18226 75154

Drop:  22.0m

Dominance:  4.51%

 

 

Beacon Hill

Summit Height:  547.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 17644 76792 

Bwlch Height:  368.0m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 07104 84228 (LIDAR)

Drop:  179.6m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  32.80% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

Stanky Hill

Summit Height:  506.9m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 16394 76419 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  476.4m (converted to OSGM15, Leica 530)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 16861 76416 (Leica 530)

Drop:  30.5m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and Leica 530 bwlch) (Dewey addition)

Dominance:  6.02% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and Leica 530 bwlch)

 

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet