07.06.15 Foel Wylfa
(SJ 192 331), Gwastad Mawr (SJ 210 349), Foel Rhiwlas (SJ 200 327),
Craig yr Hwch (SJ 213 323), Belan (SJ 222 324), Mynydd Lledrod (SJ 216 309) and
Coed y Bwlch (SJ 224 304)
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| Foel Rhiwlas (SJ 200 327) |
Having met Aled in
Rhydycroesau we left his van diagonally opposite a Chapel a mile up the narrow
lane at SJ 232 311o and continued west toward the higher Berwyn and parked my
car on the grass verge next to a gate at approximately SJ 186 331. Before parking my car we investigated the
bwlch for Foel Rhiwlas which is positioned close to the cross roads of narrow
lanes a few hundred metres down the road from where I eventually parked. Once I had gathered data at this bwlch I
rejoined Aled who had waited beside the car, he had watched a chaffinch fly
from the hedgerow and showed me its nest, a marvellous, intricate and
delicately manufactured thing of beauty.
We then proceeded up the lane and parked the car.
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Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Foel Rhiwlas
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| Chaffinch's nest - a delicate thing of beauty |
The day’s forecast was
ideal with sunshine and a light breeze, the day’s hills looked good and we had
planned to visit six Pedwarau with an option to cut the walk short after the
first four. I’d visited these hills once
before in July 2003 and had memories of using a centrally positioned track to visit
many of the hills. I’d been fortunate
with my previous visit as the sky had then shone blue and the hills were quiet,
a very similar day to today.
We left the car and used
the first of many gates to gain access onto the slopes of Foel Wylfa, the first
of our planned six hills, as we joined its westerly ridge fence for the last
few metres to its summit the patches of cloud cast shadowed, attractive
patterns on its green higher slopes with splashes of gorse adding intensity to
the colour of the hill.
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The upper section of Foel Wylfa
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Foel Wylfa has two high
points, as the first was being Trimbled I looked out on the beautiful landscape
below with the cultivated fields leading to the darkened profile of the high
Berwyn ridge. Across the intervening
valleys rose the hill which is currently named as Gyrn Moelfre on Ordnance
Survey maps, this dominated the immediate skyline with its eloquent flattish
eastern ridge leading to its slightly pointed summit
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Specks of white on a green landscape
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Gathering data from the first high point on Foel Wylfa with the high Berwyn beyond
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The most northerly of
the two high points of Foel Wylfa has a small fenced enclosure on it, in the
enclosure is a memorial stone to Irene May Louisa Hill and Charles Henry
Hill. Although this spot was a fitting
place for two loved ones to be remembered the enclosure was unnecessarily
obtrusive and the vegetation inside now overgrown.
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Gathering data from the summit of Foel Wylfa with the fenced enclosure on left of photo
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| Memorial stone to Irene May Louisa Hill and Charles Henry Hill |
Once each high point had
been Trimbled we continued down toward this hill’s connecting bwlch with Pen y
Gwely, which is a Sub-Pedwar and whose summit and bwlch had been recently
surveyed in the company of Mark on an evening walk a few weeks ago.
The critical bwlch for
Foel Wylfa was situated in a field of long swaying grass which moved in sync
swathes as the morning’s breeze blew across the hills. Aled remained on the track beside the bwlch
and directed me toward where the critical bwlch lay, I then spent a few minutes
creating my first crop circle, once my artistic design was complete I placed
the Trimble down and set it to collect data.
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My first attempt at creating a crop circle
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As the Trimble gathered
data I walked back toward the fence adjacent to the track we had reached, this
track would give us access to the next three hills and eventually marches down
to the area around the Pen y Gwely Reservoir which we planned on visiting later
in the day. Before packing the Trimble
away I took a series of photographs as the sun and cloud cast light and shade
of my crop circle. Wondering what the
farmer would think of this unusual pattern that had appeared in his field I
rejoined Aled on the track.
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Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Foel Wylfa
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Our next hill was Foel
Rhiwlas, the highest of the day, before visiting its summit we collected data
from the bwlch leading upto its high point, this is the critical bwlch of
Gwastad Mawr, whose summit was surveyed on the previously mentioned evening
walk with Mark a few weeks ago.
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Foel Rhiwlas
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Foel Rhiwlas also has
two high points that vie for the summit position, with a third lower top
further south. The two higher points
were Trimbled with one having a small flat cairn on it. As the Trimble gathered its data we sat and
had a bite to eat overlooking the southern lower summit as its bulk smoothly
descended to the valley below.
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The lower southerly top of Foel Rhiwlas
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Having packed the
Trimble away we backtracked back to the track, (that sounds rather melodic) and
continued east toward our next bwlch which was positioned in a reed infested
patch of land, once Trimbled we continued up to the summit of Craig yr Hwch.
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Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Craig yr Hwch
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As the Trimble gathered
data on the high point of Craig yr Hwch we walked toward a fence junction and
looked out toward the hills, again light and shade enhanced the land with deep
shadows adding depth to the landscape.
The day was proving very enjoyable and unrushed, and with a mound of
hilly related subjects for Aled and I to discuss it was also proving extremely
productive for future plans as well as for bagging and surveying hills.
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The view south-west from the fence junction
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Down we went back onto
the track, which now led into a conifer plantation, ahead lay the rounded
profile and forested westerly flank of Belan, which is listed as a Pedwar due
to a 30.2m basic levelling survey that I had conducted during my walk in July
2003.
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The forested western flank of Belan
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The summit of Belan was
relatively easy to pinpoint and the customary five minutes of Trimble data was
gathered from it, we then retraced our steps back to its connecting bwlch and
proceeded to take two data sets, one from its pastured land which we both
agreed looked to be where its critical bwlch lay, and the second data set from
beside an earthen track which was on the course of another valley to valley
direction passing over the hills.
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Gathering data from the summit of Belan
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During the day we had
heard a number of trail bikes off in the distance where a large group of
vehicles were parked on a hillside. As
the Trimble gathered data next to the earthen track a number of bikes now
whizzed down the track past us and the Trimble.
I chatted to one of the riders as he pulled up to open a gate, they were
taking part in an enduro meet and he kindly said that he’s let his fellow competitors
know that a small yellow and black piece of surveying equipment was positioned
next to this tack and to try their utmost not to squash it when they hurtled
past.
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Gathering data with the Trimble at the bwlch of Belan
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And hoping the trail bikes would not run it over
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By now the afternoon had
warmed up, and the breeze when it blew was a welcoming relief from the warmth
of the day. We left the bwlch of Belan
and descended on another track toward the edge of the conifer plantation and
then through it on a lovely track as it headed down to a footbridge over the
Nant Penygwely.
On the opposite side of
the stream the main track continued past the Pen y Gwely Reservoir which was
built in 1889 and feeds water to the inhabitants of Oswestry. This part of the walk was rather magical as
it was similar to entering an estate with landscaped gardens and lakes, and all
under a succulent blue sky.
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Our route down to the Pen y Gwely Reservoir passed a number of beautiful trees
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The Pen y Gwely Reservoir
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Ducks doing what ducks do
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The forested slopes of Belan overlooking the Pen y Gwely Reservoir
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Beyond the reservoir our
track bi-passed the direct route toward our next bwlch and continued down
toward Tynyfron before doubling back onto the narrow lane and upto its high
point. As we walked up the lane the
hedgerow was ablaze with colour and a small speckled yellow moth darted between
the flowers, we followed it for a while and spotted another one and watched as
they flitted to and fro.
When we reached the top
of the lane we met Huw Evans who was outside playing with his children, we chatted
for a number of minutes, Huw is a contractor and grew up locally, he had
reverted the name of his bungalow back to its original Welsh name from one that
wasn’t really in keeping with the country’s language or culture. We happily passed a number of minutes talking
about the local hills and checking on their names, and getting one or two
contacts for future research.
The top of the narrow
lane beside Huw’s bungalow was the critical bwlch for Coed y Bwlch, which was
our planned sixth hill of the day. The
position of this critical bwlch lay beside the road on a gravelled area, it was
duly Trimbled and we continued up toward our next hill, with permission to
visit its summit having been asked by us and given by Huw.
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Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Coed y Bwlch
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The walk upto the summit
of Mynydd Lledrod proved a tranquil, albeit slow affair with views over to our
first two hills of the day; Foel Wylfa and Foel Rhiwlas. The Trimble was placed on two points at the
summit, both on an old earthen embankment which looked part of the hill and we
estimated a measurement offset to the natural ground below.
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Foel Rhiwlas from the ascent of Mynydd Lledrod
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Gathering data from the summit of Mynydd Lledrod with Coed y Bwlch in the background
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Leaving the summit of
Mynydd Lledrod behind us, we followed its easterly ridge down to the connecting
bwlch with Coed y Bwlch. This last hill
of the day rose up in the late afternoon sunshine with its wooded summit of
Scots Pine and Larch looking resplendent, I can remember my previous visit to
this hill and how pleasant its top was as it felt dissimilar to the other
adjacent hills with its summit scattered with beautifully shaped trees.
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Heading to the summit of Coed y Bwlch
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The ascent proved
wearisome as I opted for the direct approach whilst Aled found a green track
that gained height toward the summit.
Soon we were at the high point which is positioned directly under a
large Scots Pine. As the Trimble ebbed
down to the 0.1m accuracy before data can be logged we sat and chatted and had
another bite to eat. Thankfully the
Trimble attained the 0.1m accuracy relatively quickly considering where it was
positioned and as it gathered its summit data we relaxed in the sun.
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The Scots Pine at the summit of Coed y Bwlch
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Gathering data from the summit of Coed y Bwlch
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Only one survey was left
and that was back at the base of Coed y Bwlch at the connecting bwlch with
Mynydd Lledrod, this proved to be close to a gate and in a field. Once the survey was completed and the Trimble
packed away we sauntered down the lane back toward Aled’s van.
The lane led down to a
track which we followed for a short distance before leaving it to join a path
through a field, the last few metres proved fun as the path took us through an
overgrown and enclosed nettle infested patch of land, not something to
encounter when wearing shorts at the end of a day’s walk.
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Summer flowers
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Tackling the nettles
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As Aled slowly stomped
down the nettles I picked a balancing route through them as best I could and a
few minutes later we were back beside the Chapel and Aled’s van. The walk and 17 surveys had taken 8hr 30min
and we rounded off the day with a meal in a pub in Glyn Ceiriog.
Survey Result:
Foel Wylfa
Summit Height: 453.5m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 19219 33166
Bwlch Height: 393.3m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 19653 33261
Drop: 60.2m
Dominance: 13.27%
Summit Height: 448.9m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 21055 34971 (Trimble GeoXH 6000, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)
Bwlch Height: 413.5m (LIDAR)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 20287 32903 (LIDAR)
Drop: 35.3m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Dominance: 7.87% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Foel Rhiwlas
Summit Height: 455.3m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 20030 32735 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)
Bwlch Height: 361.8m (LIDAR)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 18357 32923 (LIDAR)
Drop: 93.5m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Dominance: 20.54% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)
Craig yr Hwch
Summit Height: 447.3m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 21357 32357
Bwlch Height: 387.5m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 21396 32830
Drop: 59.9m
Dominance: 13.38%
Summit Height: 411.2m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 22211 32401
Bwlch Height: 381.2m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 22498 32561
Drop: 30.0m
Dominance: 7.30%
Mynydd Lledrod
Summit Height: 401.5m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 21611 30923
Bwlch Height: 358.2m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 22471 30740
Drop: 43.3m
Dominance: 10.78%
Summit Height: 414.0m (average of two surveys, 2nd survey 20.07.16 and converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SJ 22416 30481
Bwlch Height: 327.9m (converted to OSGM15)
Bwlch Grid Reference: SJ 22249 31686
For further details please
consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet click {here}
