Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Stiperstones

 

06.10.25  Corndon (SO 305 969, previously Trimbled) and Lan Fawr (SO 297 967, previously Trimbled) 

Corndon (SO 305 969) on left and Lan Fawr (SO 297 967) on right

The passing of seasons is emphasised amongst the hills, with colour and temperature change.  When the greenness of summer subtly changes to those rusted autumnal colours and summer warmth giving way to chilled temperatures when extra layers of clothing give comfort.

It seemed the summer still lingered as I headed up the narrow road leading to the small community of Priest Weston, with greened grasing fields and iridescent blue sky heralding what would no doubt be a chilled evening ahead.

We had a plan, we being me and Abi.  Abi was soon leaving the mid Wales countryside for a job in inner city Manchester and having not seen one another for awhile we arranged to meet on the hill for a catch up.  As Abi finished work at 5.00pm meeting on a local hill was a necessity and Corndon was ideal, with the added bonus of Lan Fawr being close and on our planned route.  It also gave me an opportunity to start before Abi and gain height at a leisurely pace before the quickness of youth caught me up.

Although the weather bode well for our walk, the forecast gave high cloud to push in from the west as dusk darkened.  Therefore, the forecast stilled that enthusiasm for the prospect of a beautiful sunset.  But that wasn’t the priority, it was just good to be out on the hill with the prospect of seeing Abi and catching up with life and related stuff.

Corndon can be quickly ascended via its broad western flank following a fence line that is unrelenting in steepness.  This was our preferred route and I hoped that setting off at 5.00pm would give me a good 30 minutes start on Abi before she was expected to arrive and follow me up with Jake the dog.

I parked just off the narrow road at the start of the track that heads up to the bwlch between Corndon and Lan Fawr.  I’d used this route on a number of occasions and knew it could be a lung buster, with stops on route during the steep bit advisable. 

Corndon from the track

Walking up the track I peered up toward the fence line leading to the summit of Corndon, it seemed no one else was on the hill.  I always enjoy meeting people on the hill, but solitude gives quietness and time to reflect, both on life and also on surroundings.  There’s a quality to hill walking that is hard to define, it gives time for thought, and as I wandered up the track my mind did likewise, not concentrating on any particular thing but opening up to the beauty and simple things close by.  For me this on many occasions can be the radiance of colour, and late afternoon sunlight at this time of year can give a wealth of beauty, from enhanced greens and blues to those subtle grey hues as wisps of cloud gently enhance a deepening colored sky. 

Lan Fawr

By now I was at the gate leading toward the steep bit.  This consists of three sections; the first up open hill to the corner of woodland.  The second section is beside the forestry and the last is beyond the trees to the summit.  Reaching the end of each gives a point to aim for and that all wanted rest.  It also gave time to look back down to the rack and try and spot any sign of Abi and Jake the dog. 

The gate leading to the steep bit

As I neared the summit wisps of cloud slowly danced above the elongated landmass of Cefn Digoll.  Their colour delighted.  To the west the giants of Cadair Idris, the Aran and Berwyn were obscured by murk, so no dramatic sunset was going to be savoured, but as the sun disappeared behind high cloud tinges of golds interspersed amongst the customary whites and greys gave an appealing scene.

The view down the steep bit

 

Wisps of cloud above Cefn Digoll

By now a small figure had appeared beside the fence making their way up in my direction.  The next time I stopped and looked down I spotted they had a dog with them.  It was Abi, and our timing was perfect, as when I reached the trig point on the summit I just had enough time to put my fleece coat on, take a photo of the cairn and trig and make my way back to the top of the fence and there they were; Jake happily leading Abi up the last section toward the summit of Corndon. 

The summit of Corndon

Abi and Jake nearing the summit

It was good to see Abi and especially so on a hill.  One quick hug and lots of catch up and we were soon debating what path to follow for the descent.  Abi suggested the path leading south-eastward toward an ancient cairn that we could see off into the gathering dusk.  From the summit I usually follow a fence that at one time indicated the perimeter of the forestry that for many years obstructed the summit view.  Thankfully this section of forest has now been felled, this route led steeply down to the top of the track opposite the bulk of Lan Fawr, Abi’s suggested route arrived at the same spot, but was much gentler on the knees and proved ideal.  It also gave opportunity to remain high on the hill for another five to ten minutes.  By the time we accessed our onward route through a gate the sun had disappeared and the calming beauty of dusk quickly took the land. 

The last lingering sunlight

The route beyond the gate followed a wide green path leading us down to the continuation of our incoming track.  On our way we chatted about all manner of things.  Arriving at the track the gate leading to Lan Fawr was locked, which it has been on all my previous visits.  Abi decided to take Jake further down the track to find an easier way for him to cross, leaving me to clamber over the gate and slowly head up Lan Fawr. 

Moon rise

My walks usually take place in the morning, gaining height before the heat of the day.  Therefore, I am seldom on the hill at dusk.  However, being here at this moment was both novel and immensely rewarding, with the darkening silhouette of Lan Fawr ahead and glimmers of lights off in the distance my only companions.  It all felt rather mesmerising.

Nearing the top two friendly faces suddenly appeared looking back down on me.  Abi and Jake had beaten me to the summit having found where the perimeter fence ends giving them a direct route to the top.  We only lingered for a few minutes before reversing our inward routes, Abi came partly down the hill toward the gate before vanishing with Jake into the darkness heading back to the end of the fence, whilst I continued and waited for her on the track beside the gate.  Soon I heard the quiet rhythmic sound of gathering footsteps on the graveled track; these soon neared and out of the darkened dusk Abi and Jake reappeared.

All that remained was a contented walk back down the track to our awaiting cars.  Our eyes had by now become adjusted to the dark and although we had torches the descent on the track was ideal at this time of day, reaching my car at 7.40pm, saying bi bi to Abi and waving her off in to the darkness. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Corndon  

Summit Height:  513.6m (converted to OSGM15, average of two previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 surveys)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 30599 96922 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Height:  310.5m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 32519 99517 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Drop:  203.0m

Dominance:  39.54%

 

 

Lan Fawr  

Summit Height:  426.1m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 29711 96759 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey) 

Bwlch Height:  392.6m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 29966 96784 (LIDAR)

Drop:  33.5m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  7.86% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For details on the bwlch survey of Corndon

 

For details on the 1^st summit survey of Corndon and the survey of Lan Fawr

 

For details on the 2^nd visit to Lan Fawr

 

For details on the 2^nd summit survey of Corndon and the 3^rd visit to Lan Fawr

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Stiperstones

29.08.20  Corndon (SO 305 969) and Lan Fawr (SO 297 967, previously Trimbled)  

Triangulation pillars have adorned the tops of our hills for many years.  They were used for triangulating heights, however with their function complete they are now redundant, as photogrammetry and the use of GNSS have superseded in taking further height values.

Corndon (SO 305 969)

Although their reason for being is now redundant, they act as beacons signifying the summit of many a hill, which can be a welcome sight after a prolonged ascent.  As they are now redundant some are showing the ravages of time after facing years of battering winds and freezing temperatures.  However, there are a select few who venture out to help maintain trig pillars, and today I was invited by Alex Cameron to join him, Adrian Dust and Tony Jenkins to re-paint the triangulation pillar on top of Corndon; one of my local hills.

We met just to the north-west of the summit where a track leaves the narrow road and heads up toward the bwlch between Corndon and Lan Fawr; one of the outlying P30s adjoined to this compact group of hills.

Knowing that Alex, Dusty and Tony would no doubt catch me up, I set off a few minutes ahead of them.  Leaving the track for open steep hillside I plodded up as the view to the west ever opened up, with Cadair Idris, the Aran and the Y Berwyn all lined up on the horizon.  Soon the intrepid painters caught me up and I followed behind them for the remaining distance to the summit.

The view to the west as I'm quickly caught up

Once at the top Alex cleaned the trig pillar with a wire brush and then set about the paint job.  Whilst the first coat was applied I set the Trimble up aligned with the high point of the hill, which is a small protruding rock a few metres from the base of a large cairn and also the trig pillar.

Starting the process of re-painting the trig pillar

I’d previously surveyed the summit of Corndon in March 2015, but the opportunity to do so again was not to be missed, especially as we would be on the summit for around an hour.  Therefore, the Trimble could be set-up gathering data for as long as we were there.  Such a length of time is a rarity for my surveys as usually five minutes of data is gathered.

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data during the first summit survey of Corndon

By now the trig was looking extremely smart in its new whiter coat of paint, with two sides of the four complete with their first coat.  During the painting and gathering data process a number of people from various directions approached the summit.  A few asked whether we were employed by Ordnance Survey, one enquired about the Trimble, but the majority hunkered down with their sandwiches out of the brisk northern wind which chilled proceedings.

Starting on the last two sides of the trig

The first coat now complete, the painters tidied up a number of patches and applied a second coat.  The trig was now looking decidedly white and sparkled when direct sunlight hit it.

The finished trig pillar with (L-R) Tony Jenkins, Adrian Dust and Alex Cameron

I closed the Trimble down having gathered over 64 minutes of data, and all that remained were the customary photos to be taken and a walk down the southern ridge, swinging westward following a fence line and path to the bwlch between Corndon and Lan Fawr.  The latter is listed as a Pedwar and as we were near it we visited its summit which gives good views back toward its higher neighbour.

Lan Fawr from Corndon

A saunter back on the track to the awaiting cars, and push bike in Alex’s case, and a good conversation about all things hilly when back at the cars rounded the day off very nicely.

Survey Result:

Corndon

  

Summit Height:  513.6m (converted to OSGM15, average of two Trimble GeoXH 6000 surveys)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 30599 96922

Bwlch Height:  310.5m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 32519 99517 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Drop:  203.0m

Dominance:  39.54%

Lan Fawr  

Summit Height:  426.1m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 29711 96759 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Height:  392.6m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 29966 96784 (LIDAR)

Drop:  33.5m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  7.86% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For details on the 1st summit survey of Corndon and the survey of Lan Fawr

For details on the bwlch survey of Corndon

For details on the 2nd visit to Lan Fawr

For details on the 3rd visit to Corndon and 4th visit to Lan Fawr

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Stiperstones

22.03.15  Corndon (SO 305 969), Lan Fawr (SO 297 967) and Stapeley Hill (SO 313 991)   

Stapeley Hill (SO 313 991)

Corndon stands in a part of Wales that straddles the border between the old county of Montgomeryshire and that of Shropshire, when viewed on a map this border diverts from its north – south meandering route to make a land grab of this hill and takes in all its immediate surroundings.  However, the border is never that far away and today I straddled it in the same walk taking in the 500m hill of Corndon, and the two 400m summits of Lan Fawr and Stapeley Hill, the former 400m hill in Wales and the latter in England.  As I wanted to survey each connecting point I would be measuring both a bwlch and a col on the same walk, a novel way to spend a day on the hill!

I parked at the start of an earthen track beside a corner of the lane at SO 301 976 where a number of cars can be left, this is the start of the track that leads to Mitchell’s Fold Stone Circle which I planned on visiting later in the day on my way to Stapeley Hill.

Adjacent to where I parked is an option for the critical col of Stapeley Hill, the Ordnance Survey map gives a 344m spot height on the road, I found that the position of the critical col to be in the adjacent field, during the time I stood in the field near to the fence beside a hedge of hawthorn trees waiting for the Trimble to gather its allotted data, two vehicles stopped, the first was driven by the son of the farmer whose field I was mysteriously standing in, the second occupant wound the window down and asked if I was lost.  Both seemed happy enough with my explanation of what I was doing.

After packing the Trimble away I walked up the continuation of the lane for a short distance and headed on a track that bisects Corndon from Lan Fawr, I left this track adjacent to a fence that climbs up the north-western side of Corndon.  The day’s forecast was good, with high cloud breaking up toward the late morning and sunshine in the afternoon; I stopped to admire the profile of Lan Fawr before following the path beside the fence upto the summit of Corndon.

The summit area of the hill now has a wooden bench which I thought an undue addition to its trig pillar and ancient cairn; it seems man cannot stop dabbling with such places.  Having said that I was tempted to sit and admire the view once the Trimble was set up and gathering data, I didn’t, and instead I noted the details of the survey in a notebook and looked out to the border country below.

Gathering data at the summit of Corndon

When conditions are clear the hills of Cadair Idris, the Aran and Y Berwyn are lined up on the horizon, today the first glimpse of breaking cloud and slender threads of blue sky emerging with a dull ache of monochrome colour obscured these higher hills from view.

I headed down toward Lan Fawr in a southward direction following the fence that once designated the boundary of a conifer plantation that blighted this hill’s western side, in its higher part this has thankfully now been felled leaving a multitude of tree stumps that shone almost white as the sun started to emerge and burn away the high blanket of cloud.

The remains of the conifer plantation on the upper western part of Corndon

By following the fence adjacent to the conifer plantation I ended up at the critical bwlch of Lan Fawr, this has an earthen track crossing it, I chose the spot for the Trimble to be placed, gathered five minutes of data and walked up toward the summit of the hill.

Gathering data at the bwlch area of Lan Fawr

Lan Fawr forms the western edge of the compact group of hills surrounding Corndon, it is elegant in shape and topped with an appealing small crop outcrop.  I’d visited this hill once before on a winter’s walk doing a circuit of seven P30s when frost edged the landscape.  Today the sun was now partially out, layering shadow interspersed amongst colour across the landscape.

Gathering data at the summit of Lan Fawr

Stapeley Hill (centre background) from the slopes of Lan Fawr with the distinct wooded summit of Callow to its left

As I sauntered down the track from Lan Fawr back toward my car and the continuation toward Stapeley Hill I started meeting other walkers, many heading up Corndon, all with smiles, I stopped and chatted with three people who had driven from Shrewsbury.  By the time I walked past my car and continued on the earthen track toward Mitchell’s Fold Stone Circle I was contemplating converting my trousers to shorts as the strength of the sun almost baked the land after the many months of winter’s enclosing cold.

Lan Fawr from the track that bisects this hill from that of Corndon

Before visiting the stone circle I wanted to gather data at the second option for Stapeley Hill’s critical col, this is beside the end of the earthen track where a number of cars can be parked.  As the Trimble did its stuff a multitude of people were coming and going, with cars departing and arriving in a steady flow, with many accompanied with dogs that flew away from the confines of their leads and sparked into life as only dogs can.

Gathering data at the col area of Stapeley Hill

At the end of the earthen track is a cattle grid and a choice of paths with the main one leading to Mitchell’s Fold Stone Circle.  This is of Bronze Age construction and a popular visiting spot, the circle now supports fifteen stones with as many as thirty having once been part of it.  Many are small and butt out of the ground as almost forgotten afterthoughts, however the circle is impressive, partly for its construction but also for its position as it sits in dry moorland of heath and looks out toward Stapeley Hill. 

Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle

The tallest stone is 1.91m (6ft 3 in) in height and is considered to be positioned at the south-east entrance to the circle; it is also situated close to the line of the southern moonrise.  I hadn’t visited this place for a number of years and to take it in as part of a hill walk seemed rather fitting. 

The tallest stone in the Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle

Ahead lay the shapely mass of Stapeley Hill, green paths criss-cross Stapeley Common between Mitchell’s Fold and its summit, I picked the one that looked as if it was the most suitable ‘summit path’ and headed toward the top of the southern end of the hill.  This is where the Ordnance Survey gives a small 400m ring contour, as opposed to the 403m summit height a little way north of this point.

As I reached the southern end of the hill’s summit ridge I sat in sunshine as the Trimble gathered data atop a large embedded rock that looked as if it was the high point of this part of the hill.  This was about four metres from a medium sized cairn and looked out toward the higher summit about 250 metres further north.

Gathering data at the southern top of Stapeley Hill

As I approached the higher summit a couple were already lazing in the sun with two friendly dogs running around enjoying themselves, we chatted for quite some time, I explained what I was doing and then spent a few minutes judging if an embedded rock was higher than the ground at the base of the summit cairn.  I also spent time wandering around giving the rocks at the base of the cairn a good kick, I don’t consider this vandalism as it is a necessity of surveying, and if a rock was booted hard enough to become dislodged I would always replace it.

Once the couple and their dogs departed I placed the Trimble on a large embedded rock and waited for it to attain its 0.1m accuracy before data can be logged.  It had attained this accuracy level rather quickly during the day’s previous surveys, now it decided to chug down to this point, so I waited.  During the waiting process I noticed another couple; Dave and Michelle Heap, making their way up to where I was from the hill’s southern top. 

Gathering data at the summit of Stapeley Hill

As they approached we chatted and I asked if they would mind diverting around this odd little yellow and black piece of equipment that was beeping every second as it collected another datum point as it balanced on its rock.  Dave and Michelle lived in Telford and seemed quite interested in what I was doing so we chatted away, they were walking as far as Callow (SO 324 011) which is a distinctive wooded hill top that is easily identified from miles around.  I quite envied their ridge walk, heading off in the sunshine to another hill that I had wanted to visit for many years but had still not done so, as we chatted I mentioned that I may do another walk later in the afternoon up Linley Hill, but I wondered if I’d got enough time to do it, Michelle told me about the ‘Linley Birches’ and Dave said ‘go for it’.

Dave and Michelle Heap at the summit of Stapeley Hill

Gathering data at the summit of Stapeley Hill with the distinct wooded summit of Callow in the background

By the time Dave and Michelle headed toward Callow the Trimble had collected 13 minutes of data, I packed it away and re-traced by steps back to Mitchell’s Fold Stone Circle.  I stopped and took photographs of the standing stones, all looking out on a landscape that no doubt had changed over the millennia, but although a local landmark and visited by many people during each year, the solitude and positioning of this stone circle is one of unstated grandeur.  Next stop; Linley Hill.

LIDAR image of Stapeley Hill (SO 313 991)

Postscript:

Since the survey of these hills full LIDAR coverage is now available.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height and positional data that is now freely available for England and Wales.  Consequently the numerical details for these hills have been analysed using this technique, resulting in the LIDAR height and position for some of these hills being prioritised over that produced by the Trimble GeoXH 6000.

Survey Result:

Corndon

Summit Height:  513.6m (converted to OSGM15, average of two Trimble GeoXH 6000 surveys)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 30599 96922

Bwlch Height:  310.5m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 32519 99517 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Drop:  203.0m

Dominance:  39.54%

Lan Fawr

Summit Height:  426.1m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 29711 96759 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  392.6m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 29966 96784 (LIDAR)

Drop:  33.5m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  7.86% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Stapeley Hill

Summit Height:  402.9m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 31347 99169 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Col Height:  341.3m (LIDAR)

Col Grid Reference:  SO 30273 98052 (LIDAR)

Drop:  61.6m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)

Dominance:  15.30% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR col)




For details on the bwlch survey of Corndon

For details on the 2nd visit to Lan Fawr

For details on the 2nd summit survey of Corndon and the 3rd visit to Lan Fawr

For details on the 3rd visit to Corndon and 4th visit to Lan Fawr

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet click {here}