Significant Name Changes - Y Trichant and Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales

Foel Cocyn (SH 624 042)

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales, with the summit height being confirmed by a Trimble GeoXH survey which took place on the 14^th May 2018, and the drop of the hill being confirmed by LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips.

The criteria for the listings that this name change applies to are:

Y Trichant – Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have 30m minimum drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and the Introduction to the list and the re-naming and publication history of it was published on Mapping Mountains on the 13^th May 2017.

Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales – Welsh P30 hills whose prominence equal or exceed half that of their absolute height.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips with the Introduction to the start of the Mapping Mountains publication of this list appearing on the 3^rd December 2015.

The hill is adjoined to the Tarennydd range of hills which are situated in the south-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A3), and it overlooks the B 4405 road and the Afon Fathew to the south-east and the Afon Dysynni to the north-west, and has the small community of Dolgoch to its east and Bryn-crug to its south-west. 

Foel Cocyn (SH 624 042)

The hill appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Ffridd Cocyn.  During my early hill listing I paid little regard to name placement on the map, or the meaning of names and to what feature the name was appropriately applied to.  Therefore I prioritised names for listing purposes that I now understand are either inappropriate or where another name is viewed as being more appropriate, and although the name of Ffridd Cocyn has been consistently presented on Ordnance Survey maps, it was enquiries with a number of local farmers who gave the name of Foel Cocyn for this hill. 

Ffridd Cocyn

313m

SH625043

135

23

Marilyn. Clem/Yeaman.

When visiting this and adjacent hills I was fortunate to speak with a number of local farmers including Edward Cook of Perfeddnant (SH 628 055), who I met on the upper slopes of this hill, Edward was out on his quad bike with a colleague and two sheep dogs and I was surprised when he gave me the name of Foel Cocyn for this hill as I had accepted the map name for many years.  I asked if this should be Ffridd Cocyn and Edward replied ‘no, I know it as Foel Cocyn’.

Edward Cook of Perfeddnant

I descended from this small grouping of hills to Llanerch-goediog (SH 640 050) and met Stephen Jones who has lived at this farm all of his life outside of three years he spent at university.  When asked about this hill Stephen said that it’s known as Cocyn, he later referred to it as Foel Cocyn, I again asked if this should be Ffridd Cocyn, and was told that it’s a foel.

Stephen Jones of Llanerch-goediog

My route continued north-east from Stephen’s farm and I was fortunate to meet Joanne Redman at the summit of the next hill, she helped me with its name which will be documented in a forthcoming Significant Name Changes post, and suggested that I should contact her father; Tomos Lewis who lives and farms from Nant-y-mynach (SH 644 048), she then kindly gave me his telephone number.

The following day I phoned Tomos and two days later then visited him.  Tomos has lived in this area all of his life having been brought up in one of the council houses in Abertrinant and has lived at Nant-y-mynach since the age of six.  He gave me the name of Foel Cocyn for this hill during our telephone conversation and later confirmed this name when we met, I asked about the name of Ffridd Cocyn and he said that ‘we’ve always known the top as Foel Cocyn’.  

Tomos Lewis of Nant-y-mynach

The term ffridd is usually given to land that is enclosed and is lower than the mountain, or mynydd land adjoined to a farm, both are associated with the cynefin naming system, details relating to these are given below:

Many Welsh hills comprise bounded land that is separated either by a fence or wall; these boundaries indicate land that is adjoined to different owners or tenants.  These land boundaries have usually been in place for centuries and in the uplands of Wales they are referred to as the cynefin, or sheep-walk in English.

The sheep-walk is an English term given to enclosed land that is apportioned to a specific farm.  The Welsh term for this land is cynefin, which can be literally translated as habitat, as in that for the sheep.  The cynefin usually takes in land that is known as the mountain land of the specific farm, therefore the name given to this enclosed land is usually that of the name of the farm prefixed with the word mynydd (mountain), this land is usually given over for sheep grazing, hence the term sheep-walk.  When Ordnance Survey maps are examined one can find many examples where this form of cynefin naming system exists, with farms situated in valley’s having their name given to high mountain land and prefixed with the word mynydd.

The bounded land given over to specific farms also takes in middle ground between the higher mountain land and the lower pasture land of the valley, this is known in Welsh as the ffridd and can take in a variety of habitats including heath, moor, grassland, woodland and high pasture.  Again, when Ordnance Survey maps are examined one can find many examples of names prefixed with the word Ffridd, and its apportionment to a specific hill is dependent upon where the bounded land is situated and referring to the Tithe maps for confirmation is then advised.

It is the cynefin naming system that usually results in a hill being known by different names in opposing valleys, as in many instances the upper bounded land meet at the watershed on top of the summit ridge and therefore the same hill would be known by two different names, each name a part of a different farm’s cynefin.

When visiting these farmers I asked if there was a farm named Cocyn in the area which would substantiate the use of the word ffridd in relation to this hill, and was told there wasn’t, with Edward Cook telling me that the word cocyn refers to the small hummocks on the side of the hill. 

Although the name of Ffridd Cocyn has been consistently given on Ordnance Survey maps in relation to this hill, it seems this name is either no longer used in the local community or it was never used and that the transcript of this hill’s name was incorrectly given by Ordnance Survey as Ffridd instead of Foel.

Even if the name of Ffridd Cocyn was once used locally, this would refer to enclosed land incorporating a field, whereas the name of Foel Cocyn refers to the hill and not necessarily to just an enclosed field.

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the Y Trichant and in Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales is Foel Cocyn, and this was derived from local enquiry.

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Tarennydd

Name:  Foel Cocyn

Previously Listed Name:  Ffridd Cocyn

OS 1:50,000 map:  135

Summit Height:  312.9m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 62455 04290 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  62.5m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 67118 06459 (LIDAR)

Drop:  250.4m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  80.04% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For details on the survey of Foel Cocyn

Myrddyn Phillips (July 2018)

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Tarren y Gesail

14.05.18  Foel (SH 632 045), Foel Cocyn (SH 624 042), Foel Tyddyn y Berllan (SH 634 051), Gamallt (SH 665 067), Coed Uchaf (SH 649 055), Castell (SH 655 061), Pt. 230.2m (SH 648 063), Craig yr Aderyn (SH 647 065) and Craig yr Aderyn (SH 643 068)

Craig yr Aderyn with Cadair Idris as backdrop

Rising above and to the south of the flat bedded Dyffryn Dysynni is a small land mass enclosing a number of individual hills, this land is topographically adjoined to the Tarennydd, although on first view it extends from land adjoined to the hills of Cadair Idris, with it only being separated by the Afon Dysynni.

I’d contemplated visiting these hills for a number of years, but other hills (as they are prone) had got in the way.  However, after producing a number of accurate heights for both summit and bwlch for these hills via LIDAR analysis I thought it time that I visited, and with the weather set fine I set off for Dolgoch; a small community on the southern side of these hills.

I knew from LIDAR analysis that two of the eight hills I planned on visiting were additions to the Welsh 200m P30 list, and gathering data with the Trimble would no doubt confirm this.

One of the new Welsh P30s - Foel Tyddyn y Berllan (SH 634 051)

A short walk on the B road brought me to the lower part of the first hill’s eastern ridge (the hill is known locally by the farmer who grazes this land as Foel), this climbed steadily upward bathed in the early morning’s sunshine with an old fence following the ridge line and scattered sheep and their lambs contentedly grazing.

The other new Welsh P30 - Foel (SH 632 045)

As height was gained the view opened, and to the north-east Cadair Idris rose highlighted in sunshine with an unadulterated backdrop of delicate blue, the foreground was framed by the hills I planned on visiting and surveying, one led to another, and all looked inviting.

Cadair Idris

Light and shade were accentuated subtleties in shape and profile with the hills of Craig yr Aderyn always drawing the eye, however nestled below this backdrop was the second new P30, this is known locally as Foel Tyddyn y Berllan and its new status awaited confirmation by the Trimble GeoXH 6000.

Foel Tyddyn y Berllan in shade with Craig yr Aderyn in the background

The summit of Foel consists of ground at the base of the ridge fence and within a few minutes of arriving at the high point, the Trimble was positioned on top of a fence post and the measurement offset taken from its internal antenna to the ground below.

Gathering data at the summit of Foel

My second of eight hills on this walk was also the highest and although named as Ffridd Cocyn on Ordnance Survey maps it is known locally by the farmers who I spoke to as Foel Cocyn, although I was surprised with this name it makes sense as a ffridd would apply to an enclosed field and not the whole hill, whilst the term foel would apply to the latter.

Foel Cocyn (SH 624 042)

On my way to Foel Cocyn was the connecting and critical bwlch for Foel, this proved to be positioned in thick grass that merged with a section of reed grass, one shined green in the sun, whilst the other swayed delicately in the morning’s breeze.

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Foel

A path led up the eastern slopes of Foel Cocyn but I diverted from it when I saw a quad bike heading up toward me from the north, Edward Cook was out with a colleague and two sheep dogs and we talked for a number of minutes, he was the first farmer that gave me the name of Foel Cocyn for the hill explaining that the word cocyn refers to the small hummocks on the hill’s western slopes.

Edward Cook and colleague

After a well-earned rest during which the Trimble gathered its allotted data from the summit of Foel Cocyn, I backtracked toward Foel and continued down from its connecting bwlch heading northward to the bwlch connecting it with Foel Tyddyn y Berllan.

Gathering data at the summit of Foel Cocyn

Foel Tyddyn y Berllan and Craig yr Aderyn

After the bwlch survey I headed to the summit which has a small and attractive rock outcrop as its high point.  As the Trimble gathered data I stood and looked north-eastward toward Craig yr Aderyn, a marvellous view bathed in crisp morning light with the constant backdrop of the iconic Cadair Idris adding height and depth to the scene.

Gathering data at the summit of Foel Tyddyn y Berllan

Castell and Coed Uchaf from Foel Tyddyn y Berllan

By now the day’s warmth was increasing in intensity and the route down toward the outskirts of the small community of Abertrinant was eased with an earthen track leading to the farm of Llanerch-goediog, where I met Stephen Jones whose hills I had just visited and who gave me the name of Foel and Foel Tyddyn y Berllan, explaining that Foel Wyllt, which is a name appearing near these hills on contemporary Ordnance Survey maps, takes in the whole mountain, as in the whole land mass extending south-westward above his farm.

Stephen Jones

After noting the names Stephen gave, I explained about the Trimble and asked if he minded me visiting the adjacent field to survey the critical bwlch of Gamallt, which is a prominent hill to the north-east and one whose summit would have to wait for another day.  Stephen directed me toward the bwlch, telling me to cross the fence that he said was not barbed and then directed me through the field to a gate and my onward route to the next hill, which is known locally as Coed Uchaf.

The critical bwlch of Gamallt was beside a small land bridge and stream at the base of the fence.  It was an attractive spot to shelter under a large tree out of the sun as the allotted data were gathered.  By now the sky was an intense darkened blue, the heat clear and thankfully not oppressive and although the day was warming up it was a delight to be out on the hill.

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Gamallt

I followed Stephen’s direction from the bwlch and headed toward the gate which gave access to another field and a route toward the summit of Coed Uchaf, it was a steady plod to its high point and whilst slowly making progress a quad bike buzzed around adjacent land, and as the Trimble gathered summit data it arrived close to the top, I waved and headed over to talk with Joanne Redman who was out taking photos of her father’s farm in the valley below.

Wales' two new P30s; Foel (on left) and Foel Tyddyn y Berllan (on right)

Joanne Redman

Joanne recommended I should contact her father; Tomos and kindly gave me his telephone number, I phoned him the next day and also visited him the following week, Joanne told me that the hill we were on is known as Coed Uchaf and is a part of their land, this was also a name that Stephen Jones had used for this hill, with the name being taken from the high wood just to the south-east of the summit, this shone emerald like with summer’s fresh growth.

Gathering data at the summit of Coed Uchaf

Castell from Coed Uchaf

As expected the walk was proving a delight with the hills quiet and sun bathed and the opportunity to meet and talk with local farmers who in the main are an ever reliant, friendly and knowledgeable group of people.

It was only a short walk down to the next connecting bwlch past wooded groups of stunted oak, the leafs of which cast out an early summer beauty.  This section of the walk was an absolute joy, it was as if the hills were transferring me from one land to another and between was a myriad of small oak woods, old and fixed with seasonal change bringing growth and colour, they led me from the bwlch to steepening ground and the next hill of the day; Castell.

Stunted oak

This hill had stood out from afar, and although those of Craig yr Aderyn are more dramatic in nature, this hill gave a dominant profile from the south and was dotted with stunted oak on its lower slopes, with its higher bringing expansive views.

Looking back on my inward route with Coed Uchaf, Foel, Foel Cocyn and Foel Tyddyn y Berllan all in view

Once the summit of Castell was Trimbled I headed down to the next bwlch which was close to a wet area which brought contrast to the land.  Just three hills remained to survey and these were more dramatic in nature with rugged slopes and plummeting cliffs which contrasted with the greened grazing land of the hills already visited.

Gathering data at the summit of Castell

Coed Uchaf

The next hill I visited is unnamed on the map and an individual name for it was not known amongst the farmers who I had met during the walk and then later visited, it has two 231m map heighted summits, their high points each close to prominent cairns, both were Trimbled before the hill’s connecting bwlch was also surveyed.

The summit of the next hill has a large and ancient cairn at its high point, which has now been fashioned to incorporate a wind shelter, local knowledge does not differentiate this hill from its lower and adjacent north-westerly hill, and both are known as being a part of Bird’s Rock / Craig yr Aderyn.

Gathering data at the summit of Craig yr Aderyn (SH 647 065)

Only three surveys now remained and after the bwlch for the lower of the Craig yr Aderyn hills was surveyed I followed the path toward its summit.  Looking back the upper northerly section of the higher hill plummeted downward in a great cliff leading to the flat topped summit of Tap y Botel, this is another locally known name and this small hill is dominated by its near neighbours and yet it is also dramatic in nature sitting as a small bulk of a hill in what can be considered as being part of mountain land.

From this last summit of the day the view mesmerized as the Afon Dysynni slowly ebbed toward the sea in the beautiful greened valley of the Dysynni, and above were the hills; pastoral green and inviting with Cadair Idris dominating the opposing view at the head of the valley.

The view down Dyffryn Dysynni from the summit of Craig yr Aderyn (SH 643 068)

Once data were gathered I left this hill and followed my inward route back up to a fence line before connecting with a path that led down to a gate and the narrow paved road leading toward the old house of Rhiwerfa.

Gathering data at the summit of Craig yr Aderyn (SH 643 068)

When I reached the paved road I sat on the grassed bank beside it and luxuriated myself in the afternoon sun, and ate a chocolate bar and sandwich, my first nourishment of the day.  Above the emerald profile of the higher of the Craig yr Aderyn hills shone down with green piercing hue.

Craig yr Aderyn (SH 647 065)

The road was my access point back toward my car at Dolgoch, but before the path through the wood that would take me downward, one survey remained, this was the critical bwlch of Castell and it is positioned in a field next to a relatively new house which is close to the old house of Rhiwerfa.  As the Trimble gathered its last and seventeenth data set of the day I stood in shade happy in the knowledge that all points I had wanted to survey had been Trimbled and another seven P30s and one sub had been visited.

Fern and bluebells

Gathering data at the critical bwlch of Castell

Once the Trimble was packed away I followed the paved lane down to the next corner and then a steep path through a wood leading toward the house of Tyn-y-coed-uchaf, the path now levelled and continued south-westward toward the B road and after 11 hours on the hill, my awaiting car at Dolgoch.

Survey Result:

Foel (significant name change)

Summit Height:  288.3m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 63297 04583

Bwlch Height:  257.7m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 62971 04432

Drop:  30.6m (200m Sub-Twmpau reclassified to 200m Twmpau)

Dominance:  10.61%

Foel Cocyn (significant name change)

Summit Height:  312.9m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 62455 04290 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  62.5m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 67118 06459 (LIDAR)

Drop:  250.4m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  80.04% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Foel Tyddyn y Berllan (significant name change)

Summit Height:  232.8m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 63481 05158

Bwlch Height:  200.3m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 63494 04961

Drop:  32.5m (200m Sub-Twmpau reclassified to 200m Twmpau)

Dominance:  13.94%

Gamallt

Summit Height:  288.4m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 66549 06761 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  80.1m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 64227 05008 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Drop:  208.2m (LIDAR summit and Trimble GeoXH 6000 bwlch)

Dominance:  72.21% (LIDAR summit and Trimble GeoXH 6000 bwlch)

Coed Uchaf (significant name change)

Summit Height:  216.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 64901 05582

Bwlch Height:  175.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 65174 05620

Drop:  41.0m

Dominance:  18.95%

Castell (significant name change)

Summit Height:  267.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 65561 06144

Bwlch Height:  179.1m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 65917 06266

Drop:  88.4m

Dominance:  33.05% 

Pt. 230.2m

Summit Height:  230.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 64855 06337

Bwlch Height:  203.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 64807 06441

Drop:  27.0m

Dominance:  11.73%

Craig yr Aderyn (significant name change)

Summit Height:  257.4m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 64703 06582

Bwlch Height:  171.0m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 65190 06417

Drop:  86.4m

Dominance:  33.56% 

Craig yr Aderyn

Summit Height:  232.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 64367 06866

Bwlch Height:  181.0m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 64569 06814

Drop:  51.5m

Dominance:  22.14%

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet