Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Gwaun Ceste

10.08.23  Little Hill (SO 171 537, only bwlch surveyed) and Gwaun Ceste (SO 158 555) 

Gwaun Ceste (SO 158 555)

Over recent years LIDAR has resulted in many hill reclassifications, it is not overstating to say that the use of LIDAR has revolutionised hill classification.  It is also responsible for many summit relocations, and today it was a potential summit relocation that I wanted to investigate with the aid of the Trimble GeoXH 6000 in hand.

The hill in question is Gwaun Ceste, which I had visited on two previous occasions, the last of which was in July 2015.  I had then taken data from the high point beside the triangulation pillar, which consists of a patch of grass encircling the trig beside a morass of moorland, mainly consisting of heather.  It was this position that was then recognised as the high point of the hill.  However, LIDAR gives another position 0.26m higher than the data set produced by the Trimble.  This new position is approximately 180 metres to the south-east of the trig pillar, and it consists of heather. 

LIDAR summit image of Gwaun Ceste (SO 158 555)

Over recent weeks the weather had been inclement with some beautiful blue skied days interspersed amongst many wet ones; today the forecast gave for dry conditions with warm sunshine.  It was the ideal day to head up to Gwaun Ceste and take a series of data sets from these two positions.

I considered a circular walk, similar to the one I had done with Nicola Morris in 2015 when we also visited the two Pedwar hills that are named Little Hill.  However, my priority was the surveys of Gwaun Ceste and therefore I started my walk from the top of the minor road that heads from the small community of Glasgwm toward Llanfair Llythynwg (Gladestry) in the east.

After arriving and parking my car I took a series of photographs of a number of sheep, many lazing on and beside the minor road, a large tree cast shade at this time of the morning and they were happily shielded from the brightness and warmth of the sun. 

Lazy morning for the sheep

The approach to Gwaun Ceste from this direction is similar to many hills in Radnorshire as a good track gave access avoiding the moorland surrounds.  This headed around the western shoulder of the lower of the two Little Hill hills.  These tracks are a godsend as many similar heighted hills comprise moorland with rough grass but mainly heather predominating and the tracks give relatively easy access to the higher ground. 

The track heading toward Gwaun Ceste

My first task was to re-survey the bwlch of the lower Little Hill, my planned route passed over it and according to LIDAR my previous Trimble survey was approximately 30 metres from its critical point.  As I approached the bwlch the southern flank of Gwaun Ceste rose above, it looked picturesque at this time of day with blue sky above, direct sunlight on it and a foreground of purpled heather. 

LIDAR image of Little Hill (SO 171 537)

Using the Trimble as a hand-held GPS it was easy to zero in on the grid co-ordinates that LIDAR give for this bwlch.  Once at the critical point I positioned the Trimble atop my rucksack; took the measurement offset between its internal antenna and the ground at its base and once the 0.1m accuracy level was attained I set it to gather data. 

Gathering data at the bwlch of Little Hill

This was a stunningly beautiful place to be at this time of the morning.  No one else was about and with the tranquil warmth generated from the sun and just the hint of a breeze it certainly felt good to be out.  Once allotted data were gathered and stored I closed the equipment down, took a few photos, packed it away and started on the main uphill section of the day. 

The Trimble set-up position at the bwlch of Little Hill

Ahead were two main options, a steep green path that Nic and I had taken on my last visit and a track heading north-westward gaining height as it did so.  I decided on the former, with the latter hopefully found for my descent.  The continued ascent proved steep, but as ever with one or two stops to regain breath height was soon gained. 

Looking back on the bwlch area of Little Hill

The green path merged on to a track which near the LIDAR high point of the hill headed away toward the east.  It was at this point that I headed over the moor on to a series of sheep paths, the going hereabouts was never difficult and with the aid of the Trimble used as a directional device the LIDAR high point was soon reached.  This is positioned in a morass of heather, to the north-east the trig stared back at me, over such a distance it was almost impossible to judge purely by eye which point was higher. 

Gathering data at the LIDAR summit of Gawun Ceste with the trig pillar summit in the background 

I wanted to take two data sets from this position, and do likewise with the high point beside the trig pillar.  Each in relation to the other would then give a good indication of true height and importantly true summit position.  With each survey taking around ten minutes to set up and gather data, it meant I would be on the summit area for about 40 – 50 minutes.  I’ve experienced such time restraints due to surveying many times before, and these are now the norm when I go hill walking. 

The Trimble set-up position at the LIDAR summit of Gwaun Ceste

As the LIDAR summit position comprises heather I wanted to take the survey measurement down to the base of peat, on the second survey I positioned the Trimble on what looked to be the high point of this ground and found that it comprised a root ball of a clump of heather, and wondered if LIDAR had modelled this instead of the adjacent peat at its base.  The Trimble result compared to LIDAR position and height will answer this question.

Once the two data sets were gathered at the LIDAR summit I headed over to the trig pillar.  Once there I looked back on where I had just been, and again from here it was hard to judge what position was higher.  Thankfully the high point beside the trig pillar consisted of one or two slight bumps on an otherwise small area of grass and earth.  Again I took two data sets, each about a metre apart. 

Gathering data at the trig pillar summit of Gwaun Ceste with the LIDAR summit in the background

During data collection I looked at my map and followed my downward route on it toward where a footpath was indicated.  This was at a fold in the map, which wasn’t ideal.  As I hadn’t taken this route before I did not want to end up on a track losing height and ending up in the valley below.  I therefore decided to keep high on my descent and use any sheep track I could find.  In hindsight I would not recommend this. 

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Gwaun Ceste

As data were collected beside the trig pillar I happily stood in the heather below the equipment so as not to disturb satellite reception, and scribbled all necessary information in my survey log book which will be documented at a later stage and put in the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet hosted on my Mapping Mountains site.  In the distance the peaks of Bannau Brycheiniog stood out, their blue tinged profiles easily recognisable, to my north-east the higher hills of Fforest Glud again stood out whilst to my south the bulk of the Black Mountains were a wedge of land.  Away to my west and north-west there were many hills, some I could name, but many others I could not.  I felt privileged to be out in such a place.

As the last of the individual allotted data were gathered and stored I approached the equipment and closed it down.  It was now time to head down and hopefully find a good path, this proved relatively easy to begin with as I decided to use what initially proved a good sheep path, unfortunately this all too soon petered out and my continued progress soon turned in to a slow bracken bash with some growing as high as my chest.

I found an occasional sheep path to continue on, but these soon bisected and again petered out, much of the going was pathless, some relatively easy over low moor, whilst some quite horrendous and especially with the strengthening heat which started to sap my energy levels.

I eventually emerged looking out over the connecting bwlch to Little Hill which I had surveyed earlier in the morning.  As I lost height I spotted two walkers making their way up the track I should have been on, I headed in their direction and once on the track sat to recover my breath. 

Looking across to Little Hill (SO 171 537)

From here the going down proved slow, my energy levels had plummeted which is a concern I’ve lived with for two years or more, however experience has told me to take my time and continue very slowly and this is what I did.

I was in no rush and sat and rested on another couple of occasions, the last listening to summer sounds of distant bleating sheep, the near buzzing of flies and the gentle wisp of breeze as it cascaded over the land.  Above was blue sky with dappled white and light grey of the occasional cloud, with the foreground dominated by a many hued green with the lower moor soon giving way to the customary dappled and patch-worked fields. 

Looking across at the other Little Hill (SO 142 537)

Back at the car I chatted to a couple who were resting having reached the top of the road, they were on a two day cycle ride with heavy panniers on their bikes.  Soon after they waved and headed down the road I heard the sound of a vehicle coming down the opposing track to the south. 

Aaron Brookshaw - the local Gamekeeper

The vehicle was driven by the gamekeeper to these moors, Aaron Brookshaw, after I introduced myself and explained my interest in hill names; we spoke for 10 – 15 minutes.  These unplanned encounters with people who work the land that our hills are situated on are always worthwhile.  They can give a wealth of locally known information, from feature names to the names of hills and it was no different with Aaron.  After he left, I changed and headed to Llanidloes to visit Eryl and Rita, before continuing to Newtown to watch Oppenheimer in the Regent Cinema, in all it proved an excellent way to spend the day. 

 

Survey Result:

 

Little Hill                                   

Summit Height:  469.2m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 17175 53749 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey) (summit relocation)

Bwlch Height:  422.7m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 16357 54404

Drop:  46.5m

Dominance:  9.91%

 

 

Gwaun Ceste                             

Summit Height:  542.1m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 15821 55547 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  376.9m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 16953 58220 (LIDAR)

Drop:  165.2m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  30.47% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Gwaun Ceste

09.07.15  Little Hill (SO 171 537), Gwaun Ceste (SO 158 555) and Little Hill (SO 142 537)  

Little Hill (SO 171 537)

Between the A 44 at Llanfiangel Nant Melan (SO 180 581) in the north and the B 4594 at Painscastle (SO 167 462) in the south is a hinterland of tranquillity that takes in a spine of 500m hills, with the lands of Gwaun Ceste rolling onward to those of Glascwm Hill and Red Hill.  Interspersed amongst these are a number of 400m peaks that dot the landscape like watchful outliers, many are rather forgotten places with their summits seldom trodden. 

It was one of these 500m peaks; Gwaun Ceste and two outlying 400m peaks; both named Little Hill that we had our sights on for today.  I was out with Nicola who quite fancied an afternoon in the hills away from the rigours of life, where one can find stresses and strains disappearing into a happy emotional state of contentment.

We parked in the hamlet of Glascwm where two cars can be left adjacent to a telephone kiosk.  The day was set fine with a radiant blue sky overhead that beat warmth down upon the land.  As boots were donned a friendly dog wagged its tail our way for playful patting.

Meeting the friendly dog at Glascwm

Walking up the steep lane heading east conversation only stopped when the gradient suddenly increased with height being gained relatively quickly.  At the top of the road we turned left and joined a vehicle track and followed it up toward a fence corner, here we rested.

From the fence corner we followed a sheep track toward the summit of our first of two hills named Little Hill, we soon abandoned the sheep track and wandered over the upper part of the hill which predominated in the rich emeralds of bilberry, with an occasional clump of heather and grass interspersed, all was easy going.

By now Nic had been introduced to the Trimble and she confidently strode out to find the high point, when reached we found that this hill has two distinct possibilities for its summit, each only a small rise above its surroundings and about 100 metres apart.  We walked over the westerly high point and set the Trimble up on the easterly high point first.

Heading for the easterly high point of Little Hill

As the Trimble gathered its customary five minutes of data we chatted as the remnants of early summer bird song lingered on the breeze.  As the end of the five minute data collection neared we approached the Trimble and I showed Nic where to press the key to stop the equipment.  Once noted she posed for a photo and off we went to gather data on the westerly high point and then down toward the connecting bwlch.

The Trimble set-up position on the easterly high point of Little Hill with the westerly high point in the background

On our way to the bwlch Nic accustomed herself to the theory of drop and the words of bwlch, saddle and col.  Once at the area of the bwlch she happily wandered off to find where the Trimble should be placed, once found she pointed to the spot and then set up our picnic place near to where the Trimble would be gathering data.

As we sat on a blanket happily laughing away with yummy sandwiches, cheese, biscuits and bargies I smiled as I hadn’t done something like this for quite some time.  The female of the species does seem to have an uncanny knack of creating refinement and comfort, this was something that was gratefully accepted on my part and enjoyed. 

Gathering data at the bwlch of Little Hill

After picnic and Trimble time we packed away our little camp and headed up toward the summit of Gwaun Ceste, during the walk Nic checked her phone a few times as her daughter was staying with her Mum in Welshpool and she had times and weekend activities to arrange, which included the possibility of going to a music festival in Llanfyllin.  As another bleep signalled an incoming message she quickly replied and told me what she had written, I couldn’t help but laugh and insisted upon taking a photo. 

An excellent precedent

The ground up Gwaun Ceste steepened and we followed another vehicle track amongst the summer growth of fern that soon butted against heather, this in time took us toward the summit.

The view south on the ascent of Gwaun Ceste

And the view up the hill as the path steepens

The summit of Gwaun Ceste has a trig pillar on it which stands forlorn amongst a sea of heather with its immediate land at its base consisting of a small patch of grass; it is this land that is the hill’s high point.  By now Nic was setting up the file in the Trimble prior to it being put on the ground to gather data, and as it did so we lay in the heather and looked out on the beautiful landscape of mid Wales.

Our onward route took us past Llyn-y-waun which shone with its flatbed of grass, reed and cotton grass.  This small pool is adjacent to a conifer plantation that has now been felled leaving its remnants forlornly forgotten in an untidy confusion of tree slump and stripped land.

The summer lushness of Llyn-y-waun

As we walked toward the second Little Hill the giants of south Wales lined up ahead of us with the peaks of the Black Mountains, Bannau Brycheiniog, Fforest Fawr and Mynydd Du shimmering in a slight dulled grey silhouette.  By now it was enjoyably warm and Nic posed with the Trimble for a calendar shot.

Time to get Nic's tummy trending on the Internet

The next point to survey was the critical bwlch of the second Little Hill; this was easily found and is on a path beside an ancient tumulus named Giant’s Grave on the Ordnance Survey map.  Once Nic had set up the file I placed the Trimble down on the ground to gather data and then as the last of the datum points were collected Nic pressed ‘Done’ and I took the customary photographs of its set-up position for future reference if needed.

The Trimble set-up position at the bwlch of our second Little Hill

Only one summit remained and we had the convenience of another earthen vehicle track to follow up its northern slopes, to reach the high point we left the track and stomped through heather.  As the Trimble gathered its data we lay in the heather, chatted and laughed and took some selfies.

Gathering data at the summit of our second Little Hill

Before leaving the hill we wandered over to a small undisturbed pool which nestled to the south-east of the summit.  This was another luxuriant place with its dabbled sheen set against the greens of summer growth.

The second pool we found was as enchanting as the first

A small path left the sides of the pool and soon joined another track that headed down toward our previously visited bwlch, from here a track led down past Upper Blaen-bedw and over a dried stream bed. 

On the track heading back to Glascwm

Nearing the end of another lovely walk

As the track continued we passed a herd of cows munching in the warmth, looking down on us from the steep earthen sides of the track, beyond were sheep with fattened lambs watching us as we slipped past on our way back to Glascwm and the awaiting car.

Being watched

It had been a very enjoyable day spent in the company of Nic, and she had picked up the intricacies of drop and the operating of the Trimble very easily, which was a bit scary.  We had a great journey back blasting out Pink Floyd as the illuminated greens of evening summer light cast down upon the land.

Survey Result:

Little Hill

Summit Height:  469.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 17175 53749 (summit relocation)

Bwlch Height:  422.7m (converted to OSGM15, from subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 16357 54404 (from subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Drop:  46.5m

Dominance:  9.91%

Gwaun Ceste

Summit Height:  542.1m (converted to OSGM15, from subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 15821 55547 (from subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Height:  376.9m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 16953 58220 (LIDAR)

Drop:  165.2m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  30.47% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Little Hill

Summit Height:  490.4m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 14276 53724

Bwlch Height:  446.6m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 14029 54397

Drop:  43.7m

Dominance:  8.92%

For details on the 2nd visit to Little Hill and Gwaun Ceste

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