Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 100m Twmpau and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales

Lan (SN 337 112) 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 100m Twmpau and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop, dominance and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Lan (SN 337 112)

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

100m Twmpau – Welsh hills at or above 100m and below 200m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 100m Sub-Twmpau, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 100m and below 200m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward. 

The 100m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales – Welsh P30 hills whose prominence equal or exceed half that of their absolute height.  With the criteria for Lesser Dominant status being those additional Welsh P30 hills whose prominence is between one third and 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, and the list is now available in its entirety on Mapping Mountains in Google Doc format. 

Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Pencarreg group of hills, which are situated in the south-western part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned encircled by minor roads with the B4312 road farther to its east, and has the village of Llansteffan towards the east.

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 100m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the invented and transposed name of Bryn Llansteffan, with an accompanying note stating; Name from town to the South-East.

Bryn Llansteffan

133m

SN338112

159

177

Clem/Yeaman. Trig pillar. Name from town to the South-East.

 

During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put Pen, Bryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance transpose the name of a village and add the word Bryn to it.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

As the summit of this hill comprises bounded land the details for it were examined on the Tithe map.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales. 

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 53 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Lan in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llansteffan and in the county named as Carmarthenshire. 

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 100m Twmpau and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales is Lan, and this was derived from the Tithe map.

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Pencarreg

Name:  Lan

Previously Listed Name:  Bryn Llansteffan   

OS 1:50,000 map:  159

Summit Height:  133.2m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 33785 11232 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  82.8m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 35468 14598 & SN 35465 14600 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  50.4m (LIDAR) 

Dominance:  37.82% (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (August 2022)

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 200m Twmpau

Lan (SN 972 529) 

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 200m Twmpau, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Lan (SN 972 529)

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

200m Twmpau - Welsh hills at or above 200m and below 300m in height with 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 200m Sub-Twmpau with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 200m and below 300m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward. 

The 200m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is adjoined to the Drygarn Fawr group of hills, which are situated in the central part of the South Wales Region (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned encircled by minor roads, with the B4358 road farther to its north-west and the A483 road farther to its south, and has the town of Llanfair-ym-Muallt (Builth Wells) towards the east south-east. 

The hill appeared in the original Welsh 200m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, under the transposed name of Llethr-budr, which is a prominent name that appears just to the south of its summit on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map and which was presumed to be the name of the hill, when in fact it is the name of a farm.

Llethr-budr

280c

SN973528

147

188

 

During my early hill listing I thought it appropriate to either invent a name for a hill, or use a name that appeared near to the summit of the hill on Ordnance Survey maps of the day.  My preference was to use farm names and put Pen, Bryn or Moel in front of them or as in this instance transpose the name of a farm which I thought that of the hill.  This is not a practice that I now advocate as with time and inclination place-name data can be improved either by asking local people or by examining historic documents, through this form of research an appropriate name for the hill can usually be found. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

As the summit of this hill comprises bounded land the details for it were examined on the Tithe map.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales. 

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 1425 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Lan in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llanafan Fawr and in the county named as Brecon. 

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 200m Twmpau is Lan, and this was derived from the Tithe map. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Elenydd

Name:  Lan

Previously Listed Name:  Llethr-budr   

OS 1:50,000 map:  147

Summit Height:  284.9m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 97265 52939 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  251.2m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 97057 53035 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  33.7m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (January 2022)

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – 200m Twmpau

Lan (SN 972 529) – 200m Sub-Twmpau reclassified to 200m Twmpau

There has been confirmation of a reclassification to the list of 200m Twmpau, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Lan (SN 972 529)

The criteria for the list that this reclassification applies to are: 

200m Twmpau – Welsh hills at or above 200m and below 300m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 200m Sub-Twmpau with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 200m and below 300m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward. 

The 200m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Lan and this was derived from the Tithe map, and it is adjoined to the Drygarn Fawr group of hills, which are situated in the central part of the South Wales Region (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned encircled by minor roads, with the B4358 road farther to its north-west and the A483 road farther to its south, and has the town of Llanfair-ym-Muallt (Builth Wells) towards the east south-east. 

When the original 200m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was included in the Hills to be surveyed sub list that accompanied the main P30 list, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used for the main P30 category. 

When the sub list was standardised, and interpolated heights and drop values also included the details for this hill were re-assessed and it was listed with an estimated c 27m of drop, based on an estimated c 284m summit height and an estimated c 257m bwlch height, with both heights based on interpolation of 10m contouring that appear on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

The details for this hill were re-assessed when the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map became available online.  This mapping had many spot heights not on other publicly available Ordnance Survey maps and for this hill it had a 252m spot height on the area of the bwlch, and when coupled with a reassessment of the estimated summit height of this hill of c 285m, these values gave this hill an estimated c 33m of drop. 

However, it was not until LIDAR became available that the details for this hill could be accurately re-assessed.  The LIDAR (Light Detection & Ranging) technique produced highly accurate height data that is now freely available for much of England and Wales. 

Therefore, the confirmation of the reclassification of this hill from 200m Sub-Twmpau status is due to LIDAR analysis, resulting in a 284.9m summit height and a 251.2m bwlch height, with these values giving this hill 33.7m of drop, which is sufficient for it to be classified as a 200m Twmpau. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Elenydd 

Name:  Lan 

OS 1:50,000 map:  147

Summit Height:  284.9m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 97265 52939 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  251.2m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 97057 53035 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  33.7m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (January 2022)

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – 100m Twmpau and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales

  

Lan (SN 441 196)

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the 100m Twmpau and Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales, with the summit height, its location and drop of the hill initially confirmed by LIDAR analysis and subsequently by a summit survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 which were conducted by Myrddyn Phillips, with latter taking place on the 31^st July 2018.

Lan (SN 441 196)

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

100m Twmpau - Welsh hills at or above 100m and below 200m in height with 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 100m Sub-Twmpau with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 100m and below 200m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward.

Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales – Welsh P30 hills whose prominence equal or exceed half that of their absolute height.  With the criteria for Lesser Dominant status being those addition Welsh P30 hills whose prominence is 33.33% or more and below 50% 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.

LIDAR image of Lan

The hill is adjoined to the Mynydd Sylen group of hills, which are situated in the western part of South Wales (Region C, Sub-Region C1), and is positioned with the Afon Tywi (River Towy) and the B 4300 road to its north, and has the town of Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen) to the west north-west.

The hill originally appeared in the 100m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website under the name of Allt Cystanog, which is a name consistently given to the wooded northerly slopes of this hill on Ordnance Survey maps.

Allt Cystanog

115m

SN441196

159

177

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. 

Extract from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map

As the summit of this hill comprises bounded land the details for it were examined on the Tithe map.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Extract from the Tithe map

The enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 626 on the Tithe map, this can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Lan in the apportionments, with the details on the Tithe map appearing in the parish of Llangunnor [sic] and in the county named as Carmarthen.

Extract from the apportionments

Therefore, the name this hill is now listed by in the 100m Twmpau and Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales is Lan, and this name was derived from the Tithe map.

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Mynydd Sylen

Name:  Lan

Previously Listed Name:  Allt Cystanog 

  

OS 1:50,000 map:  159

Summit Height:  115.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 44107 19652

Bwlch Height:  37.0m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 44956 19487 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  78.5m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  67.97% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For details on the summit survey of Lan

Myrddyn Phillips (January 2019)

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Mynydd Sylen

31.07.18  Lan (SN 441 196)

Lan (SN 441 196)

Lan is a relatively small heighted hill and yet its summit stands out from adjacent hills as a distinct rising grassed dome, which looks welcoming to visit. 

I drove up the concrete road to Hendy farm hoping to gain permission to use the track that leads from here toward the summit of the hill.  I noticed a patio door open as I knocked on the front door and therefore called out a ‘hello’, echoing back came another ‘hello’, which I then repeated and received another ‘hello’ in response.  Within a few minutes I’d had another lovely conversation with a local farmer who I asked if he had a name for the hill, he replied that ‘they’re all known by Welsh names here’, which made me smile, having been given permission to use the track I thanked him and headed toward the summit.

The track steadily gained height and soon led toward the high point of the hill where I was met with expansive views, the high point of the grassed dome was relatively easy to find even without the guidance of a ten figure grid reference from LIDAR analysis.

Gathering data at the summit of Lan

I find the time spent whilst the Trimble gathers data to be one partly based on contemplation, partly one based on scribbling down all necessary details, and one partly based on savouring the view, and this hill really did deliver as far as views are concerned, I stood and savoured the position I found myself in for a number of minutes even after the Trimble had gathered its allotted data and the equipment was closed down.

Looking east from the summit of Lan

Once I’d packed the Trimble away I happily plodded back down the track to the farm, arriving at my car I waved my thanks and headed toward the next hill of the day; Parc y Fedwen (SN 460 196).  

Survey Result:

Lan (significant name change)

Summit Height:  115.5m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 44107 19652

Bwlch Height:  37.0m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 44956 19487 (LIDAR)

Drop:  78.5m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  67.97% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet