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 – Cilfaesty and Stiperstones

03.10.16  Cefn y Coed (SO 211 934), Black Hill (SO 209 929), Lan Fawr (SO 297 967, previously Trimbled) and Cefn Digoll (SJ 264 058, subsequently Trimbled)     

Cefn y Coed (SO 211 934)

After visiting Stingwern Hill (SJ 132 014) with Rick and Jen we navigated toward Trefaldwyn (Montgomery) and onward to the area known locally as Cefn y Coed, the top of which has another Marilyn to add to the growing number already bagged during the last twelve months by Jenny and Rick, who are fast approaching the record for the greatest number of Marilyns visited during a twelve month timeframe.

I’d visited this hill twice before, the first time in July 2004, and the second time in the company of Alan Dawson in October 2013 when he surveyed the hill with his Leica RX1250.  The hill is no more than a high pasture used for sheep grazing but it has extensive views and is situated in a quiet spot that is seldom visited unless you’re a Marilyn, Hump or P30 bagger.

We approached from the north where a gate gave access to the first of many fields.  There was a slightly chilling breeze whisking across the land as we gained height beside a row of stunted trees which shielded us from a tractor working away to our east on a complex of large barns that had appeared on the land since my first visit.

The top of this hill is slightly rounded and I remember watching Alan on my last visit as he used an Abney level to sight across to an adjacent point which is given a 355m spot height on Ordnance Survey maps, compared to the 355m ring contour where the listed summit appears, each point was surveyed by Alan with the results being 353.2m and 353.5m respectively.

As we approached the summit I crouched down and assessed the lay of land leading up to the high point from its north, once reached I put my rucksack on the ground as an indicator and Rick then assessed the lay of land from a number of directions and directed me toward where he judged the high point to be situated.

I set the Trimble up on top of my rucksack to give it elevation above the grass, measured a 0.43m offset between its internal antenna and the ground at its base and waited for the 0.1m accuracy level to be attained before pressing ‘Log’.  As data were gathered I joined Rick and Jen for a natter, as the last of the designated 300 datum points were stored the Marilyn bagging couple made a move toward the top where the 355m spot height appears on current Ordnance Survey maps.

Gathering data at the summit of Cefn y Coed

The route toward this southerly high point took us through a field of cows, they all rather obediently skipped through an open gate in to the field that we were vacating, all that was left in the field where they had once been and where we now were, was a rather big looking and slightly inquisitive bull, thankfully he seemed more concerned where his female company had gone rather than wondering why three people were roaming through his field.

As we arrived in the field where the 355m spot height is situated Rick directed me to a point to set the Trimble up, whilst Jenny headed toward a point nearer to where a conifer plantation is situated.  We decided that each point needed Trimbling, making three data sets in all including that already taken at what is designated the summit of the hill.

Once the five minutes of allotted data were gathered I headed toward Rick and Jen who had found the high point near to the conifer plantation, visually this looked higher than the point where I had just gathered data from, but lower than the point where the designated summit is given and where the first data set was taken with the Trimble.

Again the Trimble was set up on top of my rucksack to give it elevation above its immediate surrounds, and as it beeped away gathering its all-important data I kept Rick and Jen amused telling them stories of how I re-met Lou, a date we had whilst in school and also the fact that I’d lived with her younger sister.

The Trimble set-up position at the high point of Black Hill near to the conifer plantation

After the Trimble was packed away we descended north-west toward where a public footpath leads in to a wood; in front of us was a superb view stretching for miles, it was good to be out on the hill in good company with good conversation.  The path through the wood led us to Camp Farm where I went hunting its occupant.

Gordon Davies was busying himself in the sunshine when I introduced myself and explained my interest in Welsh upland place-names.  We then spent the next 30 minutes with him talking about all manner of things.

Gordon’s grandfather had moved to Camp Farm in 1904 from the Trefeglwys area, I asked about the names of the two tops we had visited, the latter beside the conifer plantation was just in view from where we were standing and Gordon told me that it is known as Black Hill.  I asked about the name of Caeliber Isaf which appears on the southern side of the hill on current Ordnance Survey maps, Gordon explained that Caeliber Isaf is mainly on the other side of the hill and takes in a small district and that there are other local places with Caeliber in their names (the name Caeliber Uchaf also appears toward the west on current Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps).  I then asked about the name of Cefn y Coed which appears across the summit area of this hill on the Ordnance Survey One-Inch ‘Old Series’ map, Gordon told me that he knew Cefn y Coed to be a local area rather than the hill itself.  The high point of the hill was out of view from where we were standing but Gordon pointed toward where it was situated and said that it was a little higher than Black Hill and that it was known locally as Cwm Bromley Top, with Cwm Bromley being a farm on the eastern side of the hill.

Gordon Davies

I scribbled all necessary details in my note book as Gordon kindly gave me all this information, he then asked us to follow him as he was going to try and point out where Snowdon was, we walked to the top of his drive and on to a scrub piece of land from where the high Berwyn and Aran, and the bulging profile of Cadair Idris were on fine display, and way off in the distance were two pyramidal summits and Gordon pointed toward them and said ‘there it is, that’s Snowdon.’  

We’d spent a very pleasant half hour or so in Gordon’s company and thanked him for his time and shook his hand before saying our goodbyes.  It was only a short walk back on the road to the awaiting car and then it was off to Churchstoke and the minor road leading toward the base of Corndon.

We approached Corndon from its north-west and I dropped Rick and Jen off next to a foot stile which gave access to the path that leads steeply up the hill’s western slopes, this is adjacent to where a mall conifer plantation has recently been felled.  Whist they bagged another Marilyn I continued up to the top of the track, parked, had a butty and watched the two of them nearing the summit.  I just had time to visit the summit of Lan Fawr; a 426.1m Pedwar before jumping in the car and driving back down the track to pick them up as they arrived back at the foot stile – good timing.

Jenny and Rick approaching the summit of Corndon

Corndon from the summit of Lan Fawr

Next on the agenda was the Stiperstones, an excellent hill, I dropped them off for their fifth Marilyn of the day on the high point of the road to the south of the summit and then drove to the main car park and sat in the sun and slightly chilly breeze and waited for them to wander down the path from the summit.

Before the last hill of the day we visited the Horseshoe Inn at the Bridges where Rick and Jen sampled a number of brews.  This is a lovely pub situated next to a bunkhouse that accommodates 22 people beside the trickling waters of the River East Onny.

Ready to sample the brews at the Horseshoe Inn at the Bridges

All that remained was a drive toward and through Churchstoke and Forden and up the steep minor road that leads to the ridge road passing over Cefn Digoll (Long Mountain).  By the time we reached the gate that gives access up the track to the summit the sun had sank in the sky, the gate was open and we took full advantage and gained a few metres in distance by driving up the track to park beside the large mast just to the south-east of the summit.

Leaving the car we followed the path to the northerly side of the ancient earthen embankment that encircles this hill’s summit and joined its top and walked round to the western side where the view opened up with slithers of orange hued against subtle blues as day turned to night.

The last light of a great day out with Rick and Jen

There was just time to venture in to the wood to visit the trig and the high point of the hill, before heading out of the wood and back to the car before darkness fell.  It had been a great day out in the company of Rick and Jen which was topped off with an extremely good meal at Spice UK in Welshpool.

Beside the trig pillar at the summit of Cefn Digoll

Postscript:

After arriving home I contacted Ted and Merle Davies at Cwm Bromley farm, Ted told me that he knows the high point where the summit of the hill is situated as the Tank Field as there’s a water tank in it, and confirmed that he occasionally refers to the field where the summit is situated as top of Cwm Bromley but doesn’t really know this field or the hill itself as either Cwm Bromley Top or as top of Cwm Bromley, preferring to call it the Tank Field.  However, study of the Tithe map confirmed that the old bounded land of this hill that now takes in many of the upper fenced fields and importantly also includes the summit was named as Cefn y Coed at the time of the Tithe map, this confirms that in all likelihood the hill is also named Cefn y Coed.

     

Survey Result:

Cefn y Coed (significant name changes) 

Summit Height:  353.6m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)  353.5m (converted to OSGM15, Leica RX1250) (significant height revision)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 21164 93411 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) SO 21163 93413 (Leica RX1250)

Bwlch Height:  184.2m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 20667 90868 (LIDAR)

Drop:  169.4m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  47.89% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Black Hill

Summit Height:  353.4m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 20930 92921

Bwlch Height:  c 344m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 21118 93177 (interpolation)

Drop: c 9m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and interpolated bwlch) 

Dominance:  2.55% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and interpolated bwlch)

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)

 

Cefn Digoll (significant name change)

Summit Height:  408.3m (converted to OSGM15, from subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 26479 05819 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  103.3m (converted to OSGM15, and average of three subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 surveys)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 28827 02177 ( from subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Drop:  305.0m (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Dominance:  74.69% (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

For details on the survey of Lan Fawr

 

For details on the 3^rd visit to Lan Fawr

For details on the 4th visit to Lan Fawr

For details on the survey of Cefn Digoll

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet