Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Carnedd Wen

 

15.09.20  Stingwern Hill (SJ 132 014, previously Trimbled)  

Stingwern Hill (SJ 132 014)

Stingwern Hill was the fourth and the highest of a planned thirteen P30s that Alex and I hoped to visit in the eleven hours available between picking Alex up at Welshpool Railway Station and heading back at approximately 7.15pm for his last train connection. 

We had both previously visited this hill, but as it was on our route between Stingwern Wood (SJ 145 000) and Glog (SJ 114 037), and as the route from its north affords a quick and easy ascent, we decided to include it in the day’s schedule. 

The last time I had visited was with Rick Salter and Jenny Hadfield in October 2016 during their attempt to set a new 12 month Marilyn bagging record.  Prior to this I’d visited the hill once, with Bob Kerr in October 2012, when we scampered up and down the hill in 9 minutes.  During my second visit I’d Trimbled its summit, so as the hill had been accurately surveyed today’s visit was an unencumbered affair, just for the sheer hell of it, with good weather and views added in as a welcome bonus. 

The upper part of Stingwern Hill has narrow lanes to its north and south, with a public footpath connecting each.  The standard ascent route is from the north where a car can be squeezed on to the grass verge close to a gate.  A fence on the opposite side of the lane then gives access to a steepening field and open hillside. 

The morning was proving one of those where the slight hint of a cooling breeze wafts across the hill and blue sky stretches across the horizon.  It was a sheer joy to be out.  The steepening field soon took us to the upper part of the hill where a trig pillar stands beside the highest point. 

The summit of Stingwern Hill

Away to the west the outlines of Cadair Idris, the Aran and the Y Berwyn stared back at us, all lined up on grand display.  Nearer, the landscape was pastoral with grazing fields a plenty, interspersed with occasional forestry and woodland, with flecks of white sheep and browns of cattle lazily grazing in the morning’s sunshine. 

Alex topping out on Stingwern Hill

We remained on top for a few minutes, savouring the view and taking the customary photographs, before reversing our inward route and heading down to the narrow lane and the continuation north-west toward our fifth hill of the day; Glog (SJ 114 037). 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Stingwern Hill  

Summit Height:  358.1m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 13282 01452 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey)

Bwlch Height:  c 179m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 09845 99748 (interpolation)

Drop:  c 179m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and interpolated bwlch)

Dominance:  50.01% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and interpolated bwlch)

 

 

For details of the Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit survey of Stingwern Hill

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Carnedd Wen

03.10.16  Stingwern Hill (SJ 132 014)    

Stingwern Hill (SJ 132 014)

Stingwern Hill rises above the Afon Rhiw (River Rhiw) which meanders to its north down toward the quiet village of Aberriw (Berriew).  It was this village that Rick and Jen had made their base for a couple of nights as their pursuit of setting a new 12 month record for the Marilyns continued.

This part of Wales is ideal for such a venture as there are a number of Marilyns within easy access, both from distance travelled between each and also from immediate access to the summits from relatively high country roads.  By the time we met they had already visited Y Golfa (SJ 182 070), and the next hill on the day’s schedule was Stingwern Hill, a 358m map heighted hill that is adorned with a trig pillar at its summit.  I’d only visited this hill once before with Bob Kerr in October 2012 when we’d had a quick nine minute up and down visit to its summit.  Today was a little more leisurely.

Part of the reason for a leisurely walk was having the Trimble and wanting to survey two points that vie for the accolade of summit position meaning that we would be on the summit area for twenty minutes or so, but the glorious early October weather also dictated a leisurely pace, as why rush when one can wander and soak in the warmth of early Autumn. 

Rick and Jen had a plan to visit six Marilyns during the day and this seemed achievable even with a Trimble chomping at the bit to produce accurate height data and with blue skies and sunshine becalming all around.

Stingwern Hill is easily accessed from its north where a car can be left in a tarmacked passing place.  I set off first to test my recently sprained knee, by the time I was setting the Trimble up beside the trig pillar on what was judged to be the high point of the hill, Rick and Jen were making their way up to join me.

Rick and Jen on the way to the summit of Stingwern Hill

Once five minutes of data were gathered at the high point adjacent to the trig we headed south-west for about 100 metres to where the other potential high point is positioned, we all thought that this was lower when compared to the ground beside the trig pillar, but it needed Trimbling and the height comparison will be interesting once the data are processed.

Gathering data at the summit of Stingwern Hill

Gathering data at the lower south-westerly point with the trig pillar and summit in the background

Rick and Jen on Stingwern Hill

The view south-west from Stingwern Hill

After this second five minute data set was gathered I packed the Trimble away and we sauntered down the hill back to the car.  Next stop another Marilyn above Trefaldwyn (Montgomery).

 

Survey Result:

Stingwern Hill

Summit Height:  358.1m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000))

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 13282 01452 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  c 179m (interpolation)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 09845 99748 (interpolation)  

Drop:  c 179m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and interpolated bwlch)

Dominance:  50.01% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and interpolated bwlch)

For details of the 2nd visit to Stingwern Hill

For further details please consult the Trimble survey spreadsheet