Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pumlumon

03.05.23  Craig Yspio (SN 780 831) 

Craig Yspio (SN 780 831)

Yesterday (02.05.23) I received an email from Aled saying; There’s another one!  You are going to laugh when you guess where it is!  This related to an addition to our Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru list.  My first guess was a hill in the Tywi forest, an area we had just visited.  I was wrong, I asked for a clue and with the aid of one of Aled’s photographs I guessed it was positioned close to Foel Wyddon; a hill we had visited ten days ago.  I was right, and yes, I laughed.  The thought that we had visited Foel Wyddon purposely for me to bag one of my few remaining Welsh Highland P15s, and only a few days later Aled goes and finds another qualifying hill next to it, made me smile with partial delight, but also a little resignation.  The hill in question is named Craig Yspio, and it looked as if it was dramatically positioned high above the A44 road as it winds its way westward from its high point at Eisteddfa Gurig.

Thankfully the weather forecast was set fine for the 2^nd and the following day.  I contemplated visiting the hill later the same day, but decided to visit early the following morning.  Leaving Welshpool the skies were radiant blue with a slight chilled early morning feel, they remained clear of cloud as I drove past Newtown and toward Llanidloes.  Beyond as the road headed up toward Eisteddfa Gurig a huge grey and murky cloud bank had descended upon the hills, I thought I should have visited the previous day.  Approaching the top of the road I pulled in to a lay-by and closed my eyes, opening one every ten minutes or so to see if the cloud bank had risen.  Slowly the hill ridge I was keeping my eye on appeared out of the gloom.  After thirty minutes of quiet contemplation it was time to park at Eisteddfa Gurig and put my walking boots on.

I followed the same track out of the farm yard that Aled and I had used a few days ago as we made our way up toward the gate giving access to the higher slopes of Foel Wyddon.  As I gained height I stopped and turned and looked down on the adjacent house next to the farm as it nestled against the hill side, as a glimmer of silvered colour stretched across the lower sky with the continuing murk now above. 

Looking back down the inward track

By the time I reached the gate giving access to Foel Wyddon the murk had dissipated and blue sky then remained with me for the rest of the walk.  However, there was a chill as a breeze whisked across the land, so much so I had my spring fleece on, hood up and winter gloves on giving warmth to my hands.

I left the track at the gate and once on the other side contoured the connecting bwlch with Foel Wyddon around to its right.  Land hereabouts would quickly loose height to its south, so having found a good sheep path I remained high whilst contouring around the hill side to eventually connect with the fence line where felled forestry cast an undignified outlook on the other side.  The decimation of the felled forestry was at utter odds with the beauty of the adjacent hill side, one an imposition where gauged water laden channels and remains of tree stumps gave an ugliness which was unwelcoming, whilst the grassland of its adjacent hill side rolled downward in a comforting perspective with views that were now opening up westward toward the coast. 

Looking toward Craig Yspio from close to the connecting bwlch of Foel Wyddon

Craig Yspio soon stared back at me from the end of the ridge I was descending.  The Ordnance Survey map indicates a public footpath on this ridge and this is a delight to walk, it keeps close to the ridge crest with ever expanding views southward until the newly crowned Welsh Highland P15 of Craig Yspio rears upward.

I was soon on its summit, which is crowned by a small patch of green grass.  Once the Trimble was set up to gather its allotted data I scampered off below the height of its internal antenna so as not to disturb satellite reception.  Once five minutes of data were gathered and stored I closed the equipment down, took a few photographs and packed it away. 

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 set-up position at the summit of Craig Yspio

Retracing my route down the upper hill to its bwlch I headed straight for where, by eye, I judged the critical point to be positioned.  Once there I checked the ten figure grid reference Aled had produced via LIDAR and happy with the placement I again set the equipment to gather data.  During data collection I stood a distance away and scribbled all necessary details in my surveying notebook, whilst looking up and admiring the higher ridge of Drum Peithnant to the north. 

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the bwlch of Craig Yspio

Drum Peithnant

Leaving the bwlch I decided to follow the footpath up beside the fence line to where the track I had ascended ends.  Although only a short section this would at least give me more new ground to walk on, something that I have always enjoyed.  I gained height relatively easy, which for me these days was a surprise. 

Back on the track heading down to Eisteddfa Gurig

Having reached the end of the track I headed right down over moor grass to the continuation of the track as it heads down to Eisteddfa Gurig.  Once back in the farm yard I chatted with the farmer for a few minutes, one of our conversation pieces was rewilding which he raised.  I joked and asked if he fancied having wolves on his land, he laughed and especially so when I mentioned that he could try and train them to round the sheep up.  It had been a good morning on the hill with another Welsh Highland P15 visited, just a few more to go until completion!

 

Survey Result:

 

Craig Yspio

Summit Height:  517.7m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 78042 83130

Bwlch Height:  502.4m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 78099 83176

Drop:  15.3m (Welsh Highland P15 addition)

Dominance:  2.96%

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pumlumon

22.04.23  Pt. 564.9m (SN 783 838) and Foel Wyddon (SN 788 836) 

Foel Wyddon (SN 788 836)

Today’s hill was another in my tantalisingly ever reducing haul of remaining Welsh 500m P15s.  Its name is Foel Wyddon and it is positioned directly above and west of Eisteddfa Gurig, therefore connecting with the Pumlumon massif.  It is also another one of those relatively recent entries to the Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru list with Aled having found its qualifying credentials in 2017.

Although Aled had visited this hill there was a near sub that he wanted to investigate and so with Trimble in hand and a series of ten figure grid references noted, we set off from the top of the A44 road as it makes its way over from Llangurig in the east to Aberystwyth in the west, after of course paying the £5.00 parking fee.

There are a number of tracks that head in to the hills from the farm at the top of the road and it was one of these that conveniently lead us up toward our hills.  Except for the occasional hum of distant traffic on the road below, the only other significant sound was welcome as there was a constant backdrop of song emanating from Sky Larks.  These little birds were on form this morning, singing away across the moor land.

The track culminated at a gate leading in to forestry, the first hill we visited is listed in the Welsh Highlands as a sub and it looked as if its high point was in a section of felled conifers.  Its connecting bwlch was beside a puddle on the track and we decided to leave its survey until after visiting its summit. 

The green path and section of felled forest

A green path headed in to the forested section which as this point comprised the remains of felled trees.  To our left a small channel headed up and we opted for this instead of continuing on the main path, which if we had done so we hoped would lead to mature conifers that were easy to walk through, or alternatively we could have walked up the felled section adjacent to the mature trees. 

The small channel indicated a relatively easy way to the summit

Our route up proved relatively easy, but walking across sections of felled forest is never quick, which suited me fine this morning.  Reaching the area of the summit the high point outside of the near trees was relatively easy to pinpoint and we soon had the Trimble set up to gather data.  During data collection I followed Aled in to the trees to investigate other potential high points.  We easily reached what we considered the high point within the trees, which we judged similar in height to where the Trimble was now gathering data from.  Emerging back out of the trees and after allotted data were gathered and stored, I closed the equipment down and we retraced our route back to the gate and the track and puddle where this hill’s connecting bwlch is positioned. 

Gathering data at the summit of Pt. 564.9m (SN 783 838)

During bwlch data collection I stood beside the gate and chatted with Aled.  From this vantage point the higher Pumlumon hills were on grand display towering above our lowly position.  After five minutes of data were gathered and stored I switched the Trimble off, packed it away and we continued down our inward track to another gate which gave access to the slopes of Foel Wyddon. 

Aled setting the Trimble up to gather data at the bwlch

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the bwlch of Pt. 564.9m

Our onward route passed over the connecting bwlch and we quickly assessed it for its critical point before heading up to its summit.  The summit of Foel Wyddon consists of rough grass, as indeed does the hill, it has an attractive small grassed ridge and when there, we decided to gather data from two points, with the second our favoured position for its high point. 

Gathering data at the lower of the two positions surveyed for the summit of Foel Wyddon

Gathering data at the higher of the two positions surveyed for the summit of Foel Wyddon

All that remained was the descent back to its bwlch and its survey.  It was relatively easy to pinpoint its critical position and having done so we compared it to the ten figure grid reference ascertained from LIDAR analysis, before setting the Trimble up to gather its fifth and last data set of the day. 

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the bwlch of Foel Wyddon

Once allotted data were gathered and stored we headed back to the gate and the track leading us down to the farm house and the awaiting car at Eisteddfa Gurig. 

 

Survey Result:

 

Pt. 564.9m

Summit Height:  564.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 78376 83898

Bwlch Height:  550.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 78650 84107

Drop:  13.9m

Dominance:  2.47%

 

 

Foel Wyddon

Summit Height:  536.2m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 78813 83668

Bwlch Height:  520.9m (converted to OSGM15)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 78783 83858

Drop:  15.3m (Welsh Highland P15 addition)

Dominance:  2.85%

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pumlumon

04.03.22  Pen Rallt (SN 951 859)

LIDAR image of Pen Rallt (SN 951 859)

I had visited this hill once before in January 2004 when it formed one of five walks during the day, then I approached from the minor road to its west and scampered up and down in 14 minutes.  Today was a more leisurely affair, it also proved much wetter!  Prior to visiting the hill I had conducted LIDAR analysis for its summit and connecting bwlch, and had come prepared with the necessary ten figure grid references for both.

On my previous visit I considered the pastured grass of a grazing field on the northern section of the upper ridge, to be slightly higher than an artificially raised green on the opposite side of the ridge fence and which makes up a part of Llanidloes Golf Club.  As there is a large parking area at the Golf Club I thought this would give easy access to the high point and as this was the third walk and fourth hill of the day it would also hopefully give me a leisurely saunter to its summit, before visiting friends in town followed by a dinner party later in the evening.

As I drove toward the Golf Club the heavens opened, I hoped this would be no more than a passing shower, but as I drew up and parked the rain battered my car for the next 45 minutes.  Peering out of the rain splattered window the sky to my north had taken on a slate grey and foreboding look.  It continued like this for quite some time.  All I wanted was a 30 minute gap to scamper up, survey the summit and plod back down, and ideally followed by a few minutes of dry weather to visit Penrallt; the local farm just below the Club House to make place- name enquiries about the hill and then a few more minutes without any rain to change and get dry and clean clothes on for my impending evening’s entertainment.

Slowly the downpour lessened and as what I then thought to be the last rain drops fell, I decided to go for it and gathered all necessary equipment, locked my car and started up a very soggy driving range toward the upper part of the golf course.  As I did so it started to rain again!

Reaching the high point of the golf course I looked out across the valley toward a greyed scene where Bryn y Fan was silhouetted in rain, it swept across the land.  Even though I had not got my wet proofs on I would usually have just bagged the high point and very quickly descended back to the car.  However, surveying requires a little more methodology!  I decided the best course of action was to wait out the rain and therefore I stood behind a hawthorn tree for 20 minutes or so with my back to the rain watching it sweeping across the land to my south.  Great drops of wet stuff fell on me from the tree, I tried shielding the Trimble which was already switched on and logged in to a number of satellites, whilst also shielding my camera which was dangling around my neck.  I should have been more patient and remained in my car for another 30 minutes until the grey rain cloud had definitely passed.  But here I was, getting soggy and cold standing behind a hawthorn tree.  I related this story to a friend later in the evening; they replied that it was a wonder I wasn’t arrested, which brought a smile to face.

The rain eventually stopped and brought glimmers of sunshine, with the late afternoon colour to be savoured after such wet conditions which consisted of silvered grey dullness.  I quickly left the confines of my hawthorn tree as the last few drops of rain skirted the upper part of the hill. 

Bryn y Fan

The high point of the golf course was just behind me and I was soon on top of it looking out toward the high point of the grazing field on the opposite side of the intervening barb wired fence.  This part of the golf course was artificially raised and my eye agreed with what LIDAR also gives; that the natural ground in the grazing field is higher.  I was soon over the fence taking photographs as the low light gave wonderful colour.

Soon the Trimble was placed on what I judged the highest part of this hill and as it quietly beeped away collecting its individual datum points I looked out toward Bryn y Fan, which was now bathed in delicate colour. 

Gathering data at the summit of Pen Rallt

Once the allotted five minutes of summit data were gathered and stored, I closed the equipment down, packed it away and sauntered back over the fence and wandered down the golf course to my awaiting car.  I now wanted to call at the farm which is just below the Club House.

I met Janet Breeze at the farm, her husband; Graham was out lambing.  Janet told me that the whole hill including the golf course and the high grazing field where I had just gathered data from was a part of Pen Rallt land and it is known by that name. 

Janet Breeze of Penrallt farm

I thanked Janet for her time and drove the short distance down the access road to the Golf Club and back in to Llanidloes to find a quiet spot to change before visiting Eryl and Rita, followed by another excellent dinner party with much merriment and raucous laughter at Suzanne’s.  I was home by just before midnight; it had proved a wonderful day with three walks and four hills visited, with one marginal hill confirmed as a P30, local farmers met, names of hills confirmed, friends visited and excellent food, conversation and company had. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Pen Rallt (significant name change)

Summit Height:  301.9m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 95168 85960 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  223.9m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 94689 85959 (LIDAR)

Drop:  78.0m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  25.84% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pumlumon

 

04.03.22  Pen y Banc (SN 939 845)

Pen y Banc (SN 939 845)

Prior to visiting this hill I had analysed its numerical and positioning data via LIDAR.  I had also examined approaching the hill from the comfort of sitting in front of my laptop screen, by driving a Google car up the paved road leading to Pen y Banc farm.  Online logs give the summit of the hill positioned behind the farm house beside a small water tank.  The ten figure grid reference for the summit produced by LIDAR analysis matched those from hand-held GPS units given online. 

LIDAR image of Pen y Banc (SN 939 845)

This hill was one of the few that I had not visited close to Llanidloes, this was probably due to the summit being so close to the farm house.  However, I also wanted to make place name enquiries as although the farm is named Pen y Banc, contemporary Ordnance Survey maps imply this is also the name of the hill.

Earlier in the day I had visited Drum Ddu (SN 971 604) and Pen Llys (SN 998 584) and although the weather forecast was for intermittent sunshine, with generally dry conditions and an occasion rogue shower materialising, the sky was now looking ominous with heavy showers cropping up across the land.

I drove toward Llanidloes and turned left off the A470 road on to the B4518 road as it heads in to the town.  Across the valley Pen y Banc stared back as a bulk of a hill partly forested on its southern side.  I drove through the town and turned left over the river and continued on the minor road now heading north-westward, only leaving this road when the wide entrance to the paved road leading up to Pen y Banc farm came in to view.

I pulled up in the farmyard near to where another vehicle was parked close to the front door of the farm; this implied that someone was in.  Gathering all necessary equipment I locked my car and walked down the steps leading toward the door and gave it a good knock.  With the vehicle outside I expected the local farmer to emerge at any minute, but there was no reply.  I gave the door another good knock and then shouted ‘hello’ just in case the farmer was in the near barn, again there was no reply.

Leaving the house I walked past my car toward the outbuildings, on my way shouting out ‘hello’, again there was no reply.  As the summit was only a minute or so walk from the farm house I followed a track up toward a conifer plantation and a bricked water tank which has a larger green structure close to it.  As I was now at the summit I decided to see if I could gather data with the Trimble.

The positioning of the Trimble beside the water tank and conifer plantation meant that in all likelihood data would be compromised, this was evidenced when the Trimble was activated and then screeched a number of times, an indicator that either satellites were dropping out or that the 0.1m accuracy level was not being attained.  However, I persisted and gathered the minimum two minutes of data advised by Trimble.  This would at least give comparison between Trimble data and that produced by LIDAR. 

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Pen y Banc

As I took photographs of the Trimble set-up position at the summit I heard the distinctive sound of an approaching tractor.  I packed the equipment away and headed back down the track as it emerged in to the farm yard.  I waved across to it and spent the next five minutes or so chatting with Jonathan Grewe; the son-in-law of the local farmer.  Having explained my interest in the hill and its name he asked me to wait for him to park the tractor and for me to follow him back down the road to where their cabins were situated, this was where his father-in-law was and he should be able to help me.  Jonathan disappeared around the corner to park the tractor and get in to his car, at this moment a quad bike and trailer appeared and drove in to the near barn, I waved across toward it.  By the time I had got my key out of my rucksack and turned to unlock my car, the person driving the quad bike was beside me asking who I was and what I wanted.  I asked if he was the local farmer, he said ‘no’, Jonathan and his wife; Kate later told me he was.  I mentioned that I had talked with one of his colleagues who had just driven around the back of the outbuildings in a tractor; he said ‘no he hadn’t’.  By now I realised that whatever I said would not be sufficient for him to engage in polite conversation.  He then asked quite sternly ‘what do you want’, I explained that I was interested in the name of the hill, he said ‘now you’re mouthering me’ and disappeared in to the house, as he did so I thanked him for his time and got in my car to wait for Jonathan who soon appeared and I followed him down to the cabins where his wife; Kate joined us.  I explained who I had just met and they both apologised for his rudeness, I said it was no bother as Kate’s father was confronted by someone who he did not know and who was standing in his farm yard. 

Jonathan and Katie Grew

We chatted for a number of minutes with Kate taking my telephone number and email address promising she would ask her father what name he knew the hill by.  As I thanked them for their time rain started to fall, this was the start of what proved to be a heavy downpour that lasted for an hour or so, it seemed the forecast for rogue occasion showers was optimistic.  I still had one more hill I wanted to visit, so waving my goodbyes to Jonathan and Kate I headed down the paved access road and on to the minor road back in to Llanidloes. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Pen y Banc

Summit Height:  312.8m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 93927 84591 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  273.1m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 93683 85143 (LIDAR)

Drop:  39.7m (LIDAR)

Dominance:  12.69% (LIDAR)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pumlumon

13.09.19  Newydd Fynyddog (SH 914 003), only bwlch surveyed

The land mass extending north from the higher summit of Bryn Amlwg comprises the 427m map heighted summit of Newydd Fynyddog.  Beyond this are slopes descending to the stream valleys below.

Newydd Fynyddog (SH 914 003)

The land taking in Newydd Fynyddog is quiet and consists in the main of grazing fields.  Its connecting bwlch is to the south-west of its summit and the critical point of this bwlch is close to the minor road that passes from Bontdolgadfan in the west to Talerddig in the east.  This bwlch is similar to its summit; quiet and peacefully situated.

I’d visited this hill once before in October 2013, but unsurprisingly had never visited its bwlch, until today.  The reason for visiting was to survey it, and this was the third of six planned roadside bwlch surveys that would take me on a road trip extending from Llanidloes to the road passing over Y Berwyn.  With many of these bylchau adjoined to high and prominent hills.

The bwlch of Newydd Fynyddog

I parked my car adjacent to a gate giving access in to the field where the bwlch of Newydd Fynyddog is placed.  I rarely park in front of a gate and this is not to be encouraged, but as I was only a minute or so walk from it I could easily move my car if a farmer wanted access.

The area of the bwlch proved a delightful place to spend 20 minutes and especially so as it was bathed in early afternoon sun that cast vivid clear colour.  I’d come prepared with a ten figure grid reference of where interpolation places this bwlch and once in the field spent a number of minutes assessing the lay of land, with the greened grass ebbing upward on the valley to valley traverse toward a fence corner, from which the land then ebbed downward.

One of two set-up positions where data were gathered for the bwlch of Newydd Fynyddog

I chose two positions to take data from, each on the hill to hill traverse, one of which was in a slight dip that encouraged me to think it the critical point, but which may prove otherwise.

Gathering data at the bwlch of Newydd Fynyddog

As data were gathered I stood and enjoyed the feel of being out, albeit not on a summit.  But this feeling was one to savour.  An occasional sound of someone working near land would wisp its way downward from a high field, otherwise the only other sound that broke the quiet surrounds was an occasional passing vehicle.

At the bwlch with Newydd Fynyddog in the background

Once data were gathered and stored I lazily made my way back to the gate and my car and proceeded to drive the short distance eastward to Talerddig where the fourth bwlch survey of the day awaited, that connecting to Pen y Fan.

Survey Result:

Newydd Fynyddog

Summit Height:  427m (spot height)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 91452 00381 (hand-held GPS via DoBIH)

Bwlch Height:  289.4m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 90173 99835 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Drop:  138m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and spot height summit)

Dominance:  32.24% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and spot height summit)

  

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Pumlumon

13.09.19  Pen y Waun Fawr (SN 878 949), only bwlch surveyed

The view down the Pennant gorge is unexpected and rather stunning as the ice aged glaciers have carved a great swathe of land and left an almost symmetrical steep sided gorge.  The view can be awe-inspiring.

The Pennant gorge

The land either side of this gorge is pastoral with greened grazing fields in time giving way to moorland.  When looking down the gorge the hill on the eastern side is known as Pen y Waun Fawr.  I’d visited its summit once before in October 2003 surveying hills with my old basic levelling staff as I did so.  Since these days LIDAR is now available and the summit of this hill has subsequently been analysed by Aled Williams.  However, LIDAR does not cover its connecting bwlch, and this was my next surveying objective during a day which comprised six roadside surveys, and all done in glorious sun drenched weather.

Pen y Waun Fawr (SN 878 949)

Ordnance Survey maps indicate that the critical bwlch for this hill is on or immediately beside the minor road that heads north toward Bontdolgadfan.  To check on the width of the road and parking I’d accessed a Google car via my laptop the previous evening and found the connecting bwlch for this hill was placed on the minor road.  Therefore, I would have to position my car directly over the bwlch and use the car’s roof as an improvised tripod.

Thankfully the minor road is just wide enough to squeeze one parked car adjacent to the mature boundary hedge and leave sufficient space for any vehicle to pass on the other side.  When I arrived I parked and spent a few minutes wandering down either side of the car assessing the lay of land.  Contouring on the OS Maps website implies that the critical point of this bwlch is beside a fence that heads downhill from the west, I judged the critical point to be a few metres further south, however the road hereabouts was relatively flat for ten metres or so.

Once I’d moved my car in to position, I placed the Trimble on its roof and measured the offset between its internal antenna and the ground below and proceeded to stand on my recently bought aluminium surveying steps, which proved ideal to see the Trimble’s screen and create the file whilst setting the equipment up to gather data.

The Trimble set-up position at the bwlch of Pen y Waun Fawr

During this the road remained relatively quiet with only an occasion passing cyclist and a rogue car or two.  Once the Trimble attained the 0.1m accuracy level before data should be logged I pressed ‘Log’ and moved the steps to the front of the car and walked a short distance away and politely gestured with a hand wave and smile at any vehicle that then passed.  Only one pulled up to ask if I was all right, with the presumption that my car may have broken down.  I thanked them for stopping but said everything was all right, except for the bwlch which really should have been in the adjacent field and not on the road!

Gathering data at the bwlch of Pen y Waun Fawr

There’s a surreal enjoyment that can be found with surveying a road.  It can be dangerous, to the person conducting the survey as well as to the equipment as evidenced by the unfortunate dicing with death the Trimble experienced when it was run over.  However, the Trimble is a sturdy beast and I’ve learnt from past experience, and now come well prepared with a car roof and surveying steps.  The surreal quality still remains though, and this kind of activity is not one that I envisaged being a part of my life even a few years ago.

Done the job and now ready to be packed away

Once allotted data were gathered and stored I closed the equipment down, took a few photos, packed it away and headed down to Bontdolgadfan and the hill road toward Talerddig where the high point of the road nestled beside a field where the next roadside survey was to take place.  

Survey Result:

Pen y Waun Fawr

Summit Height:  401.3m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 87843 94922 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  330.1m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 88483 94552 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Drop:  71.2m (LIDAR summit and Trimble GeoXH 6000 bwlch)

Dominance:  17.74% (LIDAR summit and Trimble GeoXH 6000 bwlch)

  

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet