Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Elenydd

 

22.10.20  Banc Cwmnewydion (SN 718 749) 

Banc Cwmnewydion (SN 718 749)

Banc Cwmnewydion was the last of seven hills I visited during the day.  It had stared back at me from Penpegws (SN 702 755) earlier in the day, as it also did so from Pen Felin Wynt (SN 725 759).  It looked a good hill to finish my day’s exploits on.  Last hills are somewhat of a blessing, but they also signal an ending, which can be on occasion anticlimactic.  Today, I was content with what I had done, and although I had sufficient time to visit more hills I had decided that this would be my last before the 17 day Covid-19 lockdown restrictions came in to force in Wales.  I had explored this area in depth over the last few weeks, visiting the majority of its P30s, and it was now time to enjoy this last hill, savour its surrounds and head back home. 

Prior to visiting I’d examined its numerical details via LIDAR and produced ten figure grid references and heights for both its summit and bwlch.  Today I just wanted to visit its summit and gather Trimble data from where I deemed its natural high point lay, the LIDAR for the bwlch would suffice. 

LIDAR image of Banc Cwmnewydion

Banc Cwmnewydion rises above the southern shore of Llyn Frongoch, and this lake frames the hill from its north.  I parked beside its southern shore and walked the short distance on the continuation of the narrow lane that winds its way around the southern outskirts of the lake.  The land hereabouts is attractively quiet, with few vehicles and houses, it lends itself to a leisurely pace of life, and today I enjoyed this aspect and quietly went about my hill bagging in an unrushed way. 

The narrow lane soon bisects and I veered right to where a public footpath gains a track that eventually leads to the farm of Gwarllyn.  I soon left the track and followed a fence that strode up the eastern flank of the hill in a straight line until the summit ridge was reached.  I stopped occasionally on the ascent, looking out across the picturesque surrounds of the lake. 

By the time I reached the summit the sun highlighted the land and picked out detail on the small rocky rib that constitutes the high point.  I stood and savoured the scene.  I spent a few minutes assessing the lay of land for Trimble placement, and once the equipment was set-up gathering data, I stood below the summit, noted all necessary detail in my notebook and just enjoyed where I was and what I was doing.  Simple pleasures can sometimes be the best. 

Gathering data at the summit of Banc Cwmnewydion

Once the allotted data were gathered and stored, I closed the equipment down, took a few photos, packed it away and looked out to the hills I had visited and eventually turned away from the high point and retraced my steps back to the car. 

It had been a good day with seven hills visited in all, six of these being P30s and one being a sub.  I’d been on the go since 8.05am and it was just past 3.00pm when I arrived back at my car.  Still sufficient time for a couple more hills, but I was more than content with the day’s endeavours and felt this a fitting time to stop, head home and hunker down to write a multitude of articles and process all outstanding data, and the seventeen day Welsh Covid-19 lock down should give time aplenty to do this. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Banc Cwmnewydion (significant name change)  

Summit Height:  343.3m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 71839 74977 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  306.0m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 71791 76371 (LIDAR)

Drop:  37.3m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  10.87% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Elenydd

22.10.20  Pen Felin Wynt (SN 725 759) and Banc (SN 721 762) 

Pen Felin Wynt (SN 725 759)

It was 12.20pm when I arrived at my designated parking place to visit Pen Felin Wynt and Banc.  My first walk of the day had started at just past 8.00am and after visiting these two hills I had one more hill and walk planned; Banc Cwmnewydion (SN 718 749).  In all there were seven hills on my day’s bagging agenda consisting of six walks, and this walk was the only one where there was more than one hill to visit.  Each had been analysed via LIDAR beforehand and the ten figure grid references produced helped in both height and position for each summit and bwlch. 

LIDAR image of Banc (SN 721 762) and Pen Felin Wynt (SN 725 759)

There’s a certain joy in visiting one small heighted hill after another, and doing so by driving between each.  However, many of the hills I would visit today could be easily combined in a circular walk.  The latter gives much greater appreciation of the land, whilst the former can be more convenient and at the end of the day usually gives a greater quantity of hills bagged.  There’s joy in each approach, but an extended circular walk combining such hills usually gives greater fulfillment. 

By the time I left my car and followed a public footpath which is also a paved narrow road leading past a small disused quarry toward Pen Felin Wynt, the forecast afternoon sunshine had broken through the stubborn high grey cloud and flashes of colour highlighted the adjoining hillsides. 

The road led past a number of small houses, all squeezed in to the land, quietly sitting beside the narrow strip of tarmac.  I found this whole area reminiscent of parts of Ireland with a quiet and relaxed feeling to it.  From the end house another footpath is marked on the map supposedly marching up the hillside and heading toward the bwlch between Pen Felin Wynt and Banc.  If the footpath still exists on the ground I lost it almost immediately and spent the time negotiating high barb wired fences and locked gates. 

Arriving at the bwlch the western slopes of Pen Felin Wynt reared up grassed and steep.  A track passes over the bwlch and this would give me an easy approach toward the second hill of the walk; Banc, but before this I plodded up the steep slope toward the high point of the day; the summit of Pen Felin Wynt. 

Banc from the ascent of Pen Felin Wynt

Not surprisingly, this hill had been picked out from many other summits during the day’s previous walks, and arriving at its high point I was met by a quick scud of a breeze-blown shower.  Its high point was easy to determine and within a couple of minutes the Trimble was set-up gathering data. 

Gathering data at the summit of Pen Felin Wynt

During data collection I turned my back to the breeze and scribbled all necessary surveying detail in my notebook.  To the south Llyn Frongoch gave an attractive foreground and framed the grassed summit of Banc Cwmnewydion, this hill looked tantalisingly near and yet would have to wait for another 90 minutes until I was at its summit. 

By the time the allotted data were gathered and stored the shower had passed and sunshine heralded a feeling of contentment.  I closed the equipment down, packed it away and retraced my steps back down the steep grassed slope to the track at the bwlch.  This gave easy walking toward Banc with autumnal colour highlighting patches of hillside, whilst others remained embedded in dark shadow.  This caused dramatic effect and I stopped to enjoy the scene and take photographs.  At this point I met a local runner who was out on the hill.  We stopped and chatted for a number of minutes and she told me of some of the places she visits.  Outside of two local farmers who I had talked with, and a young woman who answered a door when I made place-name enquiries, she was the only other person I met when on the hill during the day and the conversation was welcome. 

The track leading to Banc, with Pen Felin Wynt in the background

A mast dominates the summit area of Banc, but thankfully its high point is in a different field to the compound surrounding it.  I was soon at the hill’s high point and the Trimble was again set-up and gathering its allotted data. 

Gathering data at the summit of Banc

Once data were gathered and stored it was only a short walk on the continuation of the track down from the summit of Banc to the narrow lane that led in a few minutes back to my car.  The walk had taken 1 hour 40 minutes and was the longest of the six I would do during the day.  One hill now remained before I headed home for Wales’ second Covid-19 lockdown. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Pen Felin Wynt  

Summit Height:  373.2m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 72558 75970 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  251.2m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 73402 76225 (LIDAR)

Drop:  122.0m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  32.69% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

Banc (significant name change)  

Summit Height:  350.9m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000) (significant height revision)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 72127 76209 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  329.1m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 72361 75991 (LIDAR)

Drop:  21.7m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch) (Sub-Trichant addition)

Dominance:  6.20% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Elenydd

 

22.10.20  Penpegws (SN 702 755) 

Penpegws (SN 702 755)

Penpegws is attractively positioned with the waters of Llyn Rhosrydd and Llyn Glandwgan below.  It has a solidary feel compared to many adjacent hills and this is emphasised by its broad south-western ridge which descends for almost three miles toward the small community of Abermagwr and the Afon Ystwyth below. 

This was the fourth of a planned seven hills during the day and prior to visiting all had been examined for numerical detail via LIDAR.  As of now LIDAR does not cover the whole of Wales, but for this hill both its summit and bwlch have coverage.  Therefore, with accurate bwlch data I wanted to visit its summit and also produce data taken by the Trimble GeoXH 6000. 

LIDAR image of Penpegws

The hill has options for an ascent route; I chose the bridleway heading toward the hill from the north-east, mainly as the starting point was beside the narrow lane that I used to approach the hill.  However, the map suggests an ascent from the south-west following the continuation of the same bridleway but in the opposite direction would be an attractive proposition. 

Having left my car squeezed beside a bank on a narrow tee-junction leaving just sufficient space for a vehicle to pass, I headed up the track leading to the farm of Rhos-rydd.  The forecast blue skies and sunshine had not yet materialised, and as I crested the top of the track before it heads down toward Llyn Rhosrydd a slightly chilled autumnal breeze blew scattering wind-blown leaves as it did so.  These crunched under my feet as I made progress on the track. 

The change of seasons is one of the most attractive aspects of hill walking and I think it fortunate to live in a country that gives opportunity to experiences this, and with those warm summer days when the landscape is parched and fields coloured dulled green now gone, autumn in all its finery is here with its cascade of colour that is all too often gone before truly appreciated and the westerly rain producing muddied tracks and chilled breezes necessitating extra layers of clothing.  It is a time to wrap up against the incoming elements and luxuriate oneself in that magical seasonal change. 

The summit of Penpegws rose above the near lake with the land highlighted by occasional breaks in the high cloud cover, with glimpses of the sun accentuating the colour which gave welcome addition to the scene. 

The track led to the farm and as I passed the yard I waved at the farmer who was in one of the outbuildings, he did likewise and we shouted our ‘hellos’, I signalled if it was all right for me to come over and he indicated for me to approach, but asked if I could keep my distance when nearing the building.  We chatted for a number of minutes; he was working with his son, I didn’t ask his name, but did for that of the hill; Penpegws he replied.  I asked if I could gain height on the hill to take some photos and he kindly told me where the gates were positioned to access the upper hill.  During our conversation I gave the few Welsh words that I know and these made him smile and turn to his son.  I’m thankful to the Welsh speaking fraternity of the farming community who always communicate with me in English, a language for many that was not the one they initially learnt.  Before leaving I thanked him in Welsh and waved my goodbyes. 

Llyn Rhosrydd

Banc Cwmnewydion (SN 718 749) rising above the shore of Llyn Glandwgan

I continued on the track which crosses the lake on its southern side and then swings around the south-eastern flank of the hill.  It was here where I accessed the upper hill through the gate the farmer had recommended.  The land now rose ahead and soon I arrived at the summit area of the hill. 

As I checked the co-ordinates given by the Trimble against those produced by LIDAR for the summit position, a flurry of breeze-blown raindrops scattered across the hill.  I turned my back to the breeze and hoped this did not herald heavier and consistent rain; thankfully it was no more than a small passing shower. 

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Penpegws

The Trimble was soon set-up gathering data, during this I stood back and examined the map for an alternate descent route.  On my ascent I’d spotted two gates separated by a large field that would have given access to the summit, and this could easily be used for my descent.  Once the customary five minutes of data were gathered and stored, I closed the equipment down, took a few photos and packed it away. 

Gathering data at the summit of Penpegws

My descent route soon brought me back to the track crossing the southern side of Llyn Rhosrydd.  I hoped to see the farmer again as I passed the farm to wave my thanks, but he was no longer in the outbuilding, so I continued on my way following the track back to my car. 

Penpegws beyond Llyn Rosrydd from the bridleway and access track to the farm of Rhos-rydd

The walk had taken about 1 hour 15 minutes and was one of the most enjoyable during the day.  I think this was in part to meeting the farmer, but it was also that feeling of seasonal change brought on by the slight chilled breeze, the wisps of rain on the summit and flashes of colour across the land as the cloud base broke which heralded pleasant sunshine for the remainder of the day. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Penpegws  

Summit Height:  317.3m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 70209 75565 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  278.0m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 70578 76259 (LIDAR)

Drop:  39.3m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  12.39% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Elenydd

 

22.10.20  Allt Goch (SN 671 773) 

LIDAR image of Allt Goch (SN 671 773)

This hill was the third of seven that I planned on visiting during the day, and prior to this I had analysed its numerical details via LIDAR.  LIDAR shows the upper part of the hill to consist of a slender mound running in a north to south direction and the bwlch positioned to the east north-east of the summit on or beside the A4120 road. 

A conveniently placed bridleway marches across this hill from north to south and this gave an easy option for the ascent.  I found parking on the grass verge beside the road a few metres west from where the bridleway started. 

The bridleway consists of a track and as I gained height on it the first flashes of morning light highlighted parts of the surrounding land.  Prior to this the skies had been overcast, and although the higher tops to the east were still bathed in clag, I had spotted a number of the hills I planned on visiting later in the day and their summits were all below the cloud base. 

Autumnal light can be wonderful with it highlighting the colourful display on trees, when their golden yellows and rusted reds are mixed along with browns and oranges giving a myriad of colour.  This is only enhanced when grey sky predominates, as this forms an ideal backdrop for autumnal light.  Although the cloud had started to break up and sunlight gave intermittent colour it wasn’t until later in the day that I was treated this magical display of autumnal light. 

The track soon led to a gate and this gave access to the upper field where the summit of the hill is situated.  Once on the high point I assessed the lay of land for Trimble placement, two points vied for the accolade of summit position, each only a couple of metres from the other.  Having chosen what I judged to be the highest I set the Trimble up to gather data. 

Gathering data at the summit of Allt Goch

During data collection I stood away from the equipment and scribbled all necessary detail in my notebook, including the measurement offset, name of hill, point of survey (summit or bwlch), time the equipment was activated to gather data, number of satellites logged on to, estimated margin of positional uncertainty, feature at summit or bwlch, number of points gathered and the time duration of the survey. 

All of the above passes a minute or two and as the normal allotted time for each survey is five minutes, the time spent at the summit soon passes, and today I also kept an eye on four horses, and although they has spotted me they thankfully kept their distance.  Once five minutes of data were gathered and stored I headed back up to the summit and closed the equipment down, took a few photos and packed it away. 

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Allt Goch

Before leaving the summit I looked out toward my next hill of the day; Penpegws (SN 702 755).  This was to my south-east and whereas the first three hills of the day were accessed from the convenience of the A4120 road, the remaining four hills all had starting points from narrow lanes, and with each positioned close to a lake it was an area that I was looking forward to investigating. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Allt Goch  

Summit Height:  238.8m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 67119 77395 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  192.1m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 67881 77648 & SN 67876 77643 (LIDAR)

Drop:  46.7m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  19.56% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Elenydd

 

22.10.20  Fron Ddu (SN 703 775) 

Fron Ddu (SN 703 775)

Having just visited and surveyed the summit of Castell Faen Grach (SN 726 775) it was only a short drive westward toward the next hill of the day; Fron Ddu.  This was the second of seven hills I hoped to visit during the day and all form a part of the land that extends westward from the parent hill of Pen y Garn to the coast and that has the Afon Rheidol bordering in the north and the Afon Ystwyth in the south.  The land above the Afon Rheidol is steep sided with the stream having created a small gorge with wooded sides immediately above, and this was on show as I drove the short distance to a lay-by from which I could have an easy ascent of Fron Ddu. 

Prior to visiting I had analysed this hill’s numerical data via LIDAR and this gives the summit position beside the triangulation pillar that adorns the high point of the hill.  LIDAR gives the summit height as 339.0m, which is over 0.8m lower than the 339.827m flush bracket height on the trig pillar; therefore I was expecting the trig to be placed on a plinth. 

LIDAR image of Fron Ddu

Many of the hills that I visited during the day are no more than high fields given over as pasture for sheep grazing, and because of this their profiles blend in to the landscape, merged with many other similar fields.  However, the trig pillar atop Fron Ddu distinguished it from a distance and especially so from the slopes of Pengegws (SN 702 755) which was my fourth hill of the day.  From here the trig could just be made out poking above the high point of the upper field of the hill and I spent a few minutes waiting for a flash of light to highlight a part of the hill framing it with Llyn Rhosrydd in the foreground. 

Having parked my car it was only a short distance back on the road to the bridleway that heads west on the northern flank of this hill.  I followed this through a gate with the bridleway now no more than a grassed vehicle track. 

The bridleway on the northern flank of the hill

Leaving the bridleway I made my way up a field toward a fence, it was good to be out on the hill wrapped up in my autumnal fleece, although I still braved wearing shorts for the day.  The higher tops to the south-east and east were bathed in morning clag with a stream of whitened grey cloud stretching across the sky, thankfully the hills I had chosen for the day were all under the cloud base with Pen Felin Wynt (SN 725 759) that has a map height of 372m, being the highest. 

Once over the fence the trig pillar was only a short distance away, and it was indeed positioned on a plinth which accentuated its height.  It was an easy task to assess the lay of land beside the trig and once I’d chosen the spot for Trimble placement I set it up atop my rucksack, which is used as an improvised tripod, measured the offset between its internal antenna and the ground at its base, waited for the 0.1m accuracy level to be attained before data should be logged and then stood back as the allotted data were gathered and stored. 

Gathering data at the summit of Fron Ddu

During data collection I scanned the land, picking out the hills I would visit later in the day.  As the equipment was placed close to the trig pillar I left it gather data for eight minutes, and then closed it down and packed it away. 

It was only a short distance to the bridleway and before heading back to the car I called at Penbwlch Crwys to make place-name enquiries, and although I had a lovely conversation with the young woman who answered the door, she could not help me with either a name for the hill or the upper field where the summit is situated.  Thanking her for her time I waved by goodbyes and sauntered the short distance on the road back to my awaiting car. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Fron Ddu  

Summit Height:  339.1m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 70380 77561 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  289.0m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 70757 76542 (LIDAR)

Drop:  50.0m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  14.75% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please  consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Elenydd

22.10.20  Castell Faen Grach (SN 726 775) 

Castell Faen Grach (SN 726 775)

With lock down restrictions in Wales coming in to force at 6.00pm on the 23^rd October, and with the weather set fine for the day and improving during the afternoon, I wanted to visit the hills for one last time before the 17 day lock down was implemented. 

The hills I chose to visit are positioned to the west and south-west of Pontarfynach (Devil’s Bridge), and it is this area that drew me back again having visited adjacent hills on two recent occasions. 

Prior to visiting I’d spent time analysing LIDAR and came prepared with a series of ten figure grid references to each summit and bwlch.  By doing so this can improve the accuracy of Trimble placement and only then requires an assessment of the land based on the LIDAR co-ordinates before setting the Trimble up. 

LIDAR image of Castell Faen Grach (SO 726 775)

I’d planned a route taking in seven hills over six walks with six of these being P30s and one being a sub.  The route would take me west of Pontarfynach before doubling back and then heading south.  Online photographs showed many of the hills to have good profiles; with reports of my first hill of the day describing it as an absolute gem and a gorgeous hill, so my expectation was high and I was not disappointed. 

Castell Faen Grach rises like a miniature Cnicht in a typical pyramidal shape and today its rusted slopes of bracken were interspersed amongst stunted trees, the greened and yellowed bushes of gorse and an array of architectured rock.  The online descriptions were certainly correct! 

The summit cone of Castell Faen Grach

I approached the hill from the south and followed a bridleway heading toward the farm of Ty’n-y-castell and from there to a small disused quarry.  Although the day’s forecast was generally fine, there was an outside chance of a shower with the afternoon brightening up.  And although any breeze blown drops of rain would not fall until later, when I set off for this first hill of the day the sky was overcast with the summits of the higher hills to the east submerged under clag. 

Leaving the bridleway I followed steepening slopes up toward the summit cone.  The easterly slopes of this hill are now given over to sheep grazing with an attractive wooded area just below, and as I gained height a number of sheep looked my way, nonchalantly munching on their morning grass. 

The area of this hill’s summit is impressive with a series of steep mounds interspersed amongst small crags and rock.  Its high point is easily found and has a small cairn on it. 

After setting the Trimble up to gather its allotted data I stood below it on one of the steep slopes and looked out to my next hill which was directly west and only 2km away, between me and it was greened pasture and a myriad of small white dotted sheep. 

Gathering data at the summit of Casttell Faen Grach

Once data were gathered and stored I closed the equipment down, packed it away and before heading down I looked out toward Pen y Felin Wynt (SN 725 759) and Banc (SN 721 762), the latter easily pinpointed due to the high mast close to its summit.  These would be my fifth and sixth hills of the day and although relatively close to Castell Faen Grach it would still take many hours before I stood on their summits.  Leaving the summit cone I retraced my inward route back to the car and then headed further west to the second hill of the day; Fron Ddu (SN 703 775). 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Castell Faen Grach (significant name change)  

Summit Height:  315.2m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 72693 77587 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  276.6m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 72614 77645 (LIDAR)

Drop:  38.5m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  12.22% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Elenydd

 

15.10.20  Banc y Maen Rochorlem (SN 675 691) 

Looking north from the summit area of Banc y Maen Rochorlem (SN 675 691)

For many years I concentrated on the higher mountains in Wales, and as I suffer in excess heat I usually visited their summits early in the morning, therefore gaining height before the heat of the day struck.  Because of this I rarely found myself on a hill top when the last vestiges of light turned to dusk. 

A few years ago Mark Trengove and I arranged a number of hill walks after he had finished work.  These were usually preceded by an evening meal which sufficiently delayed the walk for us to be on a summit at sunset.  I have many fond memories of this time and the experience of these late evening walks have stayed with me ever since. 

Today I was out with Charles Everett visiting hills to the south of Aberystwyth.  We had a relatively early start visiting our first hill of the day; Castell (SN 585 789) when mist was still in the valley and morning dew saturated shaded fields.  By 6.00pm we had visited eight hills, all done in a leisurely, unrushed manner with the weather helping as blue skies and slight autumnal warmth dominated. 

We had just one hill remaining on our bagging schedule and its summit was literally a few minutes’ walk from where I parked my car, I’d visited this hill only sixteen days ago and then combined it with its northerly and adjacent hill of Banc (SN 674 702).  On my previous visit golden colour struck the summit and long shadows cast out across the land.  On this previous visit this hill was also the last of the day, and a greyed afternoon sky was transformed to a scene of late colour.  Then I was treated to that magical late light and richness of colour. 

Today the colour was gently diffused as we accessed the upper slopes of the hill through a gate.  The greened rising slopes looked inviting as my shadow pointed the way toward the summit.  It was no more than ten minutes to the hill’s high point which is beside a raised field boundary.  Having surveyed this hill on my previous visit I had no need to do so again and as I gained height I turned around and watched Charles follow me up the hill as the sun crept nearer the horizon. 

My shadow points the way toward the summit

There’s a quiet and contented awe to be on a summit when the sun slowly sinks from the sky, and as I walked across the summit ridge to look across to Banc and the great bog between it and Banc y Maen Rochorlem, it was a sheer pleasure to be at a place like this at this time of day. 

Charles heading up the hill

Behind me Charles was sitting at the summit looking out toward the sun as it crept ever downward in the late afternoon sky.  The golden glow of light that I had experienced on my previous visit was not here during this, but the diffused light gave a gentle feel to the land. 

Sitting on the summit

It is always a shame to leave a summit when conditions are so magical, but as ever one must.  And for us today, it was only a short walk down the steep grassed slopes to the gate and the awaiting car. 

Heading down from the summit

It had been a good day on the hill with Charles, with nine summits visited in all, with eight of these being P30s.  By the time we arrived back at my car it was 6.15pm, we’d only been on the hill 15 minutes and yet every one of these was a delight to experience. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Banc y Maen Rochorlem (significant name change)  

Summit Height:  299.3m (converted to OSGM15, from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey) (significant height revision)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 67513 69184 (from previous Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey) (summit relocation confirmed)

Bwlch Height:  206.2m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 69578 68344 (LIDAR)

Drop:  93.1m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch) (200m Sub-Twmpau reclassified to 200m Twmpau)

Dominance:  31.10% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

For details of the Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey of this hill

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet