Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – The Welsh P15s

Ffridd Cadwaladr (SH 810 660) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the The Welsh P15s, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Ffridd Cadwaladr (SH 810 660)

The criteria for the list that this summit relocation applies to are:

The Welsh P15s – Welsh hills with 15m minimum drop, irrespective of their height, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Sub-P15s, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills with 14m or more and below 15m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 10^th May 2019. 

The Welsh P15s by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is now listed by is Ffridd Cadwaladr, and this was derived from the Tithe map, and it is adjoined to the Mynydd Hiraethog group of hills, which are situated in the northern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned encircled by minor roads with the A470 road farther to its west and the A548 road farther to its south and the B5113 road farther to its east, and has the town of Llanrwst towards the south south-west.

When the listing that became known as The Welsh P15s was being compiled, this hill was included in the main P15 list with 19m of drop, based on the 216m summit spot height positioned at SH 81131 65950 and the 197m bwlch spot height that appear on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map. 

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

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

LIDAR analysis gives the highest ground on this hill as 216.4m positioned at SH 81132 65959.  However, this is to the top of a structure that contouring implies resembles a covered reservoir, and protocols dictate that as this is deemed a relatively recent man-made construct such ground is discounted from the height of a hill. 

LIDAR summit image of Ffridd Cadwaladr (SH 810 660)

The height produced by LIDAR analysis to the natural summit of this hill is 215.7m and is positioned at SH 81092 66027, and this comes within the parameters of the Summit Relocations used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Summit Relocations applies when the high point of the hill is found to be positioned; in a different field, to a different feature such as in a conifer plantation,  within a different map contour either on Ordnance Survey maps or interactive mapping, to a different point where a number of potential summit positions are within close proximity, when natural ground or the natural and intact summit of a hill is confirmed compared to a higher point such as a raised field boundary or covered reservoir that is considered a relatively recent man-made construct, or the listing of a new twin summit or de-twinning of a summit, or a relocation of approximately 100 metres or more in distance from either the position of a map spot height or from where the summit of the hill was previously thought to exist.

Therefore, the summit height produced by LIDAR analysis is 215.7m and is positioned at SH 81092 66027, this position is not given a spot height on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map, and is approximately 68 metres north north-westward from where the high point of the structure and spot height are positioned and is also positioned in a different field. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Mynydd Hiraethog 

Name:  Ffridd Cadwaladr 

OS 1:50,000 map:  116

Summit Height:  215.7m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SH 81092 66027 (LIDAR)                                                  

Bwlch Height:  198.3m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 81357 65646 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  17.4m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (January 2026) 

Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – The Welsh P15s

Coed Cefn Coch (SH 670 000) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the The Welsh P15s, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Coed Cefn Coch (SH 670 000)

The criteria for the list that this summit relocation applies to are:

The Welsh P15s – Welsh hills with 15m minimum drop, irrespective of their height, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Sub-P15s, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills with 14m or more and below 15m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 10^th May 2019. 

The Welsh P15s by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Coed Cefn Coch, and it is adjoined to the Tarren y Gesail group of hills, which are situated in the south-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A3), and it is positioned with a minor road to its south and the A493 road farther to its south-east, and has the small community of Cwrt towards the east.

When the original 100m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was not included in the accompanying Hills to be surveyed sub list, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used for this sub category.

After the sub list was standardised, and interpolated heights and drop values also included the details for this hill were re-assessed and it was listed with an estimated c 20m of drop, based on an estimated c 186m summit height positioned at SH 67033 00055 and an estimated c 166m bwlch height, with both heights based on interpolation of 10m contouring. 

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

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

LIDAR summit image of Coed Cefn Coch (SH 670 000)

LIDAR analysis gives the highest ground on this hill as 185.55m positioned at SH 67096 00076.  This position is in a different field to where the previous interpolated summit was given, and this comes within the parameters of the Summit Relocations used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Summit Relocations applies when the high point of the hill is found to be positioned; in a different field, to a different feature such as in a conifer plantation,  within a different map contour either on Ordnance Survey maps or interactive mapping, to a different point where a number of potential summit positions are within close proximity, when natural ground or the natural and intact summit of a hill is confirmed compared to a higher point such as a raised field boundary or covered reservoir that is considered a relatively recent man-made construct, or the listing of a new twin summit or de-twinning of a summit, or a relocation of approximately 100 metres or more in distance from either the position of a map spot height or from where the summit of the hill was previously thought to exist.

Therefore, the summit height produced by LIDAR analysis is 185.55m and is positioned at SH 67096 00076, this position is not given a spot height on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map and is approximately 63 metres north-eastward from where interpolation placed the previous summit position. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Tarren y Gesail 

Name:  Coed Cefn Coch 

OS 1:50,000 map:  135

Summit Height:  185.55m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SH 67096 00076 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  166.5m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 66830 00005 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  19.0m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (November 2025)

  

Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – The Welsh P15s

 

Belan Hill (SO 051 901) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the The Welsh P15s, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Belan Hill (SO 051 901)

The criteria for the list that this summit relocation applies to are:

The Welsh P15s – Welsh hills with 15m minimum drop, irrespective of their height, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Sub-P15s, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills with 14m or more and below 15m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 10^th May 2019. 

The Welsh P15s by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Belan Hill, and it is adjoined to the Hirddywel group of hills, which are situated in the northern part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B2), and it is positioned with the A489 road to its north and minor roads to its west, south and east, and has the town of Y Drenewydd (Newtown) towards the east.

When the original 300m height band of Welsh P30 hills were published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was not included in the accompanying Hills to be surveyed sub list, as it was considered not to meet the criteria then used for this sub category.

After the sub list was standardised, and interpolated heights and drop values also included the details for this hill were re-evaluated and it was listed with an estimated c 20m of drop, based on an estimated c 311m summit height and an estimated c 291m bwlch height, with both heights based on interpolation of 5m contouring. 

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

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

LIDAR analysis gives the highest ground on this hill as 311.6m positioned at SO 05113 90148.  However, this is to the top of a raised field boundary and protocols dictate that as this is deemed a relatively recent man-made construct such ground is discounted from the height of a hill. 

LIDAR summit image of Belan Hill (SO 051 901)

The height produced by LIDAR analysis to the natural summit of this hill is 311.4m and is positioned at SO 05114 90152, and this comes within the parameters of the Summit Relocations used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Summit Relocations applies when the high point of the hill is found to be positioned; in a different field, to a different feature such as in a conifer plantation,  within a different map contour either on Ordnance Survey maps or interactive mapping, to a different point where a number of potential summit positions are within close proximity, when natural ground or the natural and intact summit of a hill is confirmed compared to a higher point such as a raised field boundary or covered reservoir that is considered a relatively recent man-made construct, or the listing of a new twin summit or de-twinning of a summit, or a relocation of approximately 100 metres or more in distance from either the position of a map spot height or from where the summit of the hill was previously thought to exist.

Therefore, the summit height produced by LIDAR analysis is 311.4m and is positioned at SO 05114 90152, this position is not given a spot height on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map and is approximately 4 metres northward from where the high point of the raised field boundary is positioned. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Hirddywel 

Name:  Belan Hill 

OS 1:50,000 map:  136

Summit Height:  311.4m (LIDAR)                                                           

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SO 05114 90152 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  292.5m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SO 05157 90001 & SO 05157 90000 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  19.0m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (August 2025)

 

Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – The Welsh P15s

 

Ffridd (SN 730 979) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the The Welsh P15s, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

LIDAR image of Ffridd (SN 730 979)

The criteria for the list that this summit relocation applies to are:

The Welsh P15s – Welsh hills with 15m minimum drop, irrespective of their height, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Sub-P15s, with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills with 14m or more and below 15m of drop.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips, with the Introduction to the list appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 10^th May 2019. 

The Welsh P15s by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Ffridd and this was derived from the Tithe map, and it is adjoined to the Banc Llechwedd Mawr group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of South Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B1), and it is positioned with the A487 road to its north-west and minor roads to its south and east, and has the town of Machynlleth towards the north north-east.

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

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

After the sub list was standardised, and interpolated heights and drop values also included the details for this hill were re-evaluated and it was listed with an estimated c 22m of drop, based on the twin 216m summit spot heights positioned at SN 72979 97898 and SN 73120 98126 that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map and an estimated c 194m bwlch height, based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 190m – 200m.

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

LIDAR summit image of Ffridd (SN 730 979)

LIDAR analysis gives the highest ground on this hill as 209.7m positioned at SN 73032 97996, with LIDAR also giving 206.6m positioned at SN 73124 98128 which corresponds to the position of the northerly of the two spot heights that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map.  As LIDAR analysis has de-twinned the summit of this hill this comes within the parameters of the Summit Relocations used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Summit Relocations applies when the high point of the hill is found to be positioned; in a different field, to a different feature such as in a conifer plantation,  within a different map contour either on Ordnance Survey maps or interactive mapping, to a different point where a number of potential summit positions are within close proximity, when natural ground or the natural and intact summit of a hill is confirmed compared to a higher point such as a raised field boundary or covered reservoir that is considered a relatively recent man-made construct, or the de-twinning of a summit, or a relocation of approximately 100 metres or more in distance from either the position of a map spot height or from where the summit of the hill was previously thought to exist.

Therefore, the summit height produced by LIDAR analysis is 209.7m and is positioned at SN 73032 97996, this position is approximately 132 metres south-westward from the position of the lower of what were previously listed as twin summits that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map. 

 

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Banc Llechwedd Mawr 

Name:  Ffridd 

OS 1:50,000 map:  135

Summit Height:  209.7m (LIDAR) 

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SN 73032 97996 (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Height:  193.9m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 72854 98987 & SN 72854 97990 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  15.8m (LIDAR) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (July 2025)