Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Brandy Hill

01.08.18  Castell Meherin (SN 146 117)

The summit of Castell Meherin (SN 146 117)

Castell Meherin was the sixth and last hill that Suzanne and I visited during the day, we could have pressed on and visited and surveyed a seventh, but with Suzanne’s son waiting for us in Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen) we decided to call a halt to our little bagging bonanza after visiting this hill’s summit.

The hill is positioned with the B4314 to its north and has a minor road to its south, and it was from the south that we approached.  Castell Meherin has a 205m map height, which matches that of Brandy Hill (SN 213 133) and these two summits were once classified as twin Marilyns, but the accolade as the accepted higher hill has gone to that of Brandy Hill in recent years, and as one had already been Trimbled earlier in the day I was looking forward to the result of this survey which I suspected would confirm the present classification of each hill (little did I know that they would come out exactly the same; 205.077m!)

I parked on the grass verge, just sufficiently off of the minor road not to course obstruction and we headed toward an access gate that led up a field, by now the afternoon’s blue sky had been replaced with monochrome cloud cover that heralded a weather front predicted to bring heavy and consistent overnight drizzle.

We aimed for a gap in the boundary hedge toward the top right of the second field we entered, according to the map this is where the ancient earthworks are situated that give their name to this hill, it is also where a trig pillar sits atop one of the embankments, however when we arrived all we saw was bracken, and masses of it.

As we approached the base of the mass of fern I just caught a quick glimpse of the top of the trig pillar, it seemed as if it was floating on the bed of bracken, beached and almost unobtainable.  I entered the jungle of bracken but quickly gave up and reversed what little distance I had made, perhaps entering from the far northerly corner would be easier?

We looked for an access path as we walked around the base of the embankment, none was found, and so I dived in from the far north-eastern corner and made head-way through bracken that almost swamped me and which was chest high, with sections over my head, this was proving fun!

Being swamped by bracken

Progress was being made but it felt more like swimming than hill walking, and once in the ditch it was only a short steep pull up to the embankment where the trig pillar and the summit of the hill is situated, Suzanne quickly joined me.

The high point of Castell Meherin is close to the base of the trig pillar and approximately the same height as its base which is placed on a lump of concrete, and as this ground was overgrown with bracken and bramble I placed the Trimble on top of the trig pillar and we sat under it as it beeped away gathering its allotted data.

Gathering data at the summit of Castell Meherin

Once five minutes of data were gathered I closed the equipment down, packed it away and we reversed our inward route back to the field below.  It had been a fun day out with Suzanne visiting and Trimbling six hills, with four of them Marilyns.  Next stop Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen) where an excellent Indian meal awaited.

Survey Result:

Castell Meherin (significant name change)

Summit Height:  205.1m (converted to OSGM15) (Dominant re-twinned with Brandy Hill [SN 21352 13359] with the Trimble result giving the height of both summits exactly the same; 205.077m)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 14646 11773

Bwlch Height:  162.2m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 18517 12805 (LIDAR)

Drop:  42.8m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch) (Brandy Hill is being listed as the prioritised summit for drop purposes)

Dominance:  20.89% (Brandy Hill is being listed as the prioritised summit for dominance purposes)

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Brandy Hill

01.08.18  Mountain Park (SN 171 120)

Mountain Park (SN 171 120)

The delights of easily bagged summits that are near conveniently placed roads with parking space, and for the lower heighted hills those with access through near gates, can be viewed as little gems giving road side ticks when only a minute or two are required to park, step out on to terra-firma, walk down the road through the gate and stomp around a bit in a relatively flat field until ones conscious dictates that the highest point has probably been walked over.  Many hill baggers have probably done this during their visits to many varied summits, the worth of such an endeavour is debatable, but it is extremely convenient and affords a number of summits to be visited when ticks a-plenty can be gathered, and to a large extent this is what Suzanne and I were doing today, however it also had the element of a road trip added in for fun, and it proved interesting as my bagging colleague did not know what a Munro was, let alone a Marilyn, Hump or Tump, for me this was enlightening and Suzanne’s view of the day was not hindered by any form of bagging notion, she was out for a good day, and so was I.

Our fifth hill of the day is given the rather eloquent name of Mountain Park on the Tithe map for the field where its summit is situated, and this is the name this hill is now listed by in the 200m Twmpau.

I parked in a small lay-by near the entrance track to a covered reservoir having driven a Google car on this road two nights previous.  As we sauntered across the road to an access gate a tractor chugged its way in to the opposing field trimming its boundary hedge, I thought about making place-name enquiries but as we now had limited time before heading back to Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen) where Ben; Suzanne’s youngest son was waiting for us, I decided that a quick visit and survey of the summit was the order of the day.

I’d previously analysed this hill’s summit via LIDAR and came prepared with a ten figure grid reference for its high point, Suzanne chuckled away behind me as I marched this way and that, forever playing a merry dance until the Trimble zeroed in to the high point, once at the summit I set the Trimble up atop my rucksack, measured the offset between its internal antenna and the ground below, waited for the 0.1m accuracy level to be attained before data should be logged, and once this was achieved I pressed ‘Log’ and joined Suzanne who was flat out in the field relaxing.

Gathering data at the summit of Mountain Park

Our conversation whizzed along and when I next looked at my watch 11 minutes of data were gathered, so I quickly pressed ‘Done’, closed the equipment down, packed it away and off we went toward our last hill of the day; Castell Meherin (SN 146 117).

Survey Result:

Mountain Park (significant name change)

Summit Height:  203.7m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 17181 12029

Bwlch Height:  173.5m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 15693 11421 (LIDAR)

Drop:  30.3m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch) (200m Sub-Twmpau reclassified to 200m Twmpau)

Dominance:  14.85% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Brandy Hill

01.08.18  Brandy Hill (SN 213 133)

Having visited three hills with Suzanne toward the south-east of Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen) we now headed to the west of the town to visit another three hills, all of which are positioned with their summits close to a minor road that heads up from the small community of Llanddowror.

The next hill on our bagging agenda was Brandy Hill, this hill was once listed as a 205m map heighted twin Marilyn, its old twinned summit was further along the minor road to our west and was planned to be our last of six hills during the day to visit and survey with the Trimble.  

The A477 road now cuts a great swathe through the southern section of this hill, and with a large transmitter mast and accompanying building close to its summit, Brandy Hill is not one of the most tranquil of places to visit, but today it was bathed in afternoon sunshine that gave clarity of colour to the landscape.

We approached as many have done before from the convenience of the minor lane leading across the upper section of the hill, and found the gap in the hedge that gives access to the field where the natural high point of the hill is situated.

Suzanne heading through the gap in the hedge

Prior to visiting I’d used LIDAR to analyse where the summit of the hill is positioned and this proved a great help in determining placement for the Trimble, and as Suzanne led the way through the hedge and up the field and past the large mast I followed with Trimble in hand using it as a hand-held device to zero in on to the position of the high point of the hill.

Suzanne leading the way toward the summit of Brandy Hill

Once the Trimble was set up atop my rucksack to give it elevation above its immediate surrounds, I visited the trig pillar which is positioned on a steep sided embankment that is probably a designating boundary and which is higher than the edge of the field where the Trimble was placed, but as I considered the embankment a recent man-made construct I dismissed this for potential summit position.  The view from the trig pillar consisted of large chunks of metal that sped skyward; it had little to offer except for novelty.

The trig pillar is perched atop an embankment

The view from the trig isn't one of the best

As the Trimble gathered its allotted data we lay in the sunshine as the rhythmic hum of traffic on the A477 sped forever this way and that.

Gathering data at the summit of Brandy Hill

Relaxing in the sun

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Brandy Hill

Once ten minutes of data were gathered and stored I closed the Trimble down, packed it away and off we went toward the gap in the hedge and further west toward our 5^th hill of the day, and one that the Tithe map gives an interesting name to the land where the summit of the hill is positioned; Mountain Park (SN 171 120).

Survey Result:

Brandy Hill

Summit Height:  205.1m (converted to OSGM15) (Dominant re-twinned with Castell Meherin [SN 14646 11773] with the Trimble result giving the height of both summits exactly the same; 205.077m)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 21352 13359

Bwlch Height:  53.5m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 14049 17973 (LIDAR)

Drop:  151.6m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch) (Brandy Hill is being listed as the prioritised summit for drop purposes)

Dominance:  73.92% (Brandy Hill is being listed as the prioritised summit for dominance purposes)

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Mynydd Sylen

01.08.18  Mynydd Llangyndeyrn (SN 482 132)

Mynydd Llangyndeyrn proved the best of the six hills that Suzanne and I visited during the day, as it retains the feel of a hill with grassland, heath and rocky outcrops predominating.  The hill is positioned between the towns of Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen) toward the north-west and Rhydaman (Ammanford) toward the east, and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

We approached from the convenience of the relatively high B4306 road that cuts across the southern and western slopes of this hill, and parked beside a fence close to a cattle grid and a few houses.

Blue sky dominated and gave tranquil warmth on our ascent which was via a paved lane designated a public right of way that led to a farm.  Although this route gives quick and easy access to the summit it is not one that I would recommend as the hill has so much more to offer and deserves time spent in its midst to fully appreciate.

As the track neared the first farm we headed up toward the summit via a path which swung north-eastward toward the white coloured trig pillar placed on the summit area of the hill.

Having not researched the hill prior to our visit the first ancient cairn we came across that incorporates a stone circle and main monolith was somewhat of a surprise, so much so that I wondered if it was a modern construction, it is not, and is a fine example of ancient culture.

As with may standing stones side on they are slender compared to front on (see below)

As I took a series of photographs of the ring barrow with its neatly set stone circle and central monolith Suzanne wandered up toward the summit, and proceeded northward toward another ancient cairn positioned in the heathland below the rocky outcrop and steep eastern sides of the upper section of the hill.

I soon headed toward the summit and set the Trimble up with its internal antenna aligned to its high point, and once data were being gathered then retraced my steps back to the ancient cairn.

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Mynydd Llangyndeyrn

Such ancient constructions draw me in, I have no words to know why, but they do.  I again took a series of photographs with the trig pillar and Trimble giving a present day backdrop on what is still an ancient foreground.

An ancient forground as the Trimble gathers data in the present day background

Eventually I drew myself away and once 10 minutes of data were gathered and stored I closed the Trimble down, packed it away and headed to the lower heathland below, where Suzanne had walked and was now sitting on one of many rocky outcrops taking in the atmospheric nature of the hill and its surrounds.

Gathering data at the summit of Mynydd Llangyndeyrn

To our south was a large standing stone that had been obscured from view on our ascent, but it stood firmly upright with a path leading from where we now were down toward it, and which no doubt continued onward to where the car had been parked.

Suzanne beside the standing stone

Standing stones are always impressive when found in the hills, and this was no exception

This monolith could be seen from the summit and beckoned us to investigate, it did not disappoint.  It stands against a backdrop of grassland with bracken interspersed amongst rock outcrops and rises a full 2.7m (9ft) in height.  It is impressive and a stunning example of a Maen Hir.

We stood beside it for a number of minutes and then headed down following the continuation of the narrow path leading toward a gate and the modernity of tarmacked roads, cars and more hills to bag.

Survey Result:

Mynydd Llangyndeyrn

Summit Height:  263.0m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 48237 13266

Bwlch Height:  90.6m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 52317 13775 (LIDAR)

Drop:  172.4m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  65.54% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Mynydd Sylen

31.07.18  Llain Fawr (SN 428 202)

Llain Fawr (SN 428 202)

Llain Fawr is only a small heighted hill, but it is easily picked out from adjacent hills to its south which I had visited earlier in the day.  It sits above the small community of Llangunnor, its Church and Chuch Farm and the car park for the Church gives easy access to its summit.

Prior to visiting I’d analysed this hill’s summit and bwlch via LIDAR and come prepared with the ten figure grid reference for its summit.

LIDAR image of the summit of Llain Fawr

LIDAR image of the bwlch of Llain Fawr

It was only a few minutes’ walk up the remainder of the car park to a gate which gives access to the top field, a vehicle track led across the south-eastern flank of the field and I followed this until near the boundary hedge close to the summit of the hill.

Once the Trimble was positioned atop my rucksack to give it elevation above its immediate surrounds and the 0.1m accuracy level attained before data should be logged, I pressed ‘Log’ and stood back looking south toward the hills I had visited earlier in the day.

The sound of the beep, beep, beep of the equipment as each datum point is collected quietly blew in the afternoon’s breeze as I stood looking out at a land that I had not previously visited.  This part of P30 bagging when new land is visited signifies a form of investigation and for me this brings a sense of fulfilment.

Gathering data at the summit of Llain Fawr

The Trimble set-up position at the summit of Llain Fawr

Once the allotted data were gathered and stored I packed the equipment away and headed back to my car to change out of my walking gear and drive the short distance to Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen), where I was staying the night with a friend who was house sitting for one of her friends.  Tomorrow we had planned a six hill bagging road trip to enjoy.

Survey Result:  

Llain Fawr (significant name change)

Summit Height:  80.8m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 42855 20265

Bwlch Height:  23.0m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 42905 19831 (LIDAR)

Drop:  57.8m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  71.49% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Mynydd Sylen

31.07.18  Parc y Fedwen (SN 460 196)

Parc y Fedwen (SN 460 196)

Parc y Fedwen is positioned overlooking the Afon Tywi (River Towy) as it meanders west toward Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen), with the listed name of the hill now taking on the name given the field where its summit is situated and which appears on the Tithe map.

If wanting a quick ascent to its summit a convenient passing place on a minor lane toward the west of the high point can be used to park a car, and a gate then gives access in to the adjacent field, and having already visited four hills and with another one planned after this walk, this is the route I opted for.

Many of the fields hereabouts are bordered by hedges, thankfully the field leading toward the summit of this hill has a gap in the upper part of its hedge boundary, and this leads direct to the high point of the hill.

LIDAR analysis gave two points of equal height which are situated about eight metres apart, each today on parched grass, with one being nearer another hedge boundary, I surveyed both.

Gathering data at the first survey for summit position on Parc y Fedwen

During my stay on the summit cloud had obscured the afternoon’s sunshine and wisps of rain could just be felt on the breeze, these were no more than an afterthought and reminded me of a similar occasion on a Greek island when visiting a village overlooking the sea and watching cloud slowly ebb inland bringing the same wisps of moisture to a parched land.

Gathering data at the second survey for summit position on Parc y Fedwen

Once the two data sets were gathered and stored I packed the Trimble away and descended the short distance back to my car, next stop, my sixth P30 of the day; Llain Fawr (SN 428 202).

Survey Result:

Parc y Fedwen (significant name change)

Summit Height:  97.1m (converted to OSGM15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SN 46091 19673

Bwlch Height:  55.9m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SN 46613 19503 (LIDAR)

Drop:  41.2m (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  42.44% (Trimble summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet