Mapping Mountains – Significant Height Revisions – Y Pellennig – The Remotest Hills of Wales and The Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru

 

Ysgafell Wen (SH 663 487) 

There has been a Significant Height Revision that is retrospective to a hill that is listed in the Y Pellennig – The Remotest Hills of Wales and the Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from a Leica RX1250 survey conducted by Alan Dawson. 

LIDAR image of Ysgafell Wen (SH 663 487)

The criteria for the two listings that this height revision applies to are:

Y Pellennig –The Remotest Hills of Wales - Welsh hills whose summit is at least 2.5km from the nearest paved public road and the hill has a minimum 15m of drop.  The list is co-authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams and is available as a downloadable e-booklet or print-booklet version on Mapping Mountains Publications with the up-to-date master list available on Mapping Mountains to download in Google Doc format. 

Y Pellennig - The Remotest Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams

Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru – Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 15m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Highland Subs, the criteria for which is all Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 10m or more and below 15m of drop.  This list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams with the Introduction to the list published on Mapping Mountains in November 2015 and the latest update relating to the list published on Mapping Mountains in January 2023.

Welsh Highlands - Uchafion Cymru by Aled Williams and Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Ysgafell Wen and it is adjoined to the Moelwyn Mawr group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A2), and it is positioned with the A498 road to its north-west, a minor road to its west and the A470 road to its east, and has the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog towards the south-east. 

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

When the original list that later became known as the Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru was first compiled, this hill was listed with an estimated c 16m of drop, based on a basic levelling survey conducted by John and Anne Nuttall, with the summit height ascertained by the addition of the drop value to the 641m bwlch spot height that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map. 

LIDAR summit image of Ysgafell Wen (SH 663 487)

However, it was not until a survey with GNSS equipment that an accurate summit height for this hill could be ascertained.  This was conducted by Alan Dawson on the 12.06.17 using a Leica RX1250, resulting in a 659.0m summit height positioned at SH 66384 48768, and this comes within the parameters of the Significant Height Revisions used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Significant Height Revisions applies to any listed hill whose interpolated height and Ordnance Survey or Harvey map summit spot height has a 2m or more discrepancy when compared to the survey result produced by the Trimble GeoXH 6000, the Leica RX1250 or analysis of data produced via LIDAR, also included are hills whose summit map data is missing an uppermost ring contour when compared to the data produced by the Trimble, Leica RX1250 or by LIDAR analysis.

Therefore, the new listed summit height of this hill is 659.0m and this was derived from a Leica RX1250 survey, this is 2.0m higher than the previously listed height of c 657m, which was based on a 16m basic levelling survey conducted by John and Anne Nuttall, with the summit height ascertained by the addition of the drop value to the 641m bwlch spot height that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map.

 

ills of Wales, and are reproduced below@

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Moelwyn Mawr

Name:  Ysgafell Wen

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height (New Height):  659.0m (converted to OSGM15, Leica RX1250) 

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 66384 48768 (Leica RX1250) 

Bwlch Height:  639.9m (converted to OSGM15, Leica RX1250) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 66380 48665 (Leica RX1250) 

Drop:  19.1m (Leica RX1250) 

Remoteness:  2.760km

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (February 2026)

Mapping Mountains – Significant Height Revisions – 500m Twmpau, Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales and The Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru

 

Yr Eifl (SH 364 447) 

There has been a Significant Height Revision that is retrospective to a hill that is listed in the 500m Twmpau, Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales and the The Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop, the dominance and status of the hill derived from a Leica GS15 summit survey conducted by John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips, and LIDAR bwlch analysis conducted by Aled Williams. 

Yr Eifl (SH 364 447)

The criteria for the three listings that this height revision applies to are:

500m Twmpau – Welsh hills at or above 500m and below 600m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub category entitled the 500m Sub-Twmpau consisting of all Welsh hills at or above 500m and below 600m in height that have 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  With the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and is published on Mapping Mountains in Google Doc format.

500m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales – Welsh P30 hills whose prominence equal or exceed half that of their absolute height.  With the criteria for Lesser Dominant status being those additional Welsh P30 hills whose prominence is between one third and half that of their absolute height.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips with the Introduction to the start of the Mapping Mountains publication of this list appearing on the 3^rd December 2015, and the list is now available in its entirety on Mapping Mountains in Google Doc format. 

Y Trechol - The Dominant Hills of Wales by Myrddyn Phillips

The Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru – Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 15m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Highland Subs, the criteria for which is all Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 10m or more and below 15m of drop.  This list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams with the Introduction to the list published on Mapping Mountains in November 2015 and the latest update relating to the list published on Mapping Mountains in January 2023.

The Welsh Highlands - Uchafion Cymru by Aled Williams and Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Yr Eifl and it is adjoined to its own group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with minor roads to its north-east, the B4417 road to its south and the A499 road to its east, and has the villages of Trefor towards the north north-east and Llithfaen towards the south south-west.

When the listings of the 500m Twmpau, Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales and The Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru were first compiled, this hill was listed with a summit height of 564m, based on the spot height adjoined to a triangulation pillar that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map. 

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

However, it was not until the survey with the Leica GS15 that the details for this hill could be accurately re-assessed.  Although the trig pillar is positioned on a relatively stable base it is positioned on the top of a substantial ancient cairn which consists of a multitude of individual stones and rocks and as this is considered as not being permanent in nature, it is the highest remaining natural ground on the periphery of the ancient cairn that is taken as both its listed summit height and summit position, and when compared to its originally listed summit height of 564m this comes within the parameters of the Significant Height Revisions used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Significant Height Revisions applies to any listed hill whose interpolated height and Ordnance Survey, Harvey or other interactive map summit spot height has a 2m or more discrepancy when compared to the survey result produced by the Trimble GeoXH 6000 or other GNSS equipment or analysis of data produced via LIDAR.  Also included are hills whose summit map data is missing an uppermost ring contour when compared with the data produced by the Trimble or by LIDAR analysis. 

Gathering data with the Leica GS15 at the listed summit position of Yr Eifl

Therefore, the new listed summit height of this hill is 560.7m and this was derived from a Leica GS15 survey, this is 3.3m lower than the originally listed summit height of 564m, which was based on the spot height adjoined to a triangulation pillar that appears on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map.

 

ills of Wales, and are reproduced below@

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Yr Eifl

Name:  Yr Eifl

OS 1:50,000 map:  123

Summit Height (New Height):  560.7m (converted to OSGM15, Leica GS15)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 36482 44734 (Leica GS15)  

Bwlch Height:  129.4m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 45347 48678 (LIDAR)

Drop:  431.3m (Leica GS15 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  76.92% (Leica GS15 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (February 2026)

Mapping Mountains – Significant Height Revisions – Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru

Pt. 914.9m (SH 659 585) 

There has been a Significant Height Revision to a hill that is listed in the Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey conducted by Aled Williams. 

Pt. 914.9m (SH 659 585).  Photo: Aled Williams

The criteria for the list that this height revision applies to are:

Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru – Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 15m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Highland Subs, the criteria for which is all Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 10m or more and below 15m of drop.  This list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams with the Introduction to the list published on Mapping Mountains in November 2015 and the latest update relating to the list published on Mapping Mountains in January 2023.

Welsh Highlands - Uchafion Cymru by Aled Williams and Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is being listed by the point (Pt. 914.9m) notation, and it is adjoined to the Glyder Fawr group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with the A5 road to its north and the A4086 road to its south, and has the village of Capel Curig towards the east.

When the initial P10 sub list was completed in June 2020 this hill was listed with 9.4m of drop, based on a 31ft basic levelling survey conducted by Myrddyn Phillips on the 02.05.99.  However, with no significant independent contour of note on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map it was difficult to give this hill an accurate summit height. 

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

The hill was subsequently analysed via LIDAR by Aled Williams, resulting in a 913.9m summit height and a 905.1m bwlch height, with these values giving this hill 8.8m of drop, which was insufficient for it to be classified as a Welsh Highland Sub.  However, with the drop value relatively close to the qualifying criterion of 10m this hill was prioritised for a survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000. 

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 gathering data at the summit of Pt. 914.9m (SH 659 585).  Photo: Aled Williams

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey gives the summit of this hill as 914.9m positioned at SH 65981 58563, and this comes within the parameters of the Significant Height Revisions used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Significant Height Revisions applies to any listed hill whose interpolated height and Ordnance Survey, Harvey or other interactive map summit spot height has a 2m or more discrepancy when compared to the survey result produced by the Trimble GeoXH 6000 or analysis of data produced via LIDAR.  Also included are hills whose summit map data is missing an uppermost ring contour when compared with the data produced by the Trimble or by LIDAR analysis.

Therefore, the new listed summit height of this hill is 914.9m and this was derived from a Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey, this is 14.9m higher than the uppermost 900m contour that appears on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map.

 

ills of Wales, and are reproduced below@

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Glyder Fawr

Name:  Pt. 914.9m           

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height (New Height):  914.9m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 65981 58563 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  904.4m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 65982 58556 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)   

Drop:  10.5m (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

 

Aled Williams and Myrddyn Phillips (November 2024)

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Significant Height Revisions – 500m Twmpau and Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru

 

Foel Ganol (SH 687 715) 

There has been a Significant Height Revision to a hill that is listed in the 500m Twmpau and the Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Aled Williams. 

LIDAR image of Foel Ganol (SH 687 715)

The criteria for the two listings that this height revision applies to are:

500m Twmpau – Welsh hills at or above 500m and below 600m in height that have 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub category entitled the 500m Sub-Twmpau consisting of all Welsh hills at or above 500m and below 600m in height that have 20m or more and below 30m of drop.  With the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and is published on Mapping Mountains in Google Doc format.

500m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru – Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 15m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Highland Subs, the criteria for which is all Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 10m or more and below 15m of drop.  This list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams with the Introduction to the list published on Mapping Mountains in November 2015 and the latest update relating to the list published on Mapping Mountains in January 2023.

Welsh Highlands - Uchafion Cymru by Aled Williams and Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Foel Ganol and it is adjoined to the Carnedd Llywelyn group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with the A55 road to its north-west and a minor road to its west, and has the town of Llanfairfechan towards the north.

When the list of Welsh 500m P15s that later became known as the Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru was first compiled, this hill was listed with 40m of drop, based on the 536m summit spot height and the 496m 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 summit image of Foel Ganol (SH 687 715)

LIDAR analysis gives the summit of this hill as 533.1m positioned at SH 68797 71588, and when compared to its originally listed summit height of 536m this comes within the parameters of the Significant Height Revisions used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Significant Height Revisions applies to any listed hill whose interpolated height and Ordnance Survey or Harvey map summit spot height has a 2m or more discrepancy when compared to the survey result produced by the Trimble GeoXH 6000 or analysis of data produced via LIDAR, also included are hills whose summit map data is missing an uppermost ring contour when compared to the data produced by the Trimble or by LIDAR analysis.

Therefore, the new listed summit height of this hill is 533.1m and this was derived from LIDAR analysis, this is 2.9m lower than the originally listed summit height of 536m, which was based on the spot height that appears on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map.

 

ills of Wales, and are reproduced below@

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Carnedd Llywelyn

Name:  Foel Ganol

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height (New Height):  533.1m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 68797 71588 (LIDAR)  

Bwlch Height:  495.0m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 69012 71563 (LIDAR)

Drop:  38.2m (LIDAR)

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (September 2024)

Mapping Mountains – Significant Height Revisions – 600m Twmpau and Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru

Pt. 631.7m (SH 733 622) 

There has been a Significant Height Revision to a hill that is listed in the 600m Twmpau and the Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis conducted by Aled Williams. 

Pt. 631.7m (SH 733 622)

The criteria for the two listings that this height revision applies to are:

600m Twmpau - Welsh hills at or above 600m and below 700m in height with 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 600m Sub-Twmpau with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 600m and below 700m in height with 20m or more and below 30m of drop, with the word Twmpau being an acronym standing for thirty welsh metre prominences and upward.  The list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and is available to download in Google Doc format from Mapping Mountains.

600m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru – Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 15m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the Welsh Highland Subs, the criteria for which is all Welsh hills at or above 500m in height with 10m or more and below 15m of drop.  This list is authored by Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams with the Introduction to the list published on Mapping Mountains in November 2015 and the latest update relating to the list published on Mapping Mountains in January 2023.

Welsh Highlands - Uchafion Cymru by Aled Williams and Myrddyn Phillips

The hill is being listed by the point (Pt. 631.7m) notation and it is adjoined to the Carnedd Llywelyn group of hills, which are situated in the north-western part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A1), and it is positioned with the A5 road to its south-west and the B5106 and A470 roads to its east, and has the village of Capel Curig towards the south south-west. 

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

When the original list that later became known as the Welsh Highlands – Uchafion Cymru was first compiled, this hill was listed with an estimated c 36m of drop based on the 634m summit spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map and an estimated c 598m bwlch height based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 590m – 600m.  The drop value for this hill was later amended to 36m, based on the 598m bwlch spot height that appeared on the Ordnance Survey Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and which was entitled the Interactive Coverage Map. 

LIDAR image of Pt. 631.7m (SH 733 622)

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 Pt. 631.7m (SH 733 622)

The summit height produced by LIDAR analysis is 631.7m and is positioned at SH 73366 62247 and SH 73365 62246, and this comes within the parameters of the Significant Height Revisions used within this page heading, these parameters are:

The term Significant Height Revisions applies to any listed hill whose interpolated height and Ordnance Survey or Harvey map summit spot height has a 2m or more discrepancy when compared to the survey result produced by the Trimble GeoXH 6000 or analysis of data produced via LIDAR, also included are hills whose summit map data is missing an uppermost ring contour when compared to the data produced by the Trimble or by LIDAR analysis.

Therefore, the new listed summit height of this hill is 631.7m and this was derived from LIDAR analysis, this is 2.3m lower than the previously listed summit height of 634m, which was based on the spot height that appears on the contemporary Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map.

 

ills of Wales, and are reproduced below@

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Carnedd Llywelyn

Name:  Pt. 631.7m

OS 1:50,000 map:  115

Summit Height (New Height):  631.7m (LIDAR)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 73366 62247 & SH 73365 62246 (LIDAR)

Bwlch Height:  595.9m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 73256 62104 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  35.8m (LIDAR)

 

Myrddyn Phillips and Aled Williams (September 2024)