Mapping Mountains – Summit Relocations – 100m Twmpau

Y Gaer (SJ 204 155) 

There has been a Summit Relocation to a hill that is listed in the 100m Twmpau, with the summit height, bwlch height and their locations, the drop and status of the hill derived from LIDAR analysis and a subsequent Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey conducted by Myrddyn Phillips. 

Y Gaer (SJ 204 155)

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

100m Twmpau - Welsh hills at or above 100m and below 200m in height with 30m minimum drop, with an accompanying sub list entitled the 100m Sub-Twmpau with the criteria for this sub category being all Welsh hills at or above 100m and below 200m 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 100m Twmpau by Myrddyn Phillips

The name the hill is listed by is Y Gaer, and it is adjoined to the Carnedd Wen group of hills which are situated in the south-eastern part of North Wales (Region A, Sub-Region A4), and it is positioned with minor roads encircling it, the A495 road farther to its north and the A490 road farther to its west, and has the village of Meifod towards the west south-west. 

When the original Welsh 100m P30 list was published on Geoff Crowder’s v-g.me website, this hill was listed with a c 125m summit height positioned at SJ 204 155 with an accompanying note stating; Two points of same height.  Height from Explorer 240. 

As this note implies the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map gives two points with uppermost 125m contours without any specific spot heights, the larger of these contours is positioned at SJ 204 155 and this is where the prioritised summit of this hill was given, with the smaller contour positioned at SJ 207 156. 

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

As the name of this hill implies it has the remains of an ancient hill fort on its summit area which takes in a part of the larger 125m uppermost contour.  Just to the east of the remains of the hill fort is a small covered reservoir which consists of steepened grassed sides leading to a breeze block construction.  The natural ground of the hill is at the base of the steepened grassed sides, with these forming a part of the covered reservoir. 

Gathering data during the first survey at the top of the steepened grass section

The summit of this hill has been surveyed with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 on two occasions.  The first when data were collected from the top of the steepened grass at the base of the breeze block section.  As this constitutes a part of the covered reservoir which is deemed a relatively recent man-made construct and therefore should not be taken as a part of this hill’s height, the summit was re-surveyed. 

Gathering data during the second survey at the highest remaining natural ground at the base of the steepened grass section

Gathering data during the third survey at the high point of the ancient hill fort

During the re-survey two points were surveyed, one at the highest remaining natural ground at the base of the steepened grass and the second at the high point of the remains of the ancient hill fort.  These and the result from the first survey are given below:

 

08.08.15 - 1^st survey, top of steepened grass section of covered reservoir:  130.450m at SJ 20413 15563 

02.07.21 - 2^nd survey, highest natural ground at base of steepened grass:  129.325m at SJ 20417 15566 

02.07.21 - 3^rd survey, highest part of ancient hill fort:  128.893m at SJ 20391 15555 

 

Between the 08.08.15 and 02.07.21 LIDAR became available and therefore 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 Y Gaer (SJ 204 155)

The result produced by LIDAR analysis confirmed the position of the high part of the ancient hill fort and the approximate position of the highest remaining natural ground of this hill, and as these two points have now been surveyed with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 it is this result that is being prioritised for listing purposes, and this comes within the parameters of the Summit Relocations used within this page heading, these parameters are: 

The term Summit Relocations applies to when the high point is positioned in a different field, to a different feature such as a conifer plantation, within a different map contour, a different point where a number of potential summit positions are within close proximity, when natural ground or the natural and intact summit 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 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 the Trimble GeoXH 6000 survey is 129.3m and this is positioned at SJ 20417 15566, this is the remaining natural high point of the hill and not ground at the top of the steepened grass, which forms a part of the covered reservoir and which is considered a relatively recent man-made construct and therefore discounted from the height of the hill. 

 

The full details for the hill are: 

Group:  Carnedd Wen 

Name:  Y Gaer 

OS 1:50,000 map:  126

Summit Height:  129.3m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)                                                          

Summit Grid Reference (New Position):  SJ 20417 15566 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) 

Bwlch Height:  91.2m (LIDAR) 

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 21177 15977 (LIDAR) 

Drop:  38.2m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch) 

 

Myrddyn Phillips (September 2021)

 

  

Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Carnedd Wen

 

02.07.21  Y Gaer (SJ 204 155) 

Y Gaer (SJ 204 155)

As its name implies this hill has the remains of an ancient hill fort on its summit area, however nowadays these remains are barely discernible to the untrained eye.  Whereas many such remains are prominent with their embankments and ditches still on grand display, this particular Y Gaer just has the last vestiges of a slight rise still on view.  This is no more than a little bump that is easily bi-passed in favour of the higher ground near-by. 

This higher ground is positioned at a small covered reservoir which is circular and sits atop a raised grass slope.  The ground leading up to the base of the raised grass slope is natural, whereas the raised grass slope and the covered reservoir are man-made, with the line between the natural ground as its base and the artificially raised ground relatively easy to pinpoint. 

I’d visited this hill once before in August 2015 in the company of Alex Cameron during a hill bagging day.  On that day I placed the Trimble on the highest ground at the top of the raised grass slope at the immediate base of the bricked section of the covered reservoir.  This was at the top of the artificially raised ground and not at natural ground at its base.  Today I wanted to rectify this and gather data from the highest remaining natural ground. 

Gathering data during the first summit survey of Y Gaer with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 placed on the top of the artificially raised ground leading to the exposed part of the covered reservoir

Since originally surveying this hill LIDAR has become available and gives coverage for this hill’s summit and bwlch, and prior to my re-visit I analysed LIDAR and built contours up for where the natural ground became man-made.  By doing so the position and height of the remaining natural ground can be found, this exercise also showed where the high point of the ancient hill fort is positioned.  During the re-survey I planned to gather data at these two points, the highest of which would then be listed as the summit of this hill. 

LIDAR image of Y Gaer (SJ 204 155)

If wanting a quick visit to the summit of Y Gaer this is easily accomplished from its east.  This is the approach Alex and I took six years ago.  This eastern approach is from the top of a narrow lane where a car can be safely left.  A gate then gives access to the field where the summit of the hill is situated. 

From this point it is only a short walk to the top of the hill, and once there I assessed the lay of land at the immediate base of the steep rising grassed slope leading to the top of the covered reservoir.  Having decided the highest remaining natural ground I soon positioned the Trimble to gather data and sat on the other side of the covered reservoir as the equipment quietly beeped away collecting individual datum points. 

Gathering data during the second summit summit of Y Gaer with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 placed at the highest remaining natural ground at the base of the artificially raised ground leading to the exposed part of the covered reservoir

Once allotted data were gathered and stored I re-positioned the equipment at the high point of what remains of the ancient hill fort, this is a few metres from the base of the covered reservoir and is now no more than a slight undulation. 

Gathering data at the high point of the ancient hill fort

The Trimble GeoXH 6000 set-up position at the high point of the ancient hill fort

During data collection I stood below the equipment and watched as an occasional vehicle appeared on the narrow lane below, otherwise all was quiet.  This was the fourth of ten hills visited with Alex six years ago, today it was the last of five as afternoon commitments and a forecast of potential heavy rain and thunder dictated that I now needed to head back home, and once the Trimble was closed down and packed away I retraced my route back to the car and did just that. 

 

Survey Result: 

 

Y Gaer

Summit Height:  129.3m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SJ 20417 15566 (Trimble GeoXH 6000) (summit relocation confirmed) 

Bwlch Height:  91.2m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SJ 21177 15977 (LIDAR)

Drop:  38.2m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance: 29.51% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

 

 

For details on the 1^st survey of Y Gaer

 

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet

 

 

 

 

 

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales

Y Gaer (SO 013 873) – Lesser Dominant deletion

There has been a deletion from the listing of Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales confirmed by a survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 and later substantiated by a survey with the Leica GS15, resulting in this hill being deleted from the Lesser  Dominant list. 

The criteria for this listing are:

Y Trechol – The Dominant Hills of Wales - Welsh P30s whose prominence equal or exceed half that of their absolute height, with the criteria for Lesser Dominant status being those additional Welsh P30s whose prominence is 33% or more and below 50% of their absolute height.

The details relating to this hill’s deletion from the Lesser Dominant list are retrospective as the confirmation was dependent upon a survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 which was conducted by Myrddyn Phillips on the 7^th February 2014, the summit result was later substantiated by a survey with the Leica GS15 which was conducted by John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips on the 2^nd May 2014.

Prior to the survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 this hill was prioritised as being listed as a Lesser Dominant over its twin 308m map heighted summit of Gelli Hir which is positioned at SN 99903 88383.  The survey with the Trimble separated these twin map heighted tops and resulted in the deletion of Y Gaer, and the addition of Gelli Hir to Lesser Dominant status.

The name of the hill is Y Gaer and it is adjoined to the Pumlumon range of hills which are situated in Mid and West Wales (Region B, Sub-Region B2).  The hill overlooks the A 470 road and the Afon Hafren (River Severn) which is to its east, with the small community of Llandinam at the base and to the north-east of the hill and the town of Llanidloes towards the west south-west.  

As the summit of the hill is not on designated open access land permission to visit should be sought, however as a public footpath traverses this hill’s elongated and broad summit ridge in a north-east to south-west orientation and passes close to the high point of the hill, common sense should prevail and a diversion to the summit is only a short distance away.

The deletion of Y Gaer from Lesser Dominant status was confirmed by a survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 and the summit result was later substantiated by a survey with the Leica GS15, resulting in a summit height of 307.1m (converted to OSGM15) and a bwlch height of 215.8m (converted to OSGM15), which gives this hill 91.4m of drop and 29.74% Dominance, which is insufficient for its continued inclusion in the Lesser Dominant list.

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Pumlumon

Name:  Y Gaer

Dominance:  29.74%

OS 1:50,000 map:  136

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 01350 87380

Summit Height:  307.1m (converted to OSGM15)

Drop Summit to Bwlch:  91.3m (converted to OSGM15)

Drop Bwlch to ODN:  215.8m 

Y Gaer (SO 013 873) is now deleted from the ranks of Lesser Dominant hills

For details on the survey that resulted in the deletion of this hill from Lesser Dominant status 

Myrddyn Phillips (December 2017) 

Mapping Mountains – Hill Reclassifications – Humps

Coed Mawr (SO 013 873) – Hump reclassified to Subhump

This is the twentieth in a series of Hill Reclassification posts that detail hills whose status has been altered in the listing of the Humps (HUndred Metre Prominences) through map study and / or surveys that I have instigated.

The hill listed as Coed Mawr in the Humps (SO 013 873)

The hill name used in this and forthcoming posts is that used in the listing of Humps, therefore individual names and their composition may not match those that are used in listings I am directly associated with.  However, I am of firm belief that listed hill names used by other authors should be respected when giving detail within other people’s lists, however inappropriate some hill names may be considered.

This and forthcoming posts are retrospective as many of these hill reclassifications were initiated from studying the Ordnance Survey enlarged mapping that is hosted on the Geograph website, or in this instance from a survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000, and for the reclassifications that affected the Humps the first survey of this hill took place on the 07.02.14.

The listing of Humps was published in book format by Lulu in 2009 and entitled More Relative Hills of Britain, its author; Mark Jackson gives credit to a number of people who contributed toward the formation of this list, these include; Eric Yeaman, Alan Dawson, Clem Clements, Rob Woodall, Bernie Hughes, Pete Ridges and others.  When the list was published in book format there were 2987 Humps listed with their criteria being any British hill that has 100m or more of drop, accompanying the main list is a sub category entitled Subhumps, with the criteria being any British hill that has 90m or more and below 100m of drop.

More Relative Hills of Britain by Mark Jackson

The details for the reclassification appear below:

There has been a reclassification to the listing of the Humps (HUndred Metre Prominences) instigated by a survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 and which was later confirmed by a survey with the Leica GS15.

Prior to the survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 Mark Jackson had listed this hill as a Hump with 125m of drop based on the 308m summit spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map and the 183m bwlch spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map.  This hill was listed as a twin as a 308m spot height also appears on Ordnance Survey maps for the hill whose summit is positioned at SN 99905 88388.

The hill appears under the name of Coed Mawr in the listing of the Humps, this name appears on current Ordnance Survey maps applicable to the woodland just to the east of the summit of the hill.  However, local enquiry and research via the Tithe map finds that the name of Y Gaer is more appropriate for this hill (see Significant Name Changes).

The hill is adjoined to the Pumlumon group of hills and is situated overlooking the A 470 road and the Afon Hafren (River Severn) which are to its east, with the small community of Llandinam at the base and to the north-east of the hill and the town of Llanidloes towards the west south-west.

This hill and its adjacent twin map heighted summit were surveyed using a Trimble GeoXH 6000 by Myrddyn Phillips on the 07.02.14 resulting in a 91.4m drop value for this hill, with its adjacent twin map heighted summit being 0.055m higher than Coed Mawr, the hill was then re-surveyed on the 02.05.14 by John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips using a Leica GS15 and Trimble GeoXH 6000 resulting in the adjacent twin map heighted summit named as Rhos Fawr in the listing of the Humps being 0.11m higher than Coed Mawr, with this survey confirming this hill’s reclassification from prioritised Hump to Subhump status.

The reclassification of this hill from Hump to Subhump status was accepted by Mark Jackson and its new classification augmented in to the listing of the Humps on 10.05.14.

Using level and staff to determine summit position prior to surveying the hill with the Leica GS15

The full details for the hill are:

Name:  Coed Mawr (as listed in the Humps)

Summit Height:  307.1m (converted to OSGM15)

OS 1:50,000 map:  136

OS 1:25,000 map:  214

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 01352 87384

Drop:  90m (as listed in the Humps, 91.3m [converted to OSGM15] as surveyed with the Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Myrddyn Phillips (October 2017)

Mapping Mountains – Significant Name Changes – Y Trichant

Y Gaer (SO 013 873)

There has been a Significant Name Change to a hill that is listed in the Y Trichant, with the following details relating to a hill that was surveyed with the Trimble GeoXH 6000 on the 7^th February 2014 and also on the 2^nd May 2014 along with the Leica GS15.

The hill is situated in the Pumlumon range, which is an extensive group of hills in the northern part of mid Wales.  The hill is positioned to the south of Caersws and to the east north-east of Llanidloes, with the small community of Llandinam at its base beside the Afon Hafren (River Severn) which is to its north-east.

Y Gaer (SO 013 873)

The hill appeared in the 300m P30 list on Geoff Crowder’s  v-g.me website under the name of; Coed Mawr, with an accompanying note stating; Name from wood to the east.  The name of Coed Mawr is printed in large letters on Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger maps and takes in the whole eastern side of this hill where a mixed wood plantation is situated.  The name of Coed Mawr also appears on Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer maps and is placed near the summit of this hill.

Coed Mawr

308m

SO013874

136

214

Clem/Yeaman.  Twin top. Name from wood to the East.

The listing this hill is now a part of is named Y Trichant and these are the 300m height band of hills within the Twmpau (thirty welsh metre prominences and upward) and takes in all Welsh hills at or above 300m and below 400m in height that have a minimum 30m of drop,  with the introduction to the re-naming of this list appearing on Mapping Mountains on the 13^th May 2017, and the summit height, drop and status of the hill was determined by the survey with the Trimble GeoXH 6000.

The name this hill is now listed by is Y Gaer, and this was derived from local enquiry and from the Tithe map.  The term Tithe map is generally given to a map of a Welsh or English parish or township and which was prepared after the 1836 Tithe Commutation Act.  This act allowed tithes to be paid in cash rather than goods.  The Tithe maps gave names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish and importantly for place-name research they also included the name of enclosed land.  This enclosed land is usually based on a field system, however not every field is given a name, but many are and especially so in Wales.

Place name research can be a problematic occupation as the prioritised chose of a name can depend upon personal judgement where evaluation of the research at hand is assessed, and in the case of this hill’s name the judgement has been based on local enquiries and details from the Tithe map.

When I first surveyed this hill I made place-name enquiries with local residents to the north and to the south of the hill.  These are given below:

To the north of the hill:

I wanted to visit a Twin Hump and survey both summits and the intervening bwlch, and hopefully meet one or two locals, or call at one or two farms on the way to ask about names of the hills.

My ascent route from the outskirts of Llandinam went up the Waen Lane (map and local spelling).  As I was nearing the end of the lane before venturing on to fields I came across a man trying to get a long ladder off the roof of a van.  I offered to help, he declined with a smile and we started talking.  His name is Malcolm Lanham (aged 68), a good Welsh name was his tongue in cheek remark when he introduced himself.  He had lived in Llandinam all his life and couldn’t speak Welsh, although he did have an understanding of some words.  I asked the name of the hill that I was heading up.

Malcolm told me that the name of the hill is the Waen Hill.  I commented upon the name of the lane that Malcolm’s bungalow is built next to and he said the Waen Lane.  He then mentioned that the Waen Farm is further on around the lane and up the hill.  I presume this old farm is situated at SO 016 883 as the word Waen appears on the map at this position.  I asked about the spelling of Waen / Waun and it was confirmed as Waen, I mentioned the use of ‘u’ in modern Cymraeg but Malcolm did not pass further comment; he just smiled and sort of shrugged his shoulders.  Not really a demonstration of ignorance, just one of not knowing.  I asked if he had ever heard another name for the hill, his reply was ‘no, it’s known as the Waen Hill’.  I also asked if this is the name that the hill is known by in Llandinam and he said ‘yes’.  I then asked about a name that appears on the map; Coed Mawr, Malcolm said that this was a patch of forestry and not the name of the hill; he also knew that the name of the Waen Hill did not appear on the map.

To the south of the hill:

After visiting the summit at SO 013 873, I descended to the farm of Cefn and surprised Graham Pugh who was heading to the farm yard from a large barn full of recently born lambs.  Graham is aged 53 and had lived in the local area for 25 years and at the farm of Cefn for 20 years, he originally comes from Staylittle / Penffordd-las (SN 887 920).  He can speak Welsh but said that he gets his ‘rights’ and ‘lefts’ muddled up and told me about a visit to a market where he was given directions and he couldn’t remember if the word meant left or right, we both chuckled at this.  I believe this was due to a lack of Welsh being spoken in the area where Graham now lives, so his use of the language is not on a daily basis.  I explained where I had come from and where I was heading.  We were soon talking about the name of the hill.

Graham gave me the name of The Gaer without prompting and it almost matches a name that appears close to the summit of this hill on the map, almost as the name that does appear on the map is Y Gaer, which is marked at SO 015 878.  I asked about the name of Coed Mawr, Graham said that he’d only ever heard this name in relation to the farm of Coedmawr which is positioned at SN 990 888.  He told me that Coed Mawr is not the name of the hill.

Graham Pugh of Cefn farm

It is not uncommon to find one hill known by different names in opposing valleys, where this happens all one can do is note each name and conduct further research.  When I consulted the Tithe map the enclosed land where the summit of this hill is situated is given the number 533, with the number 2047 also appearing in the corner of this land, these numbers can be cross referenced against the apportionments; it is these apportionments that give the name of the owner or occupier of the land as well as the name of the land.  The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Cae Dirge and is described as Meadow; it appears in the county named as Montgomery and in the parish of Llandinam.

Accessing information on the Tithe map is simplified by the use of a split screen enabling the summit to be pinpointed on the map on the right and for the same point to appear on the Tithe map on the left

Importantly the Tithe map associates the land where the summit of this hill is situated as being a part of the land of Gaer and not that of Waen.  Both are old farms with that of Gaer no longer appearing on current Ordnance Survey maps but its remains are situated at approximately SO 016 880, whilst Waen is positioned at SO 016 883.

The land where the summit of this hill is situated is named as Cae Dirge on the Tithe map

The corner of this land is also named as a part of Cae Dirge

Although the hill is known from its northern side as Waen Hill, the land adjoined to its summit area is associated with the Gaer, and this is the name given me on the southern side of the hill, therefore it is being listed as Y Gaer, with the caveat that the land where its summit is situated is named as Cae Dirge on the Tithe map.  

The full details for the hill are:

Group:  Pumlumon

Name:  Y Gaer

Previously Listed Name:  Coed Mawr 

Summit Height:  307.1m (converted to OSGM15)

OS 1:50,000 map:  136

Summit Grid Reference:  SO 01350 87380  

Drop:  91.3m (converted to OSGM15)

For details on the first survey and the second survey of Y Gaer

Myrddyn Phillips (June 2016)