Help needed - Welsh mountain

In article <[email hidden]>, Lee <[email hidden]>
writes

Quoted message said:

I used to live by there and could see for miles - probably looking north
easterly else townhill would be in the way, probably up around ysradgynlais
way

Hi Lee, where are you now then.

This thread has brought out the "Jacks" eh?
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

Gary Webster <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Andy Howell said:

On 19/7/04 12:05 am, in article [email hidden],

Gary Webster said:

D'oh! Yes, they are west of Swansea. My navigational skills really do need
to progress beyond knowing the four points of a compass.

Wouldn't want you getting lost in darkest Solihull :-)

Crikey...a fate worse than death. Mind you, if you do get lost there then
there's no chance of asking for help as they all speak too posh to be
understood by a Brummie ;-)

Well, as a Silhillian born and bred, now living in Swansea... Getting
lost in Solihull, now there would be a challenge. Having said that,
since Touchwood Court got built, i`m a little unsure of my way around
at times. When I go back, it takes me a day or two to get used to the
Brummie accent.

Back to that hill. I reckon it must be the one you see towards the
east when looking up the Swansea Valley from the Marina (I think). I
was going to go down with a camera and compass this evening but
couldnt be bothered, instead got out OziEexplorer, the wonderful (and
free) MicroDEM and assorted SRTM data and are still none the wiser.

Ed.

"theo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Looking NNE : Careg Lais(2076ft) with Foel Fraith(1982ft) or Cefn Carn
> Fadog(1657ft) in front ?

Looking on a map this was one of my guesses but from the shape he described
I was not sure?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>Looking NE : Fan Gihiryg(2379ft) with Carreg-lwyd(1763ft) in front ?

I went to Dan y Ogof caves a little while ago and took a shot of Fan Gihiryg
from the other side of the valley and it certainly fits his description of
the mountain?

Alan

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> They are at 25 to 30km far away, but on a clear day ? Again a shot in

the dark.

Quoted message said:

Theo

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"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

AC said:

My oldest lad has just moved homes within Swansea and from his new
bedroom he can look (he describes it) North ( I think it's more NE)
towards a mountain in the distance.

Any chance of a digital photo from his room?

He hasn't got one but I'll see if he can get a snap and mail it to me

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

He has tried to explain the
mountain - long ridge sloping down to the left - and asked me to
identify it for him.

From his location the obvious one would be Kilvey Hill, but...

Quoted message said:

From his description he is looking up towards
the Pontardawe area but I am unsure?

...for a longer view it would be Mynydd Drumau.

Quoted message said:

I think his new place is called Milton Terrace if this is any help -
its near the City Centre?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> The problem is that particular location doesn't have very good views
>>north, but I notice that the road does curve around, so much depends

on

Quoted message said:

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>>> exactly where the house is located. If you could give me a more
>> accurate grid ref, or even a house number...

I have been there a few times - it's his girlfriends home - and it is on the
north (?) side and although I don't know the number it's one of the 1st (or
last) in the row.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> Further NE you can see Mynydd Allt-y-Grug.

Much depends on exactly where you are located in Swansea. Being hilly,
there are lots of line of sight issues. It's quite possible to see Fan
Gyhirych and Fan Hir from parts of Swansea. You can see Fan Hir from
Dyfatty traffic lights (ideally on top of one of the footbridges that
cross it).

From the top of Trewyddfa Road you can see the whole of Mynydd Du, even
the western summits.

Paul
--
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"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

AC said:

I just rung him and he thinks the mountain is a good bit further than
that - he says he can see for a good few miles and has views of the
new stadium being built and all up that way for many miles. He says
there is a smaller hill in front of the one he is trying to identify.

I'd nip up and have a look but it's raining at the moment.

How far from there do you live then Paul?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > I am driving down to Pontardulais on Wednesday for a meeting so I can

have a look that way from the M4?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> You won't see much from the M4, and what you will see from the M4 at

Morriston won't be the same because of line of sight issues. You'll have a
less obstructed view but from lower down and a slightly different
direction. He'll be higher up but have different blockages.

As I'll be driven I will mostly be looking out of the windows - no
disrespect to the Pyt driving but it gives me a chance to view things for a
change rather than concentrating on the road!

:o)

rgds
Alan

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In article <[email hidden]>, AC
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I went to Dan y Ogof caves a little while ago and took a shot of Fan Gihiryg
from the other side of the valley and it certainly fits his description of
the mountain?

Fan Gyhirych certainly has a distinctive profile, however When he
referred to a slope I imagined something more gentle than the Gyhirych
escarpment. Fan Gyhirych would be at the extreme of his vision from
Swansea I'd guess as it is the highest point in the Swansea valley which
can be seen before the ground drops down towards Cray.
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

W. D. Grey said:

Quoted message said:

And those little pine trees which were planted on Kilvey don't seem
to have grown!

They don't take too well to being burned - Paul has photos.

They have no trouble growing, they just take a little while to
regenerate after being burned each year.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=118749

AC said:

Quoted message said:

I'd nip up and have a look but it's raining at the moment.

How far from there do you live then Paul?

Manselton. Just a few minutes drive away.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=118749

W. D. Grey said:

Quoted message said:

I went to Dan y Ogof caves a little while ago and took a shot of Fan
Gihiryg from the other side of the valley and it certainly fits his
description of the mountain?

Fan Gyhirych certainly has a distinctive profile, however When he
referred to a slope I imagined something more gentle than the Gyhirych
escarpment.

Same here.

Quoted message said:

Fan Gyhirych would be at the extreme of his vision from
Swansea I'd guess as it is the highest point in the Swansea valley
which can be seen before the ground drops down towards Cray.

Yes, I think it's the most likely candidate. I'm sure Fan Hir can be
seen from certain viewpoints but that slopes to the right.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=118749

Quoted message said:

It's quite possible to see Fan
Gyhirych and Fan Hir from parts of Swansea.

I have a pic of Fan Gyhirych some where.........
ah, there it is (I think)
http://www.zeusnet.co.uk/marks-mountains/photopages/photo29.htm

Mark

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
writes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It's quite possible to see Fan
Gyhirych and Fan Hir from parts of Swansea.

I have a pic of Fan Gyhirych some where.........
ah, there it is (I think)
http://www.zeusnet.co.uk/marks-mountains/photopages/photo29.htm

Mark

That was taken from the road to Heol Senni - lovely picture but in the
wrong direction of the topic.
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

I'm back in Birmingham now buddy, no hills for miles!

http://leeperry.5gigs.com

W. D. Grey said:

That was taken from the road to Heol Senni - lovely picture but in the
wrong direction of the topic.

No, that was taken from up on the ridge. On that track you wanted to
walk up.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=118749

AC said:

I have been there a few times - it's his girlfriends home - and it is
on the north (?) side and although I don't know the number it's one
of the 1st (or last) in the row.

I nipped up there today on the way home from town. There's no clear
view from the road but the as I suspected the houses are quite high and
overlook the houses just north of them. So I drove to a nearby spot
with a good view up the valley. I don't know if he'd have such a good
view but it's quite possible. I looked back and I could see the tops of
the houses in question. It may well be that he has a much less
obstructed view up the valley than we first supposed from the street
location.

Anyway, all the usual suspects were visible. In the middle ground there
was Mynydd Drumau, with a long gentle slope to the left. Further up the
valley on the left was Mynydd Allt y Grug and just visible in the
distance behind Drumau was the very top of Mynydd Marchywell.

As far as the most distant peaks are concerned, Fan Gyhirych was visible
as were Bannau Sir Gaer, Fan Brycheiniog and Fan Hir. The latter three
look rounded from this angle so they don't look distinctive. Fan
Gyhirych is easily the most distinctive. I took a quick snap but the
weather conditions were naff and it was starting to chuck it down again
so the photo doesn't show much. I could see more with my eyes. You
can't really pick out the distant peaks in the photo.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=118749

In article <[email hidden]>, Paul Saunders
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

W. D. Grey said:

That was taken from the road to Heol Senni - lovely picture but in the
wrong direction of the topic.

No, that was taken from up on the ridge. On that track you wanted to
walk up.

Quite so - I think I meant from the direction of the road to Heol Senni
looking back down the valley.

Quoted message said:

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=118749

--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

W. D. Grey said:

Quite so - I think I meant from the direction of the road to Heol
Senni looking back down the valley.

Yeah, that's right.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=118749

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

AC said:

I have been there a few times - it's his girlfriends home - and it is
on the north (?) side and although I don't know the number it's one
of the 1st (or last) in the row.

I nipped up there today on the way home from town. There's no clear
view from the road but the as I suspected the houses are quite high and
overlook the houses just north of them. So I drove to a nearby spot
with a good view up the valley. I don't know if he'd have such a good
view but it's quite possible. I looked back and I could see the tops of
the houses in question. It may well be that he has a much less
obstructed view up the valley than we first supposed from the street
location.

Anyway, all the usual suspects were visible. In the middle ground there
was Mynydd Drumau, with a long gentle slope to the left. Further up the
valley on the left was Mynydd Allt y Grug and just visible in the
distance behind Drumau was the very top of Mynydd Marchywell.

As far as the most distant peaks are concerned, Fan Gyhirych was visible
as were Bannau Sir Gaer, Fan Brycheiniog and Fan Hir. The latter three
look rounded from this angle so they don't look distinctive. Fan
Gyhirych is easily the most distinctive. I took a quick snap but the
weather conditions were naff and it was starting to chuck it down again
so the photo doesn't show much. I could see more with my eyes. You
can't really pick out the distant peaks in the photo.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=118749

What can I say.....great stuff! Next time I go down I will get up into his
bedroom and take a few shots so that you could point them out to me. I am
still looking to walk Fan Gyhirych, perhaps this weekend if all goes to
plan. Is it hard walking and do you suggest I take my poles - I have a
patella strap that I had from the physio last week which hopefully will help
the knee.

Thank you very much Paul

rgds
Alan

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AC said:

What can I say.....great stuff! Next time I go down I will get up
into his bedroom and take a few shots so that you could point them
out to me.

Pity my photo wasn't better or I'd show you that.

Quoted message said:

I am still looking to walk Fan Gyhirych, perhaps this
weekend if all goes to plan.

Mmm... Fan Gyhirych....

Quoted message said:

Is it hard walking

Depends which route you take, but generally no. I'd recommend starting
from Penwyllt Quarries, there's plenty of parking space there. Follow
the disused railway north across the Cnewr estate then turn east up the
road through the forestry. At the top of the forest bear left and
follow the track. It goes almost to the top of Fan Gyhirych. Leave the
track to reach the trig, admire the view to the west (best seen in the
morning), then follow the cliff edge around to the east.

At this point you could retrace your steps along the track and head for
Pwll Byfre (where the stream disappears underground) and follow the old
tramways back to the caving club and car park. Or you could cross over
the silly Nuttall of Fan Fraith then head south to Carreg Cadno. This
area is rough, covered with rocks, boulders, crags, heather, shake holes
and generally uneven ground (poles advisable). You'll probably need
your GPS or good compass nav skills to locate the actual summit, it's
not at all clear which is the highest. On the way back you pass an
excellent example of limestone pavement next to the ROW which has been
fenced off.

Total distance roughly 9 miles. Ascent - not that much, since Penwyllt
is quite a high start point.

Quoted message said:

and do you suggest I
take my poles - I have a patella strap that I had from the physio
last week which hopefully will help the knee.

If you want to visit Carreg Cadno, definitely, otherwise not that
important. But I'd always take them on a hill walk anyway, to reduce
stress on the muscles.

Quoted message said:

Thank you very much Paul

No problem.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=118749

Quoted message said:

That was taken from the road to Heol Senni - lovely picture but in the
wrong direction of the topic.

I wasn't even sure it was the correct hill :-)

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
writes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That was taken from the road to Heol Senni - lovely picture but in the
wrong direction of the topic.

I wasn't even sure it was the correct hill :-)

It's not often I look at it from this angle.
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk