It’s gone! It’s not there at all! Completely vanished!
No not the summit, the water tank which is an obvious landmark on the route to the summit. The path and summit is still there of course
I watched Roger MW0IDX’x video and made sure I knew what the path off the track looked like. But with the water tank as a reference it would be hard to go wrong. So you can imagine my surprise when we ( me and Brian G4ZRP ) reached a joint in the paths and no water tank. We realised that going downhill was bad so we turned back. Now I already thought I’d recognised the path on the way into the forest but without the water tank wasn’t convinced. But after some arguments we agreed to follow this and it led to the summit.
The cairn is still there as is the length of coax. Also are the remains of a burnt tent, a varnished wooden cross with plaque in memory of the crew of a Halifax which crashed in 1947 and another home made cross. And flies. Hundreds and thousands of them.
The pair of us managed to qualify the hill but I would pay very close attention to the video to make sure you can recognise the path without the water tank. Of course if I’d have taken the GPS I’d have a route to share. But who takes a GPS up such a silly little hill?
I’ve done some quick Googling about any Halifax crashes and Mynydd y Cwm with regards to the varnished cross and plaque now installed at the summit cairn. I found this article which may be of interest to anyone climbing(*) this hill.
The simple wooden cross in that photo is alongside the summit cairn now and not part of it. The varnished cross is not shown. Looking at the Geograph website dated 4/5/2009 doesn’t show any crosses and neither do Tom M1EYP’s photos of the summit. Of course neither Brian nor myself took any photos, we struggled to get our 4 contacts and along with the flies, we were glad to pack up and start the trek home. In fact without Roger MW0IDX rallying the troops we’d still be up there calling!
Andy
M0FMF
I think using the word climbing to describe the almost flat walk in to Mynydd y Cwm is the kind of spin and distortion of the truth that should allow me to claim an MP’s generous expenses!
“But who takes a GPS up such a silly little hill?”
Er … me. I’m rubbish at navigating in forests.
Ditto - don’t mention Waun Fach! The problem is that my GPS doesn’t always work in the trees (the basic yellow Etrex - the sort INKy loses). Maybe I need to upgrade.
You won’t regret it. The difference in sensitivity between my old Summit and the Vista HCX is amazing. It was worth the money just for the peace of mind in the wooded bits - let alone the other enhancements.
Ah. So you also fell foul of the “not as map” tracks in the forest. I can recommend either the route up the grassy / brackeny slopes N of the forest to Pen y Gadair Fawr or the walk round the ridge from Gospel Pass via Lord Hereford’s thingy - in fact any other route than via the forest.
Whichever route you take though, you’ll need waterproof footwear.
Thanks for the recommendation Richard - maybe that will need to wait for Christmas, but with activations in GM looming large, I think that it will become an absolute necessity. As for “not as map” tracks, they abound everywhere, not just in forests… as Paul and I know very well!
Thanks. I did 40 miles last weekend without any problems so I think I’m just about ready.
(edit) Apart from a couple of NASTY insect bites. How can something so small pack such a punch?
Peter M0COP has very kindly agreed to meet me half way to re-stock supplies of food etc. Now all I need is some decent WX - and if anyone fancies saying “hi” en route that would be great.
Quote":As for “not as map” tracks, they abound everywhere, not just in forests… "
Be warned, if walking in the Cairngorms, that Explorer 403 (1:25000 - 2004 revision) is the greatest work of fiction in published literature.
Yet again, walking a possible route for our walking festival (not SOTA unfortunately), I reached a non-existent footbridge over a non-existent ford with a non-existent track leading to non-existent access to the hillside. The flies and the following rainstorm were both very real though!!!
The pernicious habit of the Forestry Commission workers of ploughing right over PROWs for new plantations often leads to them being re-established in new positions.
Be warned, if walking in the Cairngorms, that Explorer 403 (1:25000 -
2004 revision) is the greatest work of fiction in published
Got that teeshirt as long ago as 1968 - I see things haven’t improved then.
At least nowadays in Scotland you don’t have to worry about a GOML with a shotgun coming over on his quad bike to take unreasonable exception to your presence on his land… well in theory you don’t!
Unless I’ve seen another walker’s recent photos or waypoints I take many paths on maps as “wishful thinking till proved correct”
On Mynydd y Cwm the left hand fork and path isn’t shown as such on the 1:25000. It’s shown as a firebreak in the forest. From experience of bashing up them on Law Kneiss, Innerdouny Hill etc. firebreaks are horrible wet boggy ground with waist deep vegetation. Not the nice easy walking this was!
Also for those who didn’t know, That nice Mr. Gates’ version of Google maps now offers full OS 1:25000 coverage of the UK for free. Still not as good as Memory Map or Anquet but useful anyway.
The Garmin H series GPS units are significantly more sensitive than the previous models. My Vista HCx will work inside most buildings away from windows and never has problems maintaining lock in forests etc. Which is a big change from the older Garmin units that really did need a good view of the sky.
Also for those who didn’t know, That nice Mr. Gates’ version of Google maps now offers full OS 1:25000 coverage of the UK for free. Still not as good as Memory Map or Anquet but useful anyway.
Thanks for that one Andy. The resolution is so much better than Get a Map… perhaps the OS ought to take note!
Actually, I think you’ll find the source is the OS. Check out:
It’s a great shame they haven’t included the contour data.
So, to get back to the main topic. I’ve got SJ076769 entered as a waypoint between the parking spot and the summit. On the return journey I intend branching NE at that point to rejoin the ODP. Is that correct please?
Actually, I think you’ll find the source is the OS.
I wasn’t questioning this Richard - they do give a licence number on the website. It is just that you can’t actually zoom in on the Get-a-Map site, so when there are a lot of contours running close together, it is impossible to read the heights. The print out isn’t much better either.
73, Gerald
P.S. Tom will no doubt tell me to not be so tight and go and buy a map!