The mountain that’s no longer a mountain
WALES has lost a mountain by a matter of just five feet.
Fan y Big, part of the high ridge heading easterly from Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, has lost its status as a mountain after new data revealed that it didn’t actually meet the strict criteria.
The classification requirements state mountains should be at least 2,000ft tall (610 metres) and have a minimum drop between the summit and col of 98.4ft (30m). A col is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks.
Fan y Big peers proudly at a height of 2,351ft (717.6m).
However, its new drop measurement, completed using satellite technology, has been recorded at 93.4ft (28.5m) - which is just 5ft (1.5m) less than what is required for mountain status.
Myrddyn Phillips from Welshpool surveyed the hill and recorded the new data using satellite technology.
As a result Fan y Big has been struck off the list of Hewitts - Hills in England, Wales and Ireland over 2,000ft high (610m) with a minimum drop between summit and col of 98.4ft (30m). It had been on the list since 1992, In a statement the Brecon Beacons National Park said: “Although, on paper we may have lost a Beacon, we all know at Brecon Beacons National Park that Fan y Big will continue to be a mountain to be climbed, a peak to be reached and a summit worth seeing.
“Let the satellites and figures show what they may, but underneath the starry night sky, the Fan y Big Beacon will continue to be a pinnacle at Wales’ best destination.”
Alan Dawson, the author of the Hewitts list of mountains, said the result of the survey was “expected” and Fan y Big has been removed from the list.
He added: “It was confirmation of what we long suspected. In this field of study almost two metres is a huge difference.”