The
Black Mountains
The Black Mountains are the range of mountains marking the border between England and Wales providing a wild and rugged backdrop to the lush, fertile land of Herefordshire’s Golden Valley.
Within the range are several hills and smaller mountains between Hay Bluff to the north and Hatterall Hill to the south, towering over the Llanthony Valley. All providing challenging hill-walking with exhilarating, breathtaking views from their peaks.
The Black Hill
The
Black Hill has a film to its name, based on the book 'On the Black Hill' by
Bruce Chatwin, an author noted for his fascination with travel, nomads and
wanderlust. However, in the book, this fascination is represented in reverse as
he relates a tale of identical twin brothers who spend their entire lives in the
house in which they were born (The Vision Farm on the banks of the Afon Honddu),
working the land, sharing the same bed and living lives largely divorced from
the 20th century.
The Little Black Hill
North
west of Longtown village and approached via the narrow lanes of the Olchon
Valley is Little Black Hill. At 394m tall, it is the little sister mountain of
the Black Hill.
This offers a more gentle introduction to hill-walking with a gentle incline up the Little Black Hill. From its rounded peak and the car park at its foot are views across the Olchon Valley and Herefordshire countryside.
Continuing further along the approach lane leads deeper into the Olchon Valley to a small ford, a series of small streams trickling into the Olchon Brook and a tumbling waterfall, best viewed after heavy rainfall. (See Olchon Valley on second CD).
The town of Hay-on-Wye is the gateway to the Black Mountains and leading from Hay is a narrow lane winding up to a single-track mountain road offering spectacular views at Hay Bluff, the summit of the Gospel Pass in the Black Mountains.
Hay Bluff
Hay Bluff is the northernmost
tip and, at 2220', is one of the highest points of the Black Mountains on the
England/Wales border. From its peak it offers spectacular views across miles of
open countryside from its peak. However, it's a stiff, steep climb - but well
worth the effort for its exhilarating views.
At the foot is a small parking area offering breathtaking views across Herefordshire’s Golden Valley –together with the remains of an ancient stone circle.
Adjacent, and offering a slightly more leisurely climb, is Lord Hereford's Knob (Y Twmpa - in Welsh).
The Gospel Pass
Below
the mountain escarpment, the Gospel Pass continues into the Vale of Ewyas,
Capel-y -Ffin and the Llanthony Valley.
The Gospel Pass is a narrow road winding through the mountains between Hay-on-Wye and Capel-y-Ffin, below the Black Mountains escarpment.
It offers stunning views with off-road picnic areas, mountain ponies and sheep grazing freely.The name is thought to have originated from the early 12th century when the Third Crusade passed through the Vale of Ewyas preaching and fund-raising.
