Black Hill (Herefordshire)
| Black Hill | |
|---|---|
Black Hill
|
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 640 m (2,100 ft) |
| Coordinates | 52°00′26″N 3°03′24″W / 52.00722°N 3.05667°WCoordinates: 52°00′26″N 3°03′24″W / 52.00722°N 3.05667°W |
| Geography | |
| Location |
Herefordshire,  England
|
| Parent range | Black Mountains |
| OS grid | SO274348 |
The Black Hill (also known as Crib y Gath) is a hill (elevation 2100 feet or 640m) in the Black Mountains in Herefordshire, England at grid reference SO275348. It rises just west of the village of Craswall, near the border with Wales. The southern part of the ridge leading to the summit is a rocky knife-edge giving excellent views to either side. The northern part crosses a peat bog on gently sloping land at the edge of the east facing escarpment. The lower part is very similar to the main ridge of the Skirrid mountain near Abergavenny, owing to their similar underlying geology. The Black Hill is known locally as the 'Cat's Back,' as viewed from Herefordshire it looks like a crouching cat about to pounce.
There is a very small parking (room for about 6 cars) and picnic area at the southern tip of the ridge, at the far end of minor roads leading from Longtown, Herefordshire. It is signposted at a road junction north of Longtown, and is shown on most Ordnance Survey maps of the area. The parking area lies to the north of the Little Back Hill. The access roads are however, narrow and all single track, although there are numerous passing places. The walk from the car park along the ridge to the trig point which marks the top of the hill is clear and easily followed in good weather, with two large cairns beyond the rocky outcrops along the Cats Back. There is a small pool in the peat near the summit, its size depending on local rainfall. The path can be continued on a well marked and visible track to Hay Bluff, a prominent peak above Hay-on-Wye and the Gospel Pass. The path crosses several peat bogs and there is a small pool near the summit itself. Return can be made along the ridge or by a diversion along the Offa's Dyke Path along the Hatterall Ridge, and then by descent into the valley of the river Olchon. There is a direct route from the ridge which follows the river Olchon via an old bridleway, and leads on to the minor road which circles the valley. It is marked by a small cairn by the main path, and the path crosses at one point a rocky landslip by the side of the stream. The ridge is common land and thus open to all both on and off the several paths on the hill. It is grazed by sheep, ponies and cattle.
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