The day started off all foggy and misted in at home, however there was little cloud cover, and I hoped that going high would get me out of the fug.
I had wanted to walk the ridge from Hay bluff to black hill for a while, so came up with a circuit starting at gospel pass and following Offa's dyke path up to the ridge. Along the ridge to Black Hill (Crib y Garth) then down the on-going ridge to the car park below. Turning here to follow a track around the base of the ridge and around to Craswall, before climbing up the slope to the plateau below the end of the ridge.
The skies cleared as I crossed over into Wales on the drive over. I parked at the middle car park - already stacked with cars.
I left to cross the open plateau to meet the Offa's Dyke path on the skyline.
The path angles across the slope climbing up to the skyline, initially gently before a steeper latter part.
Over the skyline and the gradient eased then turned towards the ridge centre.
In the distance the mist lay in the river valleys like a cloud inversion.
Looking across from the ridge to Twmpa and along to Hay Bluff.
The paths here do not follow the map, but were obvious and I took the side track that skirted the next "bump" - Llech y Lladron - to head for Black Hill.
Around the side of the ridge , until the top of Black Hill appeared ahead.
Across the hanging valley covered in heather.
The gentle slope led to the top.
Up to the trig point and the way forward.
Looking East to the Malvern Hills
Looking to the South to Forest of Dean and the end of the Black Mountains.
Looking West across to the other ridges of the black mountains.
Dropping down the SE ridge and onto the sharp ridge.
Looking back up to the trig point and along the narrow ridge.
Along the sharp ridge following the top over the gendarmes.
The end of the sharp section the ridge opened out and the grassy slopes led down to the car park.
Down at the car park, where I transferred to the green lane leading back around the base. Looking back up the route down form the ridge.
Along the green lane as it traversed along the edge of the open access area.
The start of this lane was open and grassy with views of the ridge above. It crossed several streams on fords.
Above Upper house farm, I left the open access area, and the lane continued within a line of beech hedges.
There were occasional views down into the valley, as the lane continued and crossed more rivers on fords.
Finally exiting the sunken lane and into grassy areas before merging onto a farm lane.
The farm lane continued in the same manner as the green lane, climbing up to the skyline ahead.
Back into the open access area and climbing up to the plateau below Hay Bluff.
Merging across to meet Offa's Dyke Path on the skyline. Finally following the outward route back to the car park.
Statistics| Distance | Elapsed | Height |
|---|
| 15.6km | 3h 29m | 449m |
