Black Hill

Black Hill stands in the Black Mountains of Herefordshire, just west of the village of Craswall near the Welsh border. The hill’s sharp southern ridge offers dramatic views on either side, while the northern slope crosses a peat bog before dropping gently to the escarpment. Its shape resembles a crouching cat when seen from Herefordshire, giving it the local name ‘Cat’s Back’. The underlying geology is Old Red Sandstone, with Devonian sandstones forming the upper slopes and weaker mudstones beneath. Small landslips mark the steep flanks, especially near the ridge’s edges. Rock tables expose fine details of jointing for those who look closely. The hill is recognised for its wildlife, including red kites, buzzards, kestrels, ravens and skylarks. Red kites once lived only in this area and nearby South Wales but have since spread across southern Britain. Birds of prey ride thermals along the hill’s edges, making them a common sight. The ridge is common land, grazed by sheep, ponies and cattle, and open to walkers both on and off the paths. A small pool near the summit appears or disappears with the rainfall, adding to the landscape’s changing character. The clear path leads to a trig point marking the top, with two large cairns beyond rocky outcrops. From the summit, the path continues to Hay Bluff and Gospel Pass, crossing peat bogs and passing another small pool. Walkers can return along the ridge or follow Offa’s Dyke Path along Hatterall Ridge down into the Olchon valley. An old bridleway follows the river Olchon back to the valley road, marked by a cairn and crossing a rocky landslip. Bruce Chatwin used the hill as the setting for his 1982 novel On the Black Hill.