Photo Number 1 Photo Number 2 Photo Number 3 Photo Number 4
Photo Number 5 Photo Number 6 Photo Number 7 Photo Number 8

Created with Web Album Generator

Photos © N.D. Pugh 2005

Home Lords Rake Ben Nevis 1997 Aonach Mor1998 Ribblesdale 2002 Buttermere 2003 Keswick 2004 Start Point 2005 Brecon - 2005 Malvern Hills 2005 Lynmouth 2005 Black Mountain 2006 Hallsands 2006 South Africa 2006 BBMC 2006 Pembrokeshire Coast Cwm Llwch 2006 Devon 2007 Monte Baldo 2007 Pembrokeshire 2007 Google Earth page
Andy and Neil, together with Whiz and Abby, took a stroll over Black Hill to Hay Bluff. We parked at Black Hill car park and climbed the ridge to Black Hill, and then across the Black Mountain to the Hay Bluff triangulation point. Andy had brought a packet of cooked sausages up for the dogs, so they dined well. I had a bit of chocolate, which I had to share with the dogs, well the poor little darlings still looked hungry.

The last time I was on the Black Mountain Offa's Dyke footpath was a peat bog, you knew you'd be in poo all the way and that only the depth would vary. All has changed! Some heroic soul has laid miles of massive slabs along the hilltop. It's like a stroll to Waitrose now.

Now I don't accuse the Ordnance Survey of being wrong; I'm a great admirer of their maps. All I will say is that there is a footpath shown clearly on the maps from Offa's Dyke path to the ruined farm at Upper Blaen. I've never found this path on the ground. The map, compass and GPS all tell me I'm in the right place, somebody has even erected a mini cairn, but any sign of a path.... no. Still it's only a three quarter of a mile struggle through knee high heather, falling into the odd hidden stream to the edge of the escarpment over the Olchon Valley.

Length of walk 13.5 km (8.5 miles) - Ascent 480 metres (1600 feet).