Black Hill Walk & the Olchon Valley, Herefordshire

Trail Review: https://roamingspices.com/black-hill-walk/ Black Hill Walk - Step by Step From the car park, cross over the wooden stile to the left of the metal gate and commence the fairly steep but short climb up the grassy ridge directly ahead of you. Once this is behind you, the ascent is gentle as you progress along the narrow ridge dotted with rocky sandstone outcrops. For those of you who have also walked the Skirrid, you will certainly spot some similarities between these two mountains! It is along this section that you will be grateful that you visited on a good weather day! Off to your left (west) is the lush Olchon Valley, interspersed with trees and woodland, rising to the imposing ridge of the Black Mountains along the Welsh border. To your right (east), you will enjoy wide-ranging views across the countryside of Herefordshire. As you continue, the narrow ridge broadens and the rocky crest is replaced by a carpet of beautiful dense purple heather (well, it was in August!). Black Hill Summit After walking for approximately 2.5 km you will reach the trig point indicating the 640 metre summit of Black Hill. Owing to the general flatness of the location, you would have little idea that you had reached the summit were it not for the trig point. You now get to enjoy northerly views towards the Wye Valley as well as the Malvern Hills off to the northeast.