One of the many breathtaking views on this walk looking south down the Olchon Valley with Black Hill on the left.

EXPLORE Herefordshire's wild west and venture into Powys on this exhilarating walk in a magnificent mountain landscape where wild ponies roam.

There are stunning panoramic views across England and Wales and a fantastic walk along the top of Black Hill (Crib y Garth), a spectacular knife-edge ridge which is an offshoot of the easternmost ridge of the Black Mountains.

Peak baggers' will be interested to know that Black Hill is, at 640m, the highest named point in the southern half of England - that is everywhere south of the Yorkshire Dales. The path to Black Hill actually rises higher than that, touching 680m at Llech y Lladron (Robbers' Stone), while the main ridge reaches 700m a little further south, at a nondescript bump which is un-named on OS maps, though some people know it as Black Mountain. It is considered to be a Welsh top, but half of it is actually in Herefordshire, with the border bisecting the summit.

The return leg of the walk is lovely too, with lots of small waterfalls, especially in Cusop Dingle. And the remote Bull's Head at Craswall is the ideal place to take a break. Don't be misled by the dull exterior - inside it's bursting with unspoilt character and there's a comprehensive menu.

PLEASE NOTE This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be accurate at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss, accident or injury, however caused.

FACTFILE

Start: Oxford Road, Hay-on-Wye; grid ref SO230421.

Length: 14 miles/22.5km.

The distinctive outline of Hay Bluff from the east and right.

Maps: OS Explorer OL13, OS Landranger 161.

Terrain: Upland pasture and moorland, wet and peaty in places; quiet lanes and rough tracks, some of which double as shallow stream beds.

Footpaths: Well-maintained, except for two between Craswall and Cusop.

Stiles: 16.

Parking: Oxford Road car park.

Public transport: Monday to Saturday it's easy - train to Hereford then Stagecoach 39 to Hay-on-Wye. On Sundays/Bank holidays Yeomans 40 links Hereford with Hay-on-Wye but Sunday connections from Worcester are abysmal, allowing only four hours in Hay. It is possible to do the walk in this time, but only for the very fittest; www.herefordbus.info or Traveline 0870 608 2608.

Refreshments: Hay-on-Wye, and the Bull's Head, Craswall.

DIRECTIONS

1 The first few miles are on Offa's Dyke Path (ODP), which leaves Oxford Road by a doctor's surgery. Alternatively, you can access it from the bottom right-hand corner of the car park, from where a path runs diagonally across a field to meet ODP. Follow ODP towards the mountains. It's well-trodden and waymarked so you can't go wrong.

2 Reaching open access land, continue upwards, and Hay Bluff will soon come into view. Choose any route: ODP bears right, turning right when it meets a road, and then shortly left towards Hay Bluff. For a more direct route, keep left, closer to Tack Wood. Cross the road and continue in much the same direction. Approaching closer to Hay Bluff you will see ODP rising gently along the side of it towards a notch in the shoulder of the hill. Below ODP the bracken is threaded by grassy paths. The widest and most direct of these meets ODP at a stone marker. After that it's best to stay on ODP, mainly to avoid contributing to erosion. Just before you reach the notch you will cross into England and very soon Black Hill comes into view ahead, before disappearing again. As you approach the top of the plateau a stone path leads to a stone ODP marker at a junction, Llech y Lladron.

3 ODP goes straight on, along the ridge-top, but the Black Hill path bears left, just above the steep eastern slope. It's faint at first but soon becomes obvious and Black Hill returns to view, so you can see exactly where you're heading. It's 1 miles to the summit and then 1 miles along the increasingly narrow ridge, gradually descending. Either continue right to the very end or descend left when you feel it's safe.

4 Turn left to join a bridleway (Monnow Valley Walk) which heads northwards. Keep straight on at two junctions, leaving the Monnow Valley Walk at the second junction. Turn right at a third junction, before a black gate, and descend to Craswall. Turn left, then right by the Bull's Head.

5 Take a path on the left, crossing a footbridge to a field. Go diagonally uphill to the far corner, pass through a line of trees and proceed to a stile into Caepound Wood. Go straight uphill for a few metres then fork left. Before long, a waymark directs you into a field. Continue in the same direction to the top, go diagonally left up another field to the far corner, and then straight on uphill. Pass to the right of a barn then left to a lane. Turn left.

6 Stay on the lane for the easiest route. However - if confident you can find your way - join a path at a stile on the right. Descend through pasture to a dip then walk above a valley until a footbridge allows you to cross a brook. Turn right, gradually moving away from the brook but by no more than 100m or so. Walk through woodland - back into Wales - to join a track which meets the lane. Continue in the same direction.

7 Soon after passing signs for the Bull's Head, take a bridleway signed Lloegr 1km (Lloegr is the Welsh name for England). Walk a little way across a field to a wooden post then turn left. Pass through a gap in two lines of trees and proceed to a gate adorned with yellow sticky tape.

Continue in much the same direction, gradually descending to cross Dulas Brook into England.

Turn left through Cusop Dingle, and eventually left again by Rosedale on a path which re-crosses Dulas Brook to meet Offa's Dyke Path just outside Hay-on-Wye.

11:27am Monday 12th February 2007

Looking north along the east side of Black Hill.

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