Oldchapel Hill

A modest Marilyn standing guard over the Severn Valley, Oldchapel Hill is less a rugged peak and more a gentle hump of Central Wales moorland. While the summit is mostly known for its towering telecommunications mast, the views toward the Shropshire Hills offer a stark, modern beauty.

• •Sitting at 426 meters, it qualifies as a Marilyn, meaning it has at least 150 meters of prominence. This makes it a significant, if somewhat subtle, landmark in the Montgomeryshire landscape.
• •The hill is part of the larger ridge system that hosts the Llandinam wind farm, one of the older commercial wind projects in the UK. The turbines provide a surreal, kinetic backdrop to an otherwise quiet moorland walk.
• •The summit area is dominated by a substantial telecommunications mast, ensuring that your phone signal is likely better here than in your own living room. It serves as a useful, if unromantic, navigational beacon.
• •Geologically, the hill is composed of Silurian-age rocks, specifically the Ludlow Series, which were formed over 420 million years ago. Most of this ancient history is currently obscured by a very modern layer of sheep-mangled turf.
• •Reaching the top often involves a standoff with local sheep who seem genuinely offended by your presence on their windy plateau. It’s a place where the majesty of nature is frequently interrupted by the rhythmic whoosh of a nearby turbine blade.