Wales
Black Hill
517M
1696FT
About Black Hill
Situated in the quiet borderlands near Knighton, this rounded moorland summit offers a peaceful alternative to the busier peaks of Mid Wales. Its broad, grassy slopes provide an expansive sense of isolation, looking out across the Teme Valley towards the Shropshire Hills and the distant, rugged Cambrian Mountains.
Key Statistics
Rank
108th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Cambrian Mountains
Prominence
?
23m
Nearest Town
Hay-on-Wye
Geology
Primarily formed from Silurian mudstones and siltstones of the Ludlow Series, which represent deep-water sediments deposited in the Welsh Basin during the late Silurian period
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
Latitude
52.1630°N
Longitude
3.2088°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a translation of the Welsh 'Mynydd Du'. In this border region, 'Mynydd' historically referred to high common grazing land, while 'Black' likely described the dark appearance of heather and peat against the brighter green of the surrounding lower pastures.
- •The summit lies just west of the historic Offa's Dyke Path. While most long-distance walkers remain on the main trail to the east, those who make the short detour to this 517m high point gain a much more intimate view into the deep trench of the Teme Valley.
- •On a clear day, the summit offers a perfect panorama of the Shropshire Hills. You can easily pick out the long whaleback of the Long Mynd, the distinctive jagged quartzite ridge of the Stiperstones, and the lonely volcanic dome of the Wrekin on the far horizon.
- •In a country containing at least half a dozen peaks called 'Black Hill' or 'Mynydd Du', this particular version offers the distinct advantage of being significantly quieter than its better-known namesakes in the Black Mountains to the south.