Twmpa

About Twmpa

Often overshadowed by its suggestively named English alias, Twmpa stands guard over the Gospel Pass. It offers a smooth, grassy ascent that feels less like a rugged mountain climb and more like a very determined stroll across a giant, windswept green loaf. Ideal for those who enjoy dramatic views without the lung-busting scrambles.

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Did You Know?

• •It sits right next to the Gospel Pass, the highest road pass in Wales, which famously served as the eerie backdrop for the opening scenes of 'An American Werewolf in London'.
• •The fell’s alternative name, Lord Hereford's Knob, stems from the Viscounts Hereford who owned the land, though the Welsh 'Twmpa' simply translates to 'tump' or 'mound'.
• •At 688 metres, it serves as a crucial vantage point overlooking the Vale of Ewyas and the evocative 12th-century ruins of Llanthony Priory tucked in the valley below.
• •A small, ill-fated lead mining operation once existed at the pass; today, the only things being successfully 'mined' are the sandwiches of unsuspecting hikers by the local sheep.
• •Walking the ridge from Hay Bluff is so deceptively flat and pleasant that you'll spend half the hike waiting for a sudden, soul-crushing incline that never actually arrives.