Black Mountain
703m (2307ft)
The Black Mountains, The Brecon Beacons, Powys/Herefordshire, Wales /England
Black Mountain straddles the border between England and Wales. Although the actual summit of Black Mountain is in the welsh county of Powys by a couple of metres, the upper NW slope of Black Mountain is the highest point in the english county of Herefordshire.
You can find Black Mountain & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Black Mountain and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Black Mountain and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10ml (16km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,050ft (625m) |
| Time: | 5½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Capel-y-ffin - The Offa's Dyke Path - Black Mountain (South Top) - Black Mountain - Hay Bluff - Gospel Pass - Twmpa (Lord Hereford's Knob) - Darren Lwyd - Capel-y-ffin
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 14ml (22.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,808ft (856m) |
| Time: | 8 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Capel-y-ffin - The Offa's Dyke Path - Black Mountain (South Top) - Black Mountain - Hay Bluff - Gospel Pass - Twmpa (Lord Hereford's Knob) - Rhiw y Fan - Rhos Dirion - Twyn Talycefn - Blacksmith's Anvil - Chwarel y Fan - Capel-y-ffin
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Black Mountain
Craig Barrell walked up on August 25th, 2025 [from/via/route] Hay bluff car park [with] solo [weather] sunny
Melfyn Parry climbed it on April 9th, 2025 [from/via/route] Started walk from minor road at Capel y Ffin, followed route as described on PO116 Routs ascends to summit of Black Mountain (south top) which is also on the Offa's Dyke Path, then continues to Black Mountain. Path drops down before gently climbing to Hay Bluff & then a lovely walk along the ridge to drop down to Gospel Pass. Cross the road & continue on to Twmpa (here by lunchtime). Easy walking over to Rhos Dirion before turning sharp left to walk a long way to Chwarel y Fan. [with] On my own [weather] It was a lovely day. Breezy & cool at times & mostly sunny. - Excellent views in all directions. Lots of people around Hay Bluff & Twmpa but otherwise had the hills to myself.
Jonathan Morris bagged it on April 18th, 2024 [from/via/route] Hay Bluff Car Park
Esther Nagle hiked it on July 10th, 2009 [from/via/route] No idea. I did it years ago with a walking group. [with] Brecon Beacons walking group? - I might try to get this one done again at some point
Donovan Suddell summited on April 23rd, 2023 [from/via/route] Gospel Pass [with] Wife [weather] Sunny until 16:00 then cloudy, rain at the very end - Very long circuit including traversing two steep valleys
Mark Davidson conquered it on July 14th, 2003 [from/via/route] Walk po116 Black Mountain & Rhos Dirion from Capel-y-ffin [with] Theresa [weather] Warm & sunny - really good walking weather
Sion Britton scaled on December 11th, 2021 [from/via/route] O Maes Parcio Hay Bluff. [with] Rhiannon [weather] Cymylog
Tom Bond walked up on May 1st, 2021 [from/via/route] Circular route from Blaen-y-Cwm car park. [with] Scott Gibbons - First wild camp & maiden voyage of MSR Elixir 2.
Rich Roberts climbed it on April 3rd, 2017 [from/via/route] Offas Dyke [with] Sarah Wye
Chris Hughes bagged it on August 9th, 2020 [from/via/route] Hay Bluff car park [weather] Misty - Only a few meters visibility
Robert Shaw hiked it on May 13th, 2017 [from/via/route] From Llanthony whilst doing the Black Mountain Challenge. [with] Alcester Gents Sports Club [weather] Wet & misty
Bleddyn Rhys summited on January 22nd, 2017 [from/via/route] Fynnu ac i lawr o Gapel Y Ffin Hay Bluff gyntaf, ac ymlaen i'r Mynydd Du, ac yn ol 'run ffordd. [with] gyda Mona, Carads a Daniel. [weather] Cymylog ond sych. Haul ar Hay Bluff ond yn y cwmwl a'r niwl gwlyb ar gefnen y Mynydd du ei hyn. - Peint ar y ffordd adra yn y Skirid Inn yn Llanfihangel Crickorney. Tafarn hynaf Cymru!
Alan Smith conquered it on March 23rd, 2017 [from/via/route] Gospel path [with] Matthew
Christina Lander scaled on March 18th, 2015 [from/via/route] Capel-y-ffin - Black Mountain (South Top) - Black Mountain - Hay Bluff - Gospel Pass - Twmpa - Rhos Dirion - Twyn Talycefn - Chwarel y Fan - Capel-y-ffin [with] Dick [weather] Dry with sunny spells, quite hazy
Vince Wetton walked up on October 10th, 2014 [from/via/route] Po116 [with] RTM [weather] Sunny with showers - Long but satisfying walk
Robert Taylor-Marriott climbed it on October 10th, 2014 [from/via/route] Route 63: South Top, Black Mountain, Twmpa, Rhos Dirion, Chwarel y Fan (CB). [with] Vince Wetton and Robert Taylor-Marriott. [weather] Sunny, cloudy & light rain.
Mark Hartshorne bagged it on September 7th, 2014 [from/via/route] Walk po176. My first go4awalk route. Capel-y-Ffin, steep climb in hot sun through bracken but on a clear path to Offa's Dyke & Black Mountain South Top. On to the main top & then Hay Bluff for lunch. Down to Gospel Pass & up t'other side to climax on Twmpa (which sounds better than the English version). Then the long walk down the ridge & back to Capel-y-Ffin. [with] Flash [weather] Sunny & warm throughout - Glorious weather for walking. Few people on the way up but plenty on Offa's Dyke, Hay Bluff & Twmpa. Only two people on the walk back. Flash didn't know what to make of the hill ponies but got used to them after a while. Lots of butterflies - & also pursued by persistent small bees or hoverflies along Offa's Dyke. Flash met another dog called Flash. Also a border collie - well a collie cross. Amazing co-incidence. 5 hours including about 30 minutes for stops.
Alex Holland hiked it during May, 2013 [from/via/route] PO123
Wyn Griffiths summited on March 29th, 2014 [from/via/route] From Capel y ffin (po176) [with] Me [weather] Dry, hazy & 14c - Will do again
Tim Buckley conquered it on September 14th, 2013 [from/via/route] po116 Black Mountain & Rhos Diron from Capel-y-ffin. 22.5km. [with] Solo walk. [weather] Sunny spellls, cold wind in the morning but brightened up in the afternoon. - Started from Gospel Pass car park at 9.45 & returned at 3.56 - 6.15 hours duration. I didn't start from Capel-y-ffin as there were two lunatic dogs loose attacking cars so I drove straight through & chose the car park at the top of the pass. Headed for Twmpa first on this circular walk. Got to Black Mountain at 3.36pm on the return leg.
Robin Whitby scaled on July 6th, 2013 [from/via/route] SN800238, (Car Park SE of Llanddeusant, Powys) [with] Adam Hawkins [weather] Sunny, some mist/low cloud
Ray O'hara walked up on May 16th, 2012 [from/via/route] Capel-y-finn
Elen Newcombe-ling, Sarah Groves, Michael Rygol, John Cuthbert, Paul Booth, Trevor Williams, David Price, Matthew Thomas, Alex Oldridge, Richard Penney and Pete Howes have all walked, climbed & bagged Black Mountain.To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Black Mountain
Me standing on the edge near Hay Bluff during a weekend in the Black Mountains
Descending in to the Grwyne Fawr Valley from Pen y Gadair Fawr in The Black Mountains
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