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Garway Hill is considered one of the ‘easy peaks’ although not so much with a backpack full of camera gear! It affords 360 degree views across the Malverns, Black Mountains and Bristol Channel into Wales.
The common covers 85 hectares and rises to a height of nearly 1200 ft. It is largely covered by bracken with a wide variety of bird habitat including patches of gorse, short turf, areas of trees and grassland, and wetter areas around flowing springs.
Further details can be found on the Visit Herefordshire website here https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/discover/garway-hill
There is a place to park cars up a small and narrow track which can be found via the ‘What Three Words’ App here upper.roving.guesswork. Alternatively park responsibly on the road verges before turning up the small lane.
The top of Garway Hill on What Three Words would be ‘compounds.airship.providing’
I was first introduced to Garway Hill by Glyn who is like a wikipedia of local knowledge. It is certainly worth taking a map with you to the top of the hill to help identify the various landmarks if you don’t have a Glyn of your own!
The weather on our first visit was not providing much optimism. Low cloud meant that there were not views beyond a few metres. However, as is often the case the clouds lifted and afforded glorious views under the cloud cover to the Monmouthshire and Herefordshire countryside beyond.
Eventually the clouds lifted affording views out towards the Black Mountains and beyond from the Trig point at the top of the hill.
Sunlight began to penetrate the cloud and highlighted areas of the landscape like a model in a museum.
This picture sums up the walk. Clouds above and ferns below with amazing views somewhere in the middle.
A trip back at sunset was obviously necessary but a combination of setting off late and puffing and panting our way up the hill meant we missed it by seconds. Still an amazing view at the start of the blue hour.
A return visit was necessary just before sunset. As is often the case we had to wait a while for a day when there was any sun. The setting sun, low in the sky afforded glorious views across the landscape bathed in golden light.
The sun set behind the distant silhouette of Pen Y Fan with Skirrid and sugarloaf mountains to the left. Certainly a magical place at sunset although a lack of time meant I could not find any suitable foreground interest other than ferns of which there are many.
The early morning sun bathed the tress and wild ponies who obligingly stood framed by the tree branches.
As a bank of cloud moved in, the sheep ‘chillin’ order one of the many trees on the common providing some interesting sculptured shapes to frame the views beyond.
The mist did not get a chance to burn off before the cloud cover engulfed the landscape once more. Nature obviously felt like having a ‘duvet day’.
It ended up being a low contrast sort of day, but this image encapsulates the ferns, sheep, ponies and walkway back to the car.
With the low clouds rolling on a final view through the local residents having breakfast before going back to the car for a well earned coffee and return to home.
Staying closer to home we walked from Penalt Church down into Monmouth on a glorious day with amazing views across the old railway viaduct towards Monmouth and beyond.
There cannot be a better view across a British town than the view across Monmouth. The River Wye, railway viaduct and bridge and the town beyond with the church, castle and school.
An amazing setting surrounded by hills and mountains in the distance.
The Walking Adventures of Glyn and Andrew around Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and Powys.
