The eastern flank of Hay Buff; January 2015.
Just several miles south of Hay-on-Wye is the northern edge of the Black Mountains range. This is Hay Bluff and below it is the Black hill; famed from Bruce Chatwins' novel of a whole century time frame, and the life of two (twin) brothers spent living together at the fictional farm (The Vision). The eastern edge of the hills lie in Herefordshire; the remainder in Powys and following the range from its plateau south takes us through the gospel pass to Capel Y Ffyn; once home to Engraver and sculptor Eric Gill. Thereafter the mountains descend to the Augustinian Llanthony Priory just shy of the Sugarloaf and Abergavenny.
From the Bluff - looking east.
On this cold Sunday in January, the range is sugar-sifted, and people have come to snow-board and sledge down the steep slopes of the Bluff; yelps from dogs and yelps from tumbled children. The scene is like a 1500's painting by the Flemish renaissance artist Pieter Bruegel; only less peasants and less political.
At play: Bruegel-esque.
Chatwin published the novel (On the Black Hill) in 1982 and never considered it would make film. He was convinced by the determination of Andrew Grieve, and it made the screen in 1987; shortly before Chatwin's early death in 1989. The film is now a classic of the BFI.
I am due to cross over these hills again in the spring (walking Offa's Dyke path), where I am sure it'll appear very different to the blinding whiteness of a January day.
OS Grid Ref: SO239373
Land-ranger sheet 148.
On the Black Hill Film: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Black_Hill_%28film%29
