Hergest Ridge
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| Hergest Ridge | |
|---|---|
 The summit | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 426 m (1,398 ft) |
| Prominence | 158 m (518 ft) |
| Parent peak | Gwaunceste Hill |
| Listing | Marilyn |
| Coordinates | 52°11′56″N 3°05′34″W / 52.19896°N 3.09291°W |
| Geography | |
  Hergest Ridge Hergest Ridge on Herefordshire/Powys Border | |
| Location | Herefordshire / Powys, UK |
| OS grid | SO254562 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 148 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hiking |
Hergest Ridge is a large elongated hill which traverses the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom, between the town of Kington in Herefordshire and the village of Gladestry in Powys. Its highest point, which is in England, is 426 metres (1,398 ft) high. It has a topographic prominence of 157.6 metres (517 ft) and thus is listed as a Marilyn.[1]
"Hergest" is pronounced to rhyme with 'hardest' with a hard "g" (as in "garden").[citation needed]
Monkey-puzzle trees
The Offa's Dyke Path waymarked long distance footpath leads along the ridge, and provides good access to the summit from the road end beyond Hergest Croft Gardens, to the east. The path passes close by the highest point of the ridge and the adjacent trig point. During the Second World War the hill was cultivated, but has now reverted to rough sheep grazing and moorland, and is partly covered by bracken and gorse.
A group of eight Araucaria araucana or Monkey Puzzle trees were planted in April 1988 by Phil Wright (gardener[2]) on behalf of Richard (Dick) Banks of Hergest Croft, who had seen similar trees growing in the high Andes while travelling in Argentina and Chile. They are not at the summit but form a notable landmark.[3]
Victorian racecourse
A disused Victorian circular country racecourse is sited on the hill. It is clearly marked on Ordnance Survey maps and is still visible on the ground.[4][5] The racecourse was popular between 1825 and 1846. It replaced an earlier racecourse on nearby Bradnor Hill just to the north of Kington town, which dates from 1770. Horse races continued here in the summer until around 1880. With the panoramic views on all sides, they were popular with the local gentry, squirearchy and farming community.[6][failed verification]
Summit features
There is a trig point 230m west of the summit, and the summit itself is marked by a group of boulders.[1]