Hergest Ridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hergest Ridge
The summit
Highest point
Elevation	426 m (1,398 ft)
Prominence	158 m (518 ft)
Parent peak	Gwaunceste Hill
Listing	Marilyn
Geography
Hergest Ridge Location in Herefordshire
Location	Herefordshire / Powys, UK
OS grid	SO254562
Topo map	OS Landranger 148
Climbing
Easiest route	Hiking

Hergest Ridge is a long, tall hill in the United Kingdom. It sits right on the border between England and Wales. You can find it between the town of Kington in Herefordshire and the village of Gladestry in Powys. The highest part of the hill is in England. It reaches 426 metres (about 1,398 feet) high.

How to Say "Hergest"

The name "Hergest" sounds like "HAR-gest." It rhymes with the word "hardest." The "g" sound is like the "g" in "garden."

The Red Book of Hergest

Hergest Ridge shares its name with a very old book. This book is called the Red Book of Hergest. It's a famous handwritten book from the Middle Ages. It was written in the Welsh language. Today, you can find this important book in the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

Walking the Offa's Dyke Path

A famous walking trail called the Offa's Dyke Path goes along Hergest Ridge. This path is a long-distance route. It follows an ancient earth wall built by King Offa. The path passes very close to the highest point of the ridge. It also goes by a special marker called a trig point.

A Victorian Racecourse

There is an old, unused horse racecourse on Hergest Ridge. It was built during the Victorian era. You can still see its circular shape on maps. You can also see it on the ground today. This racecourse was very popular from 1825 to 1846.

Before this one, there was an even older racecourse. It was on Bradnor Hill, near Kington. That one started in 1770. Horse races continued on Hergest Ridge in the summer until about 1880. People from the local area loved these races. They enjoyed the amazing views from the hill.

Land Use on the Hill

During the Second World War, parts of Hergest Ridge were used for farming. People grew crops there to help with food supplies. But now, the hill is mostly used for sheep grazing. It is also covered in moorland plants. You can see lots of bracken and gorse bushes growing there.

Inspiration for Music

Hergest Ridge inspired a famous musician named Mike Oldfield. He is an English multi-instrumentalist. He created an album called Hergest Ridge. Mike Oldfield lived near the hill when he wrote and recorded his music. He also recorded another album, Ommadawn, in his nearby house called The Beacon. Both albums were re-released in 2010.

At the end of his Ommadawn album, there is a short song. It is called On Horseback. The last lines of the song talk about Hergest Ridge: So if you feel a little glum, to Hergest Ridge you should come. In summer, winter, rain or sun, it's good to be on horseback.