The Rundown:
Length: 1 ¾ miles Approx 1 hour 15 minutes (to the top and back)
Terrain: Steep grassy slope, some rocky steps and gravel path. Elevation gain 672 feet
All Trails route link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/england/herefordshire/hay-bluff
This was a short but energetic walk that we took on a greyish morning in mid-March. We chose to stop at Hay Bluff after hearing it had recently been the recipient of one of the mysterious monoliths that have been cropping up around the world. (More on that in a bit.)
It was the first day of our extended weekend in the Brecon Beacons (southern Wales). We were fresh out of the car after a few hours long journey, so the steep wet slope that welcomed us was a bit of a shock to the legs at first. However, the views and the monolith at the top made our efforts worthwhile.
Getting There
You can use Google Maps or another sat nav to get you to the car park at the base of the bluff. The address is: Car park for Hay Bluff, Hereford HR3 5RJ Expect some very narrow single track roads during the final leg of your journey to the car park. Upon arriving at the quite small car park (get there early to ensure a space!), you will see Hay Bluff looming before you just across the road.
Hay Bluff, Views, and the Trig
The first bit is a pretty steep grassy slope. It has been a particularly wet winter and spring, so the path up was extra wet and a bit slippy in places. A bit less than halfway up, you are met with a stony path, which was definitely a welcome sight! This bit of the path is considerably less steep than the grassy ascent you just finished. This takes you the rest of the way up the side of the hill. There are some rocky steps in places, which again, can be slippy when wet. I would definitely recommend wearing hiking boots or trail shoes.
Once at the top of the hill, turn to the left and you will see the trig point dead ahead. As you near the trig point, keep an eye out to your right and you will definitely see the monolith – assuming it is still there and hasn’t been carted away by aliens!
When you get to the trig point, be warned: if the weather has been wet, it may be surrounded by a bit of water! Just a bit past the trig point there are some fantastic views all around! We saw plenty of wild Welsh Mountain Ponies milling about as well. They were calm and majestic, going about their business while we watched for a few moments.
The Monolith
And after checking out the amazing views, we visited the monolith. For those who haven’t heard about these mysterious structures, they have been appearing in random locations world-wide since 2020 when the first one was discovered in a desert in Utah, USA. Since then there have been over 200 others sighted around the world. They appear from nowhere, with no obvious signs of having been installed – ie, no footprints or trampled ground around them. Sometimes they stick around, other times they disappear without a trace after a short time! Theories on their existence range from art installations to alien origin to internet hoax. I can tell you, we saw this one up close and in person, it’s no hoax. I guess my money is on art installation, which is less exciting than the possibility of extra-terrestrial visitors, but probably more likely, and considering the way that they seem to just appear and disappear, no less impressive!
To Sum it Up:
This walk was a pleasant start to our holiday. It took a bit of effort, but wasn’t overly difficult or overly thrilling. The views from the top of the bluff were worth the effort, and the monolith was definitely a fun and intriguing bonus!
Extra Extra!
To see more from this little adventure, check out our Insta posts here and here!
Looking for a unique glamping experience in the Brecon Beacons? Check out the beautifully bespoke refurbed train carriage we stayed in during our last visit!
Have you seen the Hay Bluff monolith? Have you been there recently and noticed it has gone? Or have you found a monolith somewhere else in the world? Tell us about it below!
Can you tell me if the monolith is still there, please? Great information on your trip there btw
Hi! Thanks for reading 🙂 I have it on good authority that the monolith was still there as of 2 days ago. Let me know if you check it out at any point too!