The excellent book, Herefordshire’s Rocks and Scenery ISBN 978 1 9010839 16 4 Logaston Press. refers to the Five Hills of Herefordshire from which can be seen the layout of the county and its chief geological features. Obviously one is immediately tempted to visit these five hills, so it was that 20 of us under the expert guidance of the book’s editor and contributor Dr John Payne, ventured out on Friday 15th September. Choosing the Herefordshire Beacon as the start to this quest to the 5 hills, that is planned to complete over the next 18 months or so, we spent a couple of hours observing landscape features, with clear explanations from John, on how it all came to be. Well worth the trip, everyone welcome but limited to around 20, watch out for the next one, still to be announced. Photos and captions all by Moira Jenkins, and very gratefully received by me–thanks Moira!.
Checking out the stones in British Camp car park
Around the Ramparts of British Camp
the group lined up on the ramparts.
views of northern hills from British Camp which is thrust to the west out of line with the northern hills 8184 Mutt admiring the view.
view to the south from ramparts. Nearest is the valley of the former Mathon Valley which flowed from north to south. Beyond it is Frith Wood, one of the Ledbury Hills, part of the Ledbury anticlinorium. Frith Wood is an unfolding of Aymestry Limestone. Behind Frith Wood is the Woolhope Dome, another example of upfolding of Silurian rocks.
looking at the view from the ramparts
View West
8189 looking west from British Camp towards Frith Wood. In the foreground you can see wooded ridges, which are limestone rock. On the right is the Aymestry Limestone ridge that is followed by the A449. On the left is the Ridgeway, a ridge of Much Wenlock Limestone. These ridges are curved because there is an anticline which plunges to the right, as demonstrated by John with a folded sheet of paper. Beyond is low land which was the former valley of the Mathon River. This river flowed from north to south until its valley was blocked by ice and moraine. A glacial lake formed in the Mathon area. When the ice melted the northern area was drained by the Cradley Brook which cut a route across the Malvern Axis to the north of the Malvern Hills, through what is now the Knapp and Papermill Nature Reserve. The remnant of the south flowing river is the Glynch Brook which flows into the R Leadon. This view shows the watershed, where there are low hummocks of glacial moraine where the A449 reaches the lowland. Beyond that is Frith Wood, see above. The Woolhope Dome is seen behind Frith Wood. The photo does not clearly show the hills on the skyline.
Another View West
-1 photo just to the left of 8189 showing the Ridgeway the curved ridge of Much Wenlock Limestone. Behind this is Coneygree Wood, another of the hills of the Ledbury anticlinorium, which is Much Wenlock Limestone. 8192 zoomed in on Eastnor Castle.
photo just to the left of 8189 showing the Ridgeway the curved ridge of Much Wenlock Limestone. Behind this is Coneygree Wood, another of the hills of the Ledbury anticlinorium, which is Much Wenlock Limestone. 8192 zoomed in on Eastnor Castle.
zoomed in on Midsummer Hill which is another hill fort further south on the Malvern Hills.
close up of some of the lava just outside Clutters Cave showing some of the colours to which the basalt weathers.
the group at Clutters Cave.
the group looking at an outcrop of rhyolitic lava. 8197 the rhyolite outcrop.
view from Broad Down to the northern hills.
the group looking down into the Severn Valley from Broad Down
the group looking down into the Severn Valley from Broad Down.
another bit of pink weathering rhyolite, which is the same composition as granite, but extruded rather than intruded
Broad Down with British Camp beyond on the left and the northern Malvern Hills on the right showing how British Camp has been thrust to the left (west).
Broad Down with British Camp beyond on the left and the northern Malvern Hills on the right showing how British Camp has been thrust to the left (west).