02-May-2004 -- Finally got round to visiting my "native confluence" Its at the other end of the county in the Golden Valley area of the Black Mountains, a rather pleasant spot dominated by the Cats Back, which is a long hill that can be seen from all over Herefordshire. This is in fact the rim of a big mesa type hill that is over 800m high, and nearly 20km across.

Like other visitors I went in over the stream and found very stable reception with no need to dance. My spot was about 4 metres away from the tree. It was already occupied by sheep replacing those lost in the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001.

This is not like most of England, the Saxons trod lightly here and the old language survived until the start of the 20th century. Its now known for its literary associations being the favourite holiday destination for C.S. Lewis. Bruce Chatwin wrote On Black Hill about hill farming on the Cat's Back.

And a reminder that the current Celtic inhabitants were not there first here can be seen up on a nearby hill, a very fine dolmen, Arthur's Stone.