Thank you all for your input and suggestions. Definitely sounds like a dark grey /black paint job is the most recommended approach. I like the idea of trellis and some climbers.
I must admit it does make me somewhat nervous going so dark on the walls but no doubt this is down to not having done anything like this before!
The misconception with a black fence is that the black dominates everything, while in fact it makes the greens and colours really stand out and the black is kind of forgotten.
Thing is repainting with any colour might not work, you have a problem with stain of some sort leaching from the fence above and that will most likely discolour the new finish even black
It will be a LOT less visible on black or dark grey. Cuprinol Garden Shades covers masonry as well as timber fencing, I can recommend it highly. They do 'Urban Slate' for dark grey, and 'Black Ash'.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Thing is repainting with any colour might not work, you have a problem with stain of some sort leaching from the fence above and that will most likely discolour the new finish even black
The best solution of all would be to widen that border and improve the soil so the plants you have can grow to a decent size and disguise the wall. I also agree that dark grey to match the fence is the best colour to paint the wall but healthy plants are better still.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
The problem is being caused by water running down the wall from the ground above. Generally in this sort of situation you should have capping stones with a drip groove fitted to the top to kick the water away. It's not 100% effective as the wind will blow some water back onto the wall but does help. If you use a proper water repellant paint or surface treatment then any splashback will be less likely to stain.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Seconded, @wild edges. Rainwater is running straight down the fence, sitting on the top of the wall then spilling over to stain the vertical face of wall. It needs coping stones on top to direct the water away from the wall. This will eventually undermine structural the integrity of the wall, as water seeping down the horizontal face of the wall will work it’s way through and blow out the render/paint, whatever colour you paint it.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Posts
I must admit it does make me somewhat nervous going so dark on the walls but no doubt this is down to not having done anything like this before!
Thing is repainting with any colour might not work, you have a problem with stain of some sort leaching from the fence above and that will most likely discolour the new finish even black
You need to address the root cause first.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...