Malvern Hills

Map: OS Explorer 190 Malvern Hills and Bredon Hill, Tewkesbury

The distinctive profile of the Malvern Hills are a dominant feature of south west Worcestershire and can be seen from the Cotswold escarpment in the east, to the Welsh border in the west. In the north the range is clearly visible during the descent from the Midland Plain into the Severn Valley at Bromsgrove. The Hills comprise a 9 mile north to south ridge with steep flanks, particularly on the eastern side and the highest point being 1394 feet at Worcestershire Beacon. The Malvern Hills' well defined profile is, paradoxically, largely a result of their immense age. The rock is Pre-Cambrian, the oldest rock on earth, but also the hardest. Years ago railwaymen from the Malvern & Hereford company found this out to their cost when they eventually drove the Colwall tunnel through the hills. Malvern granite has been extensively mined as can be witnessed by the quarry at Wyche Cutting. The Malvern Hills are an AONB and one of the oldest protected areas in England, cared for by the Malvern Hills Conservators. Because of easy access the Hills are popular and provide glorious spacious walking with panoramic views over the Severn Vale and Herefordshire.

The Worcestershire/Herefordshire county border runs along the ridge of the Hills and the western Herefordshire slopes are gentler with pleasant quiet woodland paths that can be explored as far as the attractive market town of Ledbury. The Hills have colour and interest in all seasons; in spring the bluebells, wild cherry and violets accent the fresh new greenery, in summer foxgloves dance amongst the grasses and gorse, and in autumn there is the warmth of the russet autumn bracken. In winter too, with a crisp white frost and a blue sky, the Hills make for an invigorating, enjoyable walk. There are literary and musical associations with the Malvern Hills, including the dramatist George Bernard Shaw and, in particular the great British composer Sir Edward Elgar.

Malvern Hills Ridge Walk: A walk along the entire range of hills is about 10 miles of amazing views, big skies and bracing fresh air. The choice of which way to walk is a personal one; North Hill, the most northerly hill, is close to the town of Great Malvern and in practical terms is probably a better place to finish than the southernmost Chase End Hill, which is in quiet countryside without easy access back Great Malvern in the evening. This is not a problem, of course, if you plan for it. The southern hills are lower, and more peaceful and you may prefer this tranquillity at the end of your day, rather than climbing the bigger hills to the finish. Although route finding on ridge walks is usually pretty straightforward we recommend you take OS Explorer 190.

Starting from Great Malvern, a broad track climbs up the flank of North Hill from the clock tower in North Malvern Road. From the summit of North Hill looking south you can see Worcestershire Beacon and your route before you and Great Malvern laid out below. From Worcestershire Beacon, the highest point, there is a long undulating ridge, broken by a drop into Wyche Cutting, before you reach the next major summit at Herefordshire Beacon. This hill is the site of the prehistoric earthwork known as British Camp. It's pretty impressive by any standard with concentric ramparts amounting to nearly two miles in total length. The hills now become gentler with more woodland and the route not so obvious. Skirt The Gullet to climb Midsummer Hill, followed by Ragged Stone Hill and finally to the triangulation pillar on top of Chase End Hill at 625 feet. There are lovely views from here looking east, west and south across rich fertile farmland of the Severn Vale. Chase End and Ragged Stone hills in particular are aflame with heavy-secented gorse in summer. Ragged Stone Hill, so named because of its rocky summit, has a strange legend associated with it. At certain times a sinister shadow is cast over the Vale, bringing certain death to those it falls upon! This story possibly has its roots in ancient sun-worship and sacrifice at the summit - but keep an eye out.

The Malvern Hills and the surrounding areas are all well worth exploring. The western, Herefordshire side of the Hills in particular offer delightful woodland, peace and tranquility. Places to include when planning routes are Eastnor Park and the Obelisk, Clutter's Cave near British Camp, Little Malvern and Elgar's grave, Hollybush Common and Castlemorton Common.

This book is an excellent companion to discovering the Malvern Hills. Some of the walks are as follows: St. Anne's Well and Northern Hills: Malvern is famous for its bottled water as well as its hills and this 8 mile exploration of the Northern flanks of Worcestershire Beacon and St. Anne's Well covers both. Mathon and West Malvern: The theme of this walk is the changing geology underfoot, the rocks getting younger as you walk west to Mathon. In the author's words 'There can be no finer scenery than this anywhere in England' British Camp and Swinyard Hill: A walk over the exposed top of the Iron Age hill fort and along the ridge top before returning in the shelter of the woods on the western side of the hill.