Malvern Hills
Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (1959): A 13 Km North South Ridge Of Some Of The Oldest Rocks In England, With Worcestershire Beacon At 425 M, The Iron Age British Camp Hill Fort And The Spa Town Of Great Malvern. Edward Elgar Walked And Composed Here, And Malvern Spring Water Is Bottled. · Great Malvern, England
The Malvern Hills are a thin ridge about 13 km long that rises abruptly from the flat country between Worcestershire and Herefordshire. They are not high, with Worcestershire Beacon at around 425 m, but the sudden rise and the views over the Severn plain and towards Wales make them feel bigger. The rock is among the oldest in England. A path runs along the crest from North Hill past the Beacon to British Camp, an Iron Age hill fort, and it suits walkers of almost any age who can manage steady slopes. The Malvern Hills Trust looks after the commons, and cattle, sheep and ponies graze on them, so dogs need care. Great Malvern below is a Victorian spa town with the Priory and public spring taps, and Edward Elgar walked these slopes. Weekends and school holidays are busy, the top is exposed and cold in wind, and parking at the popular points fills by mid-morning. Allow a half day for one section or a full day for the whole ridge.
Narrow ridge of ancient hills rising abruptly above the Worcestershire and Herefordshire plain, with the town of Great Malvern on the east side and walking routes between Worcestershire Beacon, North Hill and the British Camp, Great Malvern, England, United Kingdom
The hills are open common land and can be walked at any time of day or year, with no gate and no ticket. Paths are unlit, so plan to be off the tops before dark, which comes early in winter. Cafes, the Priory and spa town shops keep ordinary town hours and many are quieter on Sundays and in winter. Car parks around the hills are mostly pay-and-display and some are small, so confirm charges and any seasonal limits. Grazing animals may be present all year, and the Malvern Hills Trust can post notices about paths or conservation work, so check its information boards at the main access points before you set out.