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Walking on the Malvern Hills
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.
OS Maps: Explorer 190
Eastnor Obelisk Circuit (SO
764404)
This
is a great walk of about 6 miles with a good variety of scenery along
the way starting and finishing at the car park at British Camp. It first
heads south over Hangman's Hill and then Swinyard Hill to the Gullet.
During this section there are fine views eastward across Castlemorton
Common. Here the route heads west towards the prominant 90 ft. obelisk
visible for miles around. This is a memorial erected in 1812 to the
memory of Edward Charles Cocks who died in the Peninsular War. He was
the elder son of John Somers, Lord High Chencellor of England. From
the obelisk the route descends into Eastnor Park, a lovely valley with
little lakes along the stream where there are red deer amongst the many
sheep. It's used for camping in the summer months. Having crossed the
stream to the right of the lakes, the route heads north along the Ridgeway,
a woodland track which is especially pleasant with glimpses between
the trees of News Wood and the Malvern's Ridge walked on the outward
section of the route. Eventually the track leads to the A449
road ans a short walk back to the start.
Refreshments are available at the Malvern Hills Hotel at the start of
the walk.
This walk is fully described in the guidebook 'Walks Around the Malverns'
by Roy Woodcock
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