Evesham to Pershore via Dumbleton and Bredon Hills Walk

34.3 km (21.3 mi), with 529/532m ascent/descent. For a shorter walk see below Walk Options.

8 out of 10, with 8 hours walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 13 hours.

This long walk between two elegant Worcestershire market towns on the banks of the Avon is set in the heart of the Vale of Evesham, famous for its market gardens and fruit growing and Cotswolds views. The towns are surrounded by stunning countryside and set in the shadow of Bredon Hill, a 5 km long outlier of the Cotswolds. The route passes through the Abbey Precinct in Evesham and follows the Avon to pick up a tributary, the Isbourne to follow it through the Vale of Evesham to Sedgeberrow.
You walk through pastures to Dumbleton and rise through a beautiful clump of minor hills past Dumbleton Hall, a large Country Estate and descend through woods back into the valley, heading for the impressive Bredon Hill, a 5 km long range rising above the lunch destination, Ashton under Hill.
The post-lunch ascent is of the tiered kind, revealing ever further views south along the Cotswold Escarpment down the Vale of Gloucester. On a clear day, you’ll see the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons and eventually, from the Iron Age hillfort site at the top of Bredon Hill, the imposing Malvern Hills range 20 km to the west. Descend through woods and pastures, pick up the Avon for a short stretch and reach Pershore, also graced with an abbey. The station though is some way beyond the far end of town.

Options to shorten the walk – by bus, shortcut or alternative ending or a combination of those – are described.

Buses X50 and 582 from Evesham (Railway Station or Bus Station) to Hampton Church (then walk back about 100m and turn right along the River Isbourne) cut 2.0 km (2 per hour Mon-Fri, 1 per hour Sat).
Bus Line 565 from Pershore or Evesham (Bus Station or Leisure Centre/Avon Bridge) to Hinton on the Green, Bevans Lane cuts 5.6 km/3.5 mi (2 per day Mon-Sat).
Bus 540 from Evesham (Bus Station or Leisure Centre/Avon Bridge) to Sedgeberrow/The Farriers cuts 7.4 km/4.6 mi or 6.1 km/3.8 mi respectively (hourly Mon-Sat; 11/18 fare: £2,00), this is rated 6/10 [the bus also continues to Ashton under Hill, the lunch destination]. Note: 3 out of 4 buses are ‘short’, i.e. do not loop through Ashton or through Sedgeberrow village but stop instead on the Cheltenham Road/Hall Farm Drive on the fringes of Sedgeberrow. Turn south along a public footpath to link up with the described route along Main Street.
A Shortcut from Sedgeberrow to Ashton-under-Hill cuts 5.7 km/3.5 mi and 111m ascent (rated 7/10).
An Alternative Ending at Elmley Castle’s pub and then a bus (Line 565) from there to Pershore or Evesham cuts 8.4 km/5.2 mi and 72m ascent (Mon-Sat; last to Pershore at 14.39, to Evesham at 13.12 as of 10/24). Should you have missed the last bus, an agreeable walk route to Evesham is shown on the route map.
There are also several bus lines from the centre of Pershore to the outlying train station (cuts 3.2 km/2.0 mi; Mon-Sat, last at 17.18 Mon-Fri and 15.54 Sat (as of 10/24)).
The route through the Avon Meadows en route to the station in Pershore can be shortened by following the Flood Diversion described in the text.

OS Explorer: 205 (Stratford-upon-Avon & Evesham), OL 45 (The Cotswolds) & 190 (Malvern Hills & Bredon Hill)
OS Landranger: 150 (Worcester & The Malverns)

Evesham Station, map reference SP 036 444, is 21 km south east of Worcester, 141 km north west of Charing Cross and 32m above sea level. Pershore station, map reference SO 951 480, is 9 km west north west of Evesham and 30m above sea level. Both are in Worcestershire. Evesham Station is on the Cotswolds and Malvern Hills Line from Oxford to Hereford, with a journey time from 104 mins from London. Pershore is one stop and 7 minutes further towards Hereford.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take a train no later than 8.45 hours.

The Star Inn Elmley Road, Ashton-Under-Hill, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 7SN (01386 881 325). The Star Inn is a traditional pub, located 17.1 km/10.6 mi into the full walk, and 11.4 km/7.1 mi into it if taking the Shortcut.

Pershore (all options are about 3.0 km/1.9 mi from the station):
Belle House 5 Bridge Street, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1AJ (01386 555 055).
White Horse Hotel Church Row, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1BH (01386 554 038).
Bar 57 57 High Street, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1EU (01386 552 625).
The New Inn 75 High Street, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1EU (01386 550 570).
The Pickled Plum 135 High Street, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1EQ (01386 556 645).

Elmley Castle and Evesham:
The Queen Elizabeth Inn Main Street, Elmley Castle, Nr. Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 3HS (01386 710 251). The QE Inn is located at the end of the Alternative Ending.
Ye Olde Red Horse 17 Vine Street, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4RE (01386 442 784).
Casa 13 Vine Street, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4RE (01386 485 09).
The Royal Oak 5 Vine Street, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4RE (01386 442 465).
The Red Lion 6 Market Square, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4RW (01386 429 123).
The Old Swanne Inne 66 High Street, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4HG (01386 442 650).
Thai Emerald 88 High Street, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4EU (01386 497 88).

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Oct-24 Thomas G