Malvern Hills from Great Malvern or Colwall Walk

20.6 km (12.8 mi) or 18.8 km (11.7 mi), with 1078m or 820/865m ascent/descent. For a shorter or longer walk see below Walk Options.

8 out of 10 or 7 out of 10, with 6 hours 15 minutes or 5 hours 30 minutes walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 12 hours or 11 ½ hours.

The Malvern Hills stand majestically above the Severn Plain in Worcestershire and the rolling wooded hills of Herefordshire, offering far reaching panoramic views across a variety of landscapes from a multitude of viewpoints. The area is famed for its steep dramatic hills rising out of flat vales and for the pure spring water that flows from them, but it also offers a rich cultural heritage of forts, castles and priories in a landscape of ancient woodland, rolling pastures and wild, open commons.
The circular route rises through the town past all important landmarks and ascends the famous 99 Steps to St. Ann’s Well, but then heads southerly, mostly through ancient woodlands along the foot of the hills, to lunch. It then rises up through the mid slopes of scrub, grass, rock and bracken, first to the Herefordshire Beacon and then returns along the top of the ridge via the Worcestershire Beacon to Great Malvern, with its grassy commons maintained by livestock grazing, in places with Bilberry and Common Heather.

There are several walk options, and all in they cover all but four of the 22 notable hilltops in the range. The completist starts from Colwall and includes the two extensions, starting out along fields and through oak woods at the westerly base of the hills to then return north to Malvern along the top of the ridge.

Great Malvern Circular:
Taxi from the station to Wyche Cutting/The Wyche Inn or The Malvern Hills Hotel/British Camp (50% surcharge on Sundays, taxis usually on stand, else try: 01684 578749/07730 573738).
Buses 675/676 to the Wyche Cutting (Mon-Sat, from outside The Mount Pleasant Hotel, 1.5 km into the walk).
Outward and return route are never far from each other (if mostly at much different height), therefore there are several ways to pick up the return route to Great Malvern earlier than described:
· at the Gold Mine stone dial (7.9 km/4.9 mi, 457m ascent);
· at the Wyche Cutting/The Wyche Inn (9.1 km/5.6 mi, 519m ascent);
· at The Malvern Hills Hotel (17.2 km/10.7 mi, 884m ascent).
Finish at The Malvern Hills Hotel after going up to British Camp (12.9 km/8.0 mi, 737m ascent). From there take a taxi.
Finish at the Wyche Cutting (16.5 km/10.3 mi, 876m ascent) and take Bus Line 675 back.

Colwall to Great Malvern:
A Shortcut at the Silurian Pass cuts the tops south of British Camp and 5.2 km/3.2 mi and 305m ascent.
An Extension to the two southerly tops adds 3.4 km/2.1 mi and 180m ascent.
An Alternative Route skirts around Swinyard Hill rather than going over the top.
Finish at The Malvern Hills Hotel or at the Wyche Cutting (see above).

Both:
An Extension to the four northerly tops adds 2.0 km/1.2 mi and 111m ascent.

OS Explorer: 190 (Malvern Hills & Bredon Hill)
OS Landranger: 150 (Worcester & The Malverns)
Harvey Superwalker XT25: Malvern Hills

Great Malvern station, map reference SO 783 457, is 11 km south west of Worcester, 165 km north west of Charing Cross, 84m above sea level and in Worcestershire. Colwall station, map reference SO 756 424, is 4 km south west of Great Malvern, 25 km east of Hereford, 129m above sea level and in Herefordshire. Great Malvern station is on the Cotswolds and Malverns Line from Oxford to Hereford, with a journey time from 143 mins from London. It is also served by trains from Birmingham to Hereford. Colwall is one stop further west towards Hereford. Split tickets are usually cheaper than through-tickets. A Network Railcard is valid up to Worcester (on the Cotswolds and Malverns line only).

Saturday Walkers' Club: Take a train no later than 8.30 hours.

Scene, Abbey Road Coffee, Mac & Jac’s Café, Alturo Lounge Café & Bar.
St. Ann’s Well Café St. Ann’s Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4RF (01684 560 285). The St. Ann’s Well is situated on the eastern slopes of the Malvern Hills, above the town. The building dates back to 1813 and houses an elaborately carved Sicilian marble spout and basin as well as the café. It is located 1.9 km from the start of the walk.

The Wyche Inn 74 Wyche Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4EQ (01684 575 396). The Wyche Inn is a traditional pub, located 4.8 km/3.0 mi into the walk if starting from Great Malvern, and 4.1 km/2.5 mi from the end of the walk.
Café H2O at the Malvern Hills GeoCentre Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Malvern, WR13 6PL (01684 252 414). Café H2O is located 4.8 km/3.0 mi into the walk if starting from Great Malvern, and 4.1 km/2.5 mi from the end of the walk.
The Malvern Hills Hotel & Restaurants Wynds Point, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6DW (01684 540 690).
Sally’s Place Wynds Point, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6DW (07790 209 288). Sally’s is a mobile café.

The Malvern Hills Hotel and Sally’s Place are passed twice: after 9.4 km/5.8 mi and 3.5 km later; from Colwall they are 2.7 km/1.7 mi into the walk with a short diversion or passed after 10.9 km/6.8 mi.

Good choice of restaurants, for details check the walk directions pdf.
The Red Lion 4 St. Ann’s Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4RG (01684 564 787).
Brew Box by Night Owl Brewery 2 St. Ann’s Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4RG (07970 123 808). Local beers, wines and spirits by the bottle and the glass.
The Unicorn 2 Belle Vue Terrace, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4PZ (01684 574 152).
The Foley Arms Hotel 14 Worcester Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4QS (01684 580 350).
The Weavers Real Ale House 14 Church Street, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 2YE (07722 183 607).
The Morgan 52 Clarence Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3EQ (01885 490 505). Owned by the Wye Valley Brewery. No hot food, but tasty rolls are served in the evening.

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

Sep-24 Thomas G