Walking Britain Malvern Hills Walk
The Worcestershire Beacon
Maps | |||
| Ordnance Survey Explorer 190 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer 190 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 150 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 150 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
Walk Route Description
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The Malvern Hills are a string of rounded summits stretching some 10km that are clearly visible from the M5 Motorway. Running in a line from north to south they form a ridge with the Worcestershire Beacon the highest summit (1394ft / 425m). To the west lies the County of Hereford with pleasant rolling countryside predominant whilst to the east lies the flood plain of the River Severn.
The walk starts in the pleasant village of Upper Wyche, which is easily reached from the A449 that runs through Great Malvern. Limited on street parking is available (grid ref. SO768437) with a pay and display parking area in a disused quarry a few hundred metres down the hill towards the A449.
The route is straightforward with a tarmac track heading north towards the Worcestershire Beacon from the village centre. Shortly after leaving the main road a number of paths become evident and these provide much more pleasant walking than the tarmac strip. Stay with the path to reach the summit of the Beacon. In good visibility the panorama is superb including Worcester, Gloucester and the Cotswolds to the east and views of the distant hills of Wales to the west.
From the summit of the Beacon descend north to reach a wide col. Ahead lies North Hill with a lower satellite to its left. This latter top is the next objective with a choice of paths to its summit. From here descend east to the col and make for the summit of North Hill. This 'top' forms the northern end of the Malvern Hills and again offers excellent views.
Descend northeast off the summit to join a broad grassy path which contours around the side of North Hill. Follow this back to the col beneath the Beacon veering left to take a narrow path that skirts across the eastern side of this summit. This leads back to the tarmac track that you initially used at the beginning of the walk. All that remains is a gentle downhill section back to Upper Wyche.
Other walks nearby
Walk 1556 The Malverns - end to end - hard - 10.0 miles/16.3 km
Walk 1658 The Malverns circular - very hard - 18.0 miles/29.3 km
Walk 2664 Herefordshire Beacon from British Camp car park - easy - 2.0 miles/3.3 km
Walk 2380 The Malverns from the Gullet - moderate - 12.0 miles/19.5 km
Walk 2326 Herefordshire Beacon from Hollybush - easy/mod - 6.5 miles/10.6 km
Walk 3502 Two Rivers Walk to Powick and Worcester - easy - 6.5 miles/10.6 km
Walk 1516 Pershore Circular - easy/mod - 8.3 miles/13.4 km
Walk 1355 Stoulton Circular - easy/mod - 7.5 miles/12.2 km
Walk 2817 The Marcle Ridge from Much Marcle - easy/mod - 7.0 miles/11.4 km
Walk 2676 River Severn & Apperley from Tewkesbury - easy/mod - 7.5 miles/12.2 km
Recommended Books & eBooks
The Severn Way
Guidebook to walking the Severn Way, a 210 mile (338km) walk through the Welsh borders. Beginning near the source of the River Severn in Powys, mid-Wales, and finishing in Bristol, the history-rich route is described over 22 stages (ranging from 3 to 14 miles), passing through the counties of Powys, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
More information
The End to End Trail
