Malvern Hills End to End - Saturday 28 February 2015
Route
North Quarry - North Hill - Sugarloaf Hill - Worcestershire Beacon - Summer Hill - Perseverance Hill - Jubilee Hill - Pinnacle Hill - Black Hill - Herefordshire Beacon (British Camp) - Millennium Hill - Hangman's Hill - Swinyard Hill - Midsummer Hill -Raggedstone Hill - Chase Hill - Hollybush
Parking
North Quarry (Charge) - Grid Ref SO770470 or Hollybush (Free) - Grid Ref SO759369
Mileage
10.2 miles.
Terrain
Good grassy paths for the most part with some boggy sections. The ascent to Raggedstone Hill & Chase Hill was very muddy.
Weather
Overcast but with good visibility generally
Time Taken
5hr 30mins
Total Ascent
2946ft (898m)
Map
OS190 - Malvern Hills & Bredon Hill
North Quarry - North Hill - Sugarloaf Hill - Worcestershire Beacon - Summer Hill - Perseverance Hill - Jubilee Hill - Pinnacle Hill - Black Hill - Herefordshire Beacon (British Camp) - Millennium Hill - Hangman's Hill - Swinyard Hill - Midsummer Hill -Raggedstone Hill - Chase Hill - Hollybush
Parking
North Quarry (Charge) - Grid Ref SO770470 or Hollybush (Free) - Grid Ref SO759369
Mileage
10.2 miles.
Terrain
Good grassy paths for the most part with some boggy sections. The ascent to Raggedstone Hill & Chase Hill was very muddy.
Weather
Overcast but with good visibility generally
Time Taken
5hr 30mins
Total Ascent
2946ft (898m)
Map
OS190 - Malvern Hills & Bredon Hill
|
GPX File
|
| ||
If the above GPX file fails to download or presents itself as an XML file once downloaded then please feel free to contact me and I will send you the GPX file via e-mail.
Walk Description
Dave & Fudge met up with Mike & Sue, fellow members of the Walking For Pleasure FB group, in order to walk the Malvern Hills End to End. A linear walk, the route started from the North Quarry Car Park, transiting over the many hills that make up the Malverns before reaching the Car Park at the southern end at Hollybush. Therefore we parked at Hollybush in the south and took one car to North Quarry to the start point. There is plenty of parking at both car parks but during busy times it is envisaged these would fill up pretty quickly.
Leaving North Quarry, it was not long until we were up on the first summit of North Hill from where there are good views down over Malvern - except that we had a sudden hazy, cloudy spell which luckily did not last thus revealing the view as we left the summit. Dropping into a col of sorts, there were many paths leading all over the place but in good viz the route to the summit of Worcestershire Beacon is never in doubt and once on the top the views over the area are quite extensive. There is a large toposcope in addition to a Trig Point on the summit and it is worth spending time on the top in order to take in the impressive panorama before you.
From the summit the route dropped down to Summer Hill before descending further to the small village of Upper Wyche. From here the route ascended to start the up and down roller coaster over Perseverance, Jubilee, Pinnacle and Black Hills - this was a delightful transit and we took our time before dropping down to have lunch at the large Car Park at British Camp. From here, to reach Herefordshire Beacon it was a short but steady pull up to the summit and there were many paths we could have taken to reach the top. The extensive earthworks of the 2nd BC Iron Age Hill Fort known as British Camp were clearly visible from both the transit and the summit itself.
From Herefordshire Beacon the route remained high and we made another super transit over the inclines and declines to Millennium Hill, Hangman's Hill, Swinyard Hill and finally Midsummer Hill before dropping down steeply to the Car Park at Hollybush. From Hollybush there is the option to take your transport back to North Quarry or instead, as we did, climb up to Raggedstone Hill & Chase Hill which both give glorious views back down the route. From the Trig Point on Chase Hill we headed back to the Car Park at Hollybush.
Whilst the hills of Malvern can be climbed in isolation, walking them all from end to end is a really good day out which is full of interest and varied scenery.
Leaving North Quarry, it was not long until we were up on the first summit of North Hill from where there are good views down over Malvern - except that we had a sudden hazy, cloudy spell which luckily did not last thus revealing the view as we left the summit. Dropping into a col of sorts, there were many paths leading all over the place but in good viz the route to the summit of Worcestershire Beacon is never in doubt and once on the top the views over the area are quite extensive. There is a large toposcope in addition to a Trig Point on the summit and it is worth spending time on the top in order to take in the impressive panorama before you.
From the summit the route dropped down to Summer Hill before descending further to the small village of Upper Wyche. From here the route ascended to start the up and down roller coaster over Perseverance, Jubilee, Pinnacle and Black Hills - this was a delightful transit and we took our time before dropping down to have lunch at the large Car Park at British Camp. From here, to reach Herefordshire Beacon it was a short but steady pull up to the summit and there were many paths we could have taken to reach the top. The extensive earthworks of the 2nd BC Iron Age Hill Fort known as British Camp were clearly visible from both the transit and the summit itself.
From Herefordshire Beacon the route remained high and we made another super transit over the inclines and declines to Millennium Hill, Hangman's Hill, Swinyard Hill and finally Midsummer Hill before dropping down steeply to the Car Park at Hollybush. From Hollybush there is the option to take your transport back to North Quarry or instead, as we did, climb up to Raggedstone Hill & Chase Hill which both give glorious views back down the route. From the Trig Point on Chase Hill we headed back to the Car Park at Hollybush.
Whilst the hills of Malvern can be climbed in isolation, walking them all from end to end is a really good day out which is full of interest and varied scenery.
Great Malvern from near North Hill
Mike, Sue & Fudge on the summit of North Hill - luckily the thick, grey soup behind went somewhere else!
Heading down to a jumble of paths with Worcestershire Beacon to the right
Sue on the path to Worcestershire Beacon with l-r Sugarloaf Hill, Table Hill & North Hill
Give us a kiss hairy! Mike & Fudge at the summit Toposcope on Worcestershire Beacon
It was a tad blowy at the Trig Point on Worcestershire Beacon as can be seen by poor old Fudge's ears
The four of us standing on the Gold Mine
The witch of Wyche
Looking back to Worcestershire Beacon
Herefordshire Beacon (British Camp) from near Pinnacle Hill
An engraved sign near the British Camp Car Park
The view back along the Malvern Hills towards Jubilee & Pinnacle Hills
Herefordshire Beacon ahead
Midsummer Hill and the large stone shelter on the summit
Good old Captain Cocks
The obelisk within the grounds of the Eastnor Estate