Worcestershire Tourist Guide - Articles
Malvern Hills
Your first sight of the Malvern Hills tells you that you are approaching an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Hills run north/south for about 13 kilometres (9miles) in between Great Malvern and the village of Colwall, and overlook the River Severn valley to the east, with the Cotswolds beyond. The highest point of the hills is the Worcestershire Beacon at 425 metres.
The Malvern Hills are amongst the oldest in England, around 600 million years, and are made up of mainly of Granite and Gniess with some underlain Red Sandstone.
Settlement on and around the hills goes back millennia, there are the remains of an Iron Age fort around the Herefordshire Beacon (1109 ft), called "British Camp". The Romans came, saw and conquered, the Anglo Saxons, the Danes and the Normans have all left their mark in the area.
Perhaps it was the pure water of the Malvern Hills springs that first attracted the Iron Age builders of The British Camp (Herefordshire Beacon), and then, hundreds of years later, the founders of Malvern's two medieval priories. Certainly it was those waters that made Malvern a 19th-century spa, with the elegance to become a place of culture.
They are of beauty and splendour and have attracted countless writers, poets, artists and perhaps Britain's greatest composer, Sir Edward Elgar, from gaining inspiration from the grandeur and spectacular views.
As far back as the 14th century William Langland wrote his allegorical poem"Piers Plowman" -describing the life and times of an English Peasant - on the slopes of the Malvern Hills and in the 20th century, J.R.R.Tolkien got inspiration for the "Misty Mountains" ("Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit") whilst walking in the hills.
From the highest point of the hills the Worcestershire Beacon stands at 1395 ft (425m). The North Hill (397m) and the British Camp Hill (Herefordshire Beacon ( 338m) being the other highest points. In total there are some 20 named hills comprising the complete range. Three of Britain's greatest Cathedrals are visible (on a clear day!) Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester as well as views over the Marches into Wales in the west and to the Vale of Evesham and the Cotswolds to the east.
The entire length of the Hills are open to the public and are criss-crossed with about 160km (100 miles) of bridleways and footpaths. Dogs are allowed on the hills and can be let off lead so long as they are well behaved. Cycling is allowed on bridleways only.
Apart from the views and inspirational scenery Malvern is also famous for its water and another feature of the Hills are the many springs and fountains which flow from outlets all around them, of particular note are St Ann's Well and Holy Well.
St. Ann's Well
St Ann's Well is easily reached from the centre of Great Malvern.(about a 20 minute walk).
You take the road that runs from the Unicorn pub leading to the Happy valley.
From there there are signs directing you to the well, it's quite a steep climb.
Known for its use during the water cure the area around the spring had once been an 11th century hermitage for monks from Worcester. The cottage built over the well was to provide shelter.
The cottage can still be seen today, now offering visitors refreshments as well as Malvern water.
The cafe is only open at weekends in winter, also during the week in the summer. The Spring is open all year round.
The Tourist Information Centre can provide information on walks, the malvern hills and surrounding area.
Tourist Information
The Hills run north/south for about 13 kilometres (9miles) in between Great Malvern and the village of Colwall, and overlook the River Severn valley to the east, with the Cotswolds beyond. The highest point of the hills is the Worcestershire Beacon at 425 metres.
The Malvern Hills are amongst the oldest in England, around 600 million years, and are made up of mainly of Granite and Gniess with some underlain Red Sandstone.
Settlement on and around the hills goes back millennia, there are the remains of an Iron Age fort around the Herefordshire Beacon (1109 ft), called "British Camp". The Romans came, saw and conquered, the Anglo Saxons, the Danes and the Normans have all left their mark in the area.
Perhaps it was the pure water of the Malvern Hills springs that first attracted the Iron Age builders of The British Camp (Herefordshire Beacon), and then, hundreds of years later, the founders of Malvern's two medieval priories. Certainly it was those waters that made Malvern a 19th-century spa, with the elegance to become a place of culture.
They are of beauty and splendour and have attracted countless writers, poets, artists and perhaps Britain's greatest composer, Sir Edward Elgar, from gaining inspiration from the grandeur and spectacular views.
As far back as the 14th century William Langland wrote his allegorical poem"Piers Plowman" -describing the life and times of an English Peasant - on the slopes of the Malvern Hills and in the 20th century, J.R.R.Tolkien got inspiration for the "Misty Mountains" ("Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit") whilst walking in the hills.
From the highest point of the hills the Worcestershire Beacon stands at 1395 ft (425m). The North Hill (397m) and the British Camp Hill (Herefordshire Beacon ( 338m) being the other highest points. In total there are some 20 named hills comprising the complete range. Three of Britain's greatest Cathedrals are visible (on a clear day!) Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester as well as views over the Marches into Wales in the west and to the Vale of Evesham and the Cotswolds to the east.
The entire length of the Hills are open to the public and are criss-crossed with about 160km (100 miles) of bridleways and footpaths. Dogs are allowed on the hills and can be let off lead so long as they are well behaved. Cycling is allowed on bridleways only.
Apart from the views and inspirational scenery Malvern is also famous for its water and another feature of the Hills are the many springs and fountains which flow from outlets all around them, of particular note are St Ann's Well and Holy Well.
St. Ann's Well
St Ann's Well is easily reached from the centre of Great Malvern.(about a 20 minute walk).
You take the road that runs from the Unicorn pub leading to the Happy valley.
From there there are signs directing you to the well, it's quite a steep climb.
Known for its use during the water cure the area around the spring had once been an 11th century hermitage for monks from Worcester. The cottage built over the well was to provide shelter.
The cottage can still be seen today, now offering visitors refreshments as well as Malvern water.
The cafe is only open at weekends in winter, also during the week in the summer. The Spring is open all year round.
The Tourist Information Centre can provide information on walks, the malvern hills and surrounding area.
Tourist Information