THIS walk begins with a short climb to British Camp, the hillfort which was carved out of the slopes of Herefordshire Beacon thousands of years ago. It’s still a remarkable sight, its scale quite awesome considering its Iron Age builders had only hand tools at their disposal.

Herefordshire Beacon also provides an impressive backdrop for the picturesque buildings which cluster below it at Little Malvern, on the site of the former St Giles’ Priory, founded by Benedictine monks in 1171. The tower, chancel and transept of the priory church still survive. Next to the church stands Little Malvern Court, built on the site of the monastic cloisters and incorporating the 14th-century refectory or prior’s hall, where the monks ate their meals.

Much of the walk is on access land, where you may go wherever you like without the need to follow rights of way. This applies not only to the Malvern Hills, but also to Shadybank Common and Castlemorton Common, so the route described is only one option, open to infinite variation.

Though not officially designated as access land, St Wulstan’s Nature Reserve is also freely open to all.

It’s large and quite varied, with grassland, scrub and woodland.

Some areas have been left alone to allow natural colonisation by woodland. These areas are particularly attractive and are developing well, with a range of species already established.

Elsewhere, plantations have been created, and efforts have been made to maximise their wildlife value.

FACT FILE

Start: British Camp, Malvern Hills, grid ref SO762404.

Length: Seven miles/11km.

Maps: OS Explorer 190, OS Landranger 150.

Terrain: Malvern Hills, common land, farmland and woodland.

Footpaths: Mostly excellent.

Stiles: 10.

Parking: British Camp.

Buses: First 44b to British Camp, Sun/BH; Diamond 363 to Upper Welland Road, Mon-Sat; worcestershire.gov.uk/bustimetables or 01905 765765.

Refreshments: Malvern Hills Hotel and shop/café at British Camp, Spar shop on Upper Welland Road.

DIRECTIONS

1 Climb Herefordshire Beacon then continue southwards through the earthworks of British Camp until you can descend left on a stepped path which leads to a route indicator on Broad Down.

Turn right, following the Shire Ditch along the spine of the hills.

The path soon swings right, descending into woodland where you should turn left to keep going along the spine. Go straight on at a five-ways junction, descending slightly on a wide, stony track through woodland. You’ll soon see Pink Cottage below on your left.

Turn left towards the cottage when you come to a junction.

2 Pass to the left of Pink Cottage and keep straight on. The path climbs slightly at first, through nettles, brambles and bracken, to re-enter woodland. It levels out then soon descends, steeply in places, to Shadybank Common.

Turn left, heading towards Great Malvern. When the right-hand hedge turns right, turn right too, so that you’re heading towards Bredon Hill. Join a well-defined track which descends to the bottom left corner of the common.

Cross a stile and turn right along a field edge, then proceed along a tree-lined track to Castlemorton Common.

3 Keep close to the left-hand edge, or at least keep it in sight. Turn left through a gate when you meet a track by Gate Cottage. Take the second path on the left, soon after Lower Moors. This takes you along a driveway towards a house – fork right as you approach it and then proceed across fields on a welltrodden path to Little Malvern Priory. Meet Marlbank Road (A4104) just below the priory and cross to a footpath almost opposite.

4 Go diagonally across a field to an open gateway at the far side, to the left of the corner. Walk across an overgrown field to a track, turn right, then turn left on another track (Watery Lane) which leads to Upper Welland Road. Turn right, then go left just after a Methodist church, on a farm track.

Pass through a farmyard, across a paddock and over a stile to an arable field. Walk across it to a hedge corner on the right then follow the hedge. Don’t miss the point at which you need to cross to the other side of the hedge at a stile.

5 Cross a footbridge and stile to another field and turn left. Keep on in the same direction along field edges until a footbridge on the left gives access to St Wulstan’s Nature Reserve. Turn right along the edge on an easily followed path. Ignore gates on the left but go through one that spans the path and fork right through a young ashwood. Turn left along the edge of St Wulstan’s Village Green (dogs should be on leads here) then left along a road (The Crescent). Turn right at a Tjunction onto St Wulstan’s Drive.

6 Turn right on a bridleway. This soon turns sharp right then after 400m it goes right again.

Eventually a gate gives access to a field. Turn left on another bridleway, heading towards the hills. Go left at a junction with a footpath and climb easily through woodland. Keep straight on along a lane, through several junctions, to meet Wells Road (A449). Turn right, then cross to Holywell Road. After a short distance take a path which goes left uphill.

Follow it to the spine of the hills and go straight on across the top towards Herefordshire Beacon. At Blackhill take any of the paths which bear right, skirting the summit to return to your starting point.

Worcester News recommends the use of OS Explorer Maps, your ideal passport to navigating the countryside. This walk is based on OS Explorer 190.