Midlands Marilyn Challenge – Worcestershire Beacon, Malvern Hills – 425 m/1,394 ft

I’d heard many stories about the Malvern Hills but never actually ventured anywhere near them to fully appreciate them. As I headed down the motorway and started to see the first glimpse of the hills on the horizon I was both in awe but also nervous. Their prominence against the otherwise generally flat surrounding landscape can’t be underestimated that first time you drive up to them. They look BIG and commanding of your attention.

The closer I got, I realised that the hike up and over the hills typically starts from a higher up point where the main car parks sit, although the more energetic among you may wish to start from the nearby towns such as Great Malvern for some extra elevation. Starting out on Beacon carpark (which is £6 a day), we headed up on a 5km out and back hike over Summer Hill and the Worcestershire Beacon, bagging another Midlands Marilyn in the process.

My route was focused on heading up to the Worcestershire Beacon, the county top for Worcestershire as well as another Marilyn whose summit sits at 425 metres/1,394 ft) above the countryside below. The Malvern Hills range runs for 13 kilometres/8.1 mi north-south along the Herefordshire-Worcestershire border and is comprised of a number of seperate hills which can be linked together via the numerous walking paths.