The Malvern Hills, Worcestershire

 

Number one on my list, because every time I see them I get such a buzz, has to be the Malverns. They can be seen for miles away but I think the best views are to be had from Worcestershire and parts of Warwickshire. Associated with them is the composer Edward Elgar, whose music I have selected to play in the background to this page. If I was able to find it, my ideal house would have a view of the Malverns from every room.

This view is not the best one. The Malvern Hills on the Worcestershire-Herefordshire border stand out above the Severn Valley. They can be seen from many places, but my favourite view is from the car park of the Jinny Ring Craft Centre at Hanbury in Worcestershire.

The Malvern Hills are a popular place for visitors but I have yet to find them crowded. The walk to the top is a very stiff climb, particularly from the town of Malvern. The views at the top are spectacular and it is possible to see across several English Counties and into Wales. The Hills are also famous for the drinking water that has been springing out of the hills for millennia. Reputedly the Queen travels with bottles of Malvern Water. Across the hills there are open springs, but some have elaborate buildings like St Anne's Well.

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1. The Town of Malvern on the eastern slope of the Malvern Hills
2. View from  Worcestershire Beacon looking out across the Worcestershire Plain
3. Aerial View over the Malvern Hills
4. View from the top of Worcestershire Beacon looking south towards British Camp

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5. St Anne's Well on the eastern slope of the Malvern Hills
6. Benches are scattered across the hills - this one on the Herefordshire side
7. View from Worcestershire Beacon over Herefordshire
8. View of the hills from the Herefordshire side

The smoke in the last picture reminds me that the Malverns are so at risk from drought and every year huge areas go up in smoke, though this never seems to diminsh their beauty.