nature stories

We drove from Malvern on the B4218 for Colwall.

At the top of the hills we took Jubilee Drive, signposted Ledbury, and parked in the car park a little way along.

We walked back along the road towards the Wyche, passing the old chapel, and just beyond the toilets turned right up the steps following the sign to British Camp.

We climbed up to walk along the ridge, with immediate views across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, and as we climbed, walked above the tunnel which carries the Malvern to Colwall railway line through the hill.

We passed over the first peak, Perseverance Hill (325m) and then descended a little before following the worn path up Jubilee Hill (327m).

On the right we passed Thirds Land, the only coniferous plantation on the Malverns, before reaching the memorial stone, unveiled by Prince Andrew, to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.

We went straight ahead, and on down from Jubilee Hill, with Thirds Land still on our right.

We left the main ridge by turning sharp left, to walk along the clear path passing the wooden seat (A. and M.E. Edmonds).

There's then a slow descent, and passing through deciduous woodlands, we reached a larger path, where we turned sharp right.

The route continues to descend steadily, and shortly after we were joined by a path coming up from the left.

Emerged to more open views with the steep valley down to the left, and the steep slope up to the right, to the summit of Pinnacle Hill (345m).

The path divides at an iron seat, and the right fork begins to ascend, but we forked left, and after about 50m reached the small pool on our right.

This is the Eye Well, which achieved a certain fame in the 1620s, when visitors came here to bathe their eyes.

Holy Well

We continued to descend slowly and reached a seat, ("In memory of one who loved these hills March 31 1932") – where we turned sharp left and carried on downhill.

As the path levelled slightly, there is a very steep path to the right, which descends to the buildings at Holy Well, but we carried straight ahead, and followed the gentle path as it bends round to the right.

We passed a path coming in from the left, and then did a quick zigzag down to a broad track, where we turned right and walked along to the Holy Well, where there has been recent restoration work on the building and the gardens.

The water was flowing into the bowl and it was all very peaceful

From the well, we went out to the tarmaced track going to the left, and took a bridleway diagonally along the hillside, alongside an electricity transformer - this is the original coach route going from Malvern to the west side of the hills.

Again, we walked through woods with some fascinating shaped tree trunks.

Bluebells in Sark. © Chapel Studios.

Passing the back garden gate of the Cottage in the Wood, we admired banks of bluebells on the hillside to our left.

As we came above the trees, we had views of Worcester and the north east of Worcestershire ahead of us.

We came back to the Wyche Cutting, with the Wyche Inn ahead of us for sustenance, and Malvern and Ledbury are not far away, for anyone wanting to continue their day out.