Event Description
Legendary fantasy authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis were frequent visitors to Malvern and the Malvern Hills and the distinctive landscape is thought to have inspired many features of Middle Earth and Narnia, including the Giant’s Cave from The Hobbit and the Victorian gas lamps from The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.
You’ll choose between two routes, the Tolkien Trail & the Lewis Loop, both of which are outlined below.
The Tolkien Trail follows the main ridge south from the Wyche Cutting, over several summits to the Giant’s Cave, which is said to have inspired Tolkien’s first book, The Hobbit. The trail then returns north, with optional stops at the Malvern Hills Hotel and/or the Kettle Sings Cafe before ending where it began.
The Lewis Loop begins in Priory Park in Great Malvern and heads past Malvern College and Cherbourg House, where Lewis went to school, before pausing at the Lewis Memorial in Rosebank Gardens. Next it follows Narnia’s gas lamps up Happy Valley past St. Ann’s Well Cafe to the summit of North Hill before dropping down to Alexandra Road in Malvern Link, where Lewis’s biographer, George Sayer, and composer Sir Edward Elgar lived. After passing Lewis and Tolkien’s favourite pub, The Unicorn Inn on Belle Vue Terrace, the loop ends at Great Malvern Priory, home to what’s believed to be the original gas lamp.
Whichever walk you choose, you’ll hear tales of literary legends whilst savouring the most stunning views in the West Midlands.
Dates and booking
The walks are available on many dates, often with the option of two start times on the same day. For more information, including prices, availability and to book. visit the Malvern Hills Cultural Walks page on Airbnb.
Photo supplied by Dan Johnson.
