Visit The Malverns

The Countryside around Madresfield Court (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-21 18:00 - 20:00 (Europe/London)
A gentle walk led by the estate manager, through the beautiful countryside and parkland surrounding Madresfield Court, returning via the Gloucester Drive and the historic grounds of this famous moated manor house. An opportunity to learn about the history of the estate and the family who have lived here for nearly 900 years.
£6.00
Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Leisurely/Gentle
Date: 21 May
Start time: 6:00 pm
Walk leader: David Butt, Tim Hassell
Start location: Meet and park at Madresfield Club
Madresfield Road
Malvern
WR13 5AH
Grid reference: SO 803476
What3Words: pampered.voter.droplet
Further details:
Madresfield Club is off Madresfield Road, next to Hayes Farm

Evening Walk up to Worcester Beacon (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-21 19:00 - 20:30
Leaving from Plateau car park (Jubilee Drive) , we will walk up to Worcester Beacon. There are spectacular views both across the Severn Valley and on the West side across to Wales. The footpaths are good but there is quite an incline to get to the top of the Beacon so a reasonable level of fitness is required. Always bring some water to drink.
The walk will take about 1 and a half hours (as we will stop to take in the views!) and is about a 3 mile loop.
For those interested, a drink can be had afterwards at The Chase Inn which is very close to the car park.
Proper foot wear required and appropriate clothing depending on the weather.

£6.00

Distance:
3 miles

Duration:
1.5 hours

Difficulty:
Moderate

Date:
21 May

Start time:
7:00 pm

Walk leader:
Andrea Lord

Start location:
Plateau car park
Jubilee Drive, Malvern,
WR13 6DQ

Grid reference:
SO 767434

What3Words:
https://w3w.co/clipboard.camcorder.struts

Further details:
There is a parking charge of £3.50 after 6 pm.

Rail Trails – Ledbury to Colwall (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-22 09:30 - 14:30
Rail Trails Worcestershire provides scenic walks from 19 mainline stations. New for 2026 are two routes between Colwall and Ledbury. This walk takes the longer and harder option. Highlights include the delightful town of Ledbury with its cobbled lanes and historic buildings. Eastnor Park with its castle, deer park and obelisk. The magnificent views as we walk along the wooded Malvern ridge. Participants will need to wear walking boots & clothing to protect against the prevailing weather conditions. Please bring a packed lunch, snacks and plenty to drink. The leader will meet participants at Great Malvern station at 9.30am. The walk itself will start when the train gets to Ledbury station at around 10am. You will be responsible for your own transport costs.
The walk is dedicated to the memory of William Whiting who was involved in commissioning the Rail Trail and regularly leading this walk for Malvern Walking Festival.

£6.00

Distance:
8 miles

Duration:
5 hours

Difficulty:
Hard

Date:
22 May

Start time:
9:30 am

Walk leader:
Lyndon Bracewell (Worcester Ramblers & HF Holidays)

Start location:
Great Malvern Station
Station Approach
Malvern
WR14 3AL

Grid reference:
SO 782457

What3Words:
just.trendy.steps

Further details:
If parking at Great Malvern station limited free parking is available on Station Approach and off Thorngrove Road. Parking is also available at Colwall and Ledbury stations if you intend to start or finish the walk from there. Train times aren’t currently available for May 2026 but its intended we meet at 09.30 to catch the 09.46 train to Ledbury. This passes through Colwall 5 to 6 minutes later and arrives at Ledbury at about 10.00.

Alfrick and Beyond Circular (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-22 10:00 - 15:00
A beautiful walk from Alfrick centre through fields, tracks, ancient woodland, old apple orchards with spectacular views and an abundance of wildlife. We leave Alfrick via fields and the Dingle, a quaint ancient woodland with a stream and some steep steps. For the next few miles we cross cultivated and grazing fields where red kites and buzzards are frequently seen. As we approach Leigh we cross over to a series of tracks through fields, old and new orchards to Leigh Brook. We enter Sandlin and pick up a scenic track to Birchwood common which has 180degree panorama . We have lunch at the Knapp and Papermill reserve amongst wild flowers, an abundance of birdsong and the resident kingfisher. From here we wend our way home via Blackhouse woods, a rich, ancient semi- natural woodland with rare lime trees and a rich moth population. The Worcester way takes us to Lulsley pool and a level walk home through fields for coffee or tea and home made cakes at Alfrick cafe.

£6.00

Distance:
9.5 miles

Duration:
5 hours

Difficulty:
Hard

Date:
22 May

Start time:
10:00 am

Walk leader:
Amanda Williams (Leadon Vale Ramblers & Alfrick Active)

Start location:
Alfrick village hall
Clay Green
Alfrick
WR65HJ

Grid reference:
SO 748185 3176

What3Words:
https://w3w.co/develop.digested.robe

Further details:
Please park around back of hall and not in main car park. Buses stop nearby. Malvern train station 8 miles away

Tintern Abbey and the Devil’s Pulpit (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-22 10:00 - 16:00
Tintern is one of the most impressive ruinous Abbey’s in the country, for the walls of the great Church remain intact rising to their full height and pierced by soaring windows that flood the interior with light. It lies in the beautiful Wye Valley – a walk with spectacular views which initially follows the Wye Gorge downstream before climbing to return above the valley along Offa’s Dyke. Passed along the way is the Devil’s Pulpit, a rocky outcrop overlooking the Abbey far below.
This walk follows woodland paths and tracks with some hill climbing and ends with a walk back along the River Wye to the car park by the Abbey where we can enjoy afternoon tea and cake as a reward. Please bring stout walking boots and sufficient refreshments.

£6.00

Distance:
10 miles

Duration:
5-6 hours

Difficulty:
Hard

Date:
22 May

Start time:
10:00 am

Walk leader:
Shan South (Worcester U3A 10+ & Ramblers)

Start location:
The car park at Tintern Abbey; Tintern NP16 6SE
Tintern Abbey
Tintern
NP16 6SE

What3Words:
https://w3w.co/inquest.evaporate.cotton

Further details:
The car park does have a pay machine for parking and toilets are available before the walk

Railway Inn circular over the hills (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-22 10:30 - 13:30
From the Railway Inn we will proceed along the side of the hills to Black Hill. We will then turn north towards Pinnacle Hill (357 metres), over Jubilee Hill, Perseverance Hill and then down into Wyche, where we will stop for lunch. We will then meander along the side of the hills back to the pub. No stiles and up down of 1,797 feet.
There are many stunning views along the way and from the start until Wyche there is a good degree of uphill walking, so you’ll get some good exercise over the six miles!
£6.00
Distance: 6 miles
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Date: 22 May
Start time: 10:30 am
Walk leader: Andrea Lord
Start location: In front of the Railway Inn
78 Wells Road
Malvern
WR14 4PA
Grid reference: SO 771439
What3Words: disgraced.gliding.times
Further details:
No parking at the pub. There is a layby on Wells Road going towards Malvern with free parking. There is also free parking all along Peachfield Road. Finally, there are free car parks on Peachfield Common.
Bring a packed lunch. Toilet facilities at start/end of walk as well as at the Wyche. Possible ice-cream van at Wyche. If it’s a hot day, please note the top of the hills are very exposed, do please wear sun cream and bring a hat and plenty of water!

Coppet Hill and the River Wye (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-22 10:30 - 15:30
We park at Goodrich Castle (pay and display) and head towards the river Wye where we continue along the river before an ascent through woods to the top of Coppet Hill. Here there are fabulous views of the Wye and Black Mountains. A descent follows back to Goodrich Castle.
The cafe at Goodrich Castle, where we park, will be open for refreshments before and after the walk.

£6.00

Distance:
8.2 miles

Duration:
5 hours

Difficulty:
Hard

Date:
22 May

Start time:
10:30 am

Walk leader:
Mary Walters (Powick Ramblers)

Start location:
Goodrich Castle
Castle Lane
Goodrich, Ross-on-Wye
HR9 6HY

Grid reference:
SO 579199

What3Words:
shipped.fittingly.entyertainer

Further details:
Bring sufficient food and drink for the walk

Border Orchards (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-22 15:00 - 17:30
A beautiful afternoon’s walk on the Worcestershire Herefordshire border, through farmlands and orchards. The circular walk takes in some of the Stock’s Farm orchards and hop fields, the very hops that supply the brewery at the start of the walk. The walk climbs gently and as we climb, magnificent views come into sight in all directions. Eventually the walk descends through an old cherry orchard with wonderful views of the Malvern Hills in the distance.
£6.00
Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Date: 22 May
Start time: 3:00 pm
Walk leader: Carol Ann Harnett (Powick Ramblers)
Start location: The Hop Shed
Old Chicken Sheds
Suckley
WR6 5EQ
Grid reference: SO 724505
What3Words: gymnasium.strong.hospitals
Further details:
Sign for ‘The Hop Shed’ on wide gate and some barns ahead as you enter. Park near to the gate or in front of the barn in front on the right. Ground may be a bit rough in places. Bring any refreshments needed for the walk, we will have a refreshments break en-route. When we return to the cars, the taproom will be open so you can sample some of the local beer and there is often a food van there on a Friday too.

The Elgar Festival 2026
2026-05-23 00:00 - 2026-05-31 00:00
Our featured composer this year is 97-year-old icon of British music, Thea Musgrave, whose music abounds in colour, emotion, drama and impact. We hear Elgar’s last major orchestral work, the beloved Cello Concerto, alongside his first, The Black Knight. As always we welcome some of the best musicians in the world to Worcester for the week, including Robert Hollingworth and I Fagiolini, oboist Nicholas Daniel, pianist and composer Huw Watkins, violist Rosalind Ventris alongside classic FM presenter Zeb Soanes, world renowned Elgar record producer Andrew Keener and many more. I can’t wait to give that first upbeat – please join us!’
Kenneth Woods, Artistic Director

Hillforts & History (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-23 09:00 - 14:00
A walk that encompasses two Hillforts (British Camp and Midsummer Hill) with glorious views of the surrounding countryside.
The walk leader is a landscape archaeologist who will describe the history, features and folklore of the surrounding area as the group walk. There are numerous archaeological features to discover and discuss on route. Questions are welcome.
From the start point at British Camp car park the route follows the eastern side of British Camp, across Broad Down before dropping down through News Wood, then climbing up to the unique hill fort on Midsummer Hill. We retrace our steps and take in Clutter’s Cave before ascending the southern base of British Camp then climb to the summit before descending back to our finish point.
No stiles and and up and down of 1,109 feet.
There are light refreshments available at the start/finish at Sally’s Café.
Public toilets at the start/finish point (none on route). Bring water, packed lunch/snacks, suitable clothing and footwear.
£6.00
Distance: 6.5 miles
Duration: 4 to 5 hours (to allow plenty of time for stops & discussions)
Difficulty: Moderate
Date: 23 May
Start time: 9:00 am
Walk leader: Jim Whitfield
Start location: At the second gate on the right hand side of the British Camp Car park (with your back to the road and the Malvern Hills Hotel).
British Camp Car Park
A449 Ledbury Road, Herefordshire.
WR13 6DW
Grid reference: SO 762403
What3Words: rally.eyebrows.potential
Further details:
Car Park is Pay and Display: The machine here accepts cards and cash. Cost is presently £6.00 (but maybe increased from April) for all day, unless you have a current Malvern Hills Trust Levy Payers Parking Pass which entitles you to free parking.
Colwall railway station: 3.3 miles
Ledbury railway station: 4.2 miles

'In Elgar's Footsteps': Guided Walk and Recital (Elgar Festival 2026)
2026-05-23 09:30 - 13:00 | Gardiner’s Quarry Car Park, Jubilee Drive, Malvern, WR13 6DN
Last year’s guided walk was so popular it sold out!
Participants meet at Gardiner’s Quarry car park (all-day parking, payable by card: £6.50) on Jubilee Drive to embark on an an hour’s guided walk along Elgar’s beloved tracks and footpaths down to St Wulstan’s Church, including the opportunity to visit Eye Well and the Holywell building on route.
Refreshments are available before a short recital at 11.15am featuring his deeply personal String Quartet performed by the exceptional LANO quartet led by last year’s soloist at this event, Shuwei Zuo.
There will be time to explore the Elgar family graves before your guide leads the way back. Approximate return time: 1pm
The walking route is hilly and uneven and no dogs are allowed.
Those who would rather not walk are welcome to book for the recital and refreshments only from 10.45am. There is no designated church car park but on-street parking is available.
Tickets: book online via the Elgar Festival website.
Visit the Elgar Festival website for more of this year’s events.

Worcestershire Way in 3 days (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-23 09:30 - 2026-05-25 17:00
Each day we meet & park at the end of the route, and take a mini-bus to the start point of the walk. The charge include the booking fee and transport per person.
Day 1 Bewdley to Abberley
On Day 1 we meet and park at Abberley village hall and the mini-bus takes us to the start at Bewdley. We start by following the route of the Severn Valley steam railway and then continue along a scenic undulating route to Ribbesford & Heightington before descending back to Abberley. Day 1 up and down of 566m.
Meeting Point for day 1:

Address: Abberley Village Hall, 5 Clows Top Rd, Abberley, WR6 6AZ
What3Words: https://w3w.co/bitter.pile.agenda
Grid Reference: SO 747 679

Day 2 Abberley to Knightwick
On Day 2 we meet and park at Knightwick GP surgery and take the mini-bus to Abberley village hall, where we finished the previous day.. Setting off we pass Abberley Hall and the magnificent clock tower before climbing to Woodbury Hill Fort. A ridge eventually descends to the River Teme before a climb of Ankerdine Hill and then the finish in Knightwick. Day 2 up and down of 448m.
Meeting Point for day 2:

Address: Knightwick GP Surgery, Bromyard Rd, Knightwick, WR6 5PH
What3Words: https://w3w.co/outlooks.eradicate.loans
Grid Reference: SO 732 559

Day 3 Knightwick to Great Malvern
On Day 3 we meet & park at Great Malvern Swimming pool car park and take the mini-bus to Knightwick GP surgery where we finished the previous day. From the lane opposite we set off towards the picturesque Suckley Hills and onto pretty Longley Green. A change to mixed farmland and apple orchards before a final steep climb to the Malvern Hills ridge, followed by the descent to Great Malvern and the end of the Worcestershire Way. Day 3 up and down of 630m.
Meeting Point for day 3:

Malvern Splash car park, Priory Road, Great Malvern, WR14 3DS
What3Words: https://w3w.co/amused.jams.summer
Grid Reference: SO 779 458

Each day is a full day’s walk so please bring sufficient food & drink for the journey as there are no pit stops en route. A visit to a pub at the end of each day will be an option.
Please note: if the walk is fully booked, you can go on a waiting list for places. Please contact us to join the list.
Each day we meet & park at the end of the route, and take a mini-bus to the start point of the walk.

£40.00

Distance:
31 miles

Duration:
6 hours per day

Difficulty:
Hard

Date:
23rd May 2026 – 25th May 2026

Start time:
9:30 am

Walk leader:
Carol Baker (Powick Ramblers)

Start location:
Day 1 Abberley Village Hall, 5 Clows Top Rd, Abberley, Worcester WR6 6DD
5 Clows Top Road
Abberley
WR6 6DD

Grid reference:
SO 747 679

Further details:
Small parking fee requested £2 cash

A Cotswold Walk from Winchcombe to Hailes Abbey and back (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-23 10:00 - 15:00
This scenic walk takes you from the charming Cotswold town of Winchcombe to the ruins of the medieval Hailes Abbey through an AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY with splendid views before returning via the historic Sudeley Castle to the car park.
The walk starts from the BACK LANE CAR PARK in Winchcombe, GL54 5PZ. Grid Reference: SP 023 284. What 3 Words: jets.kebab.detective. There is a £1 charge for the car park. Toilets are available in car park.
Please come well prepared with suitable clothing and boots for all weathers. You will need a packed lunch and plenty to drink.

£6.00

Distance:
8 miles

Duration:
5 hours

Difficulty:
Hard

Date:
23 May

Start time:
10:00 am

Walk leader:
Hermine Mann (Malvern Footpath Society & Wyre Forest Ramblers)

Start location:
Back Lane Car Park
Winchcombe
GL54 5PZ

Grid reference:
SP 023 284

What3Words:
jets.kebab.detective

Further details:
There is a W bus service or the 606 route running from the bus station in Cheltenham. A taxi ride from the nearest train station Cheltenham takes about 25 minutes.

When Radar came to Malvern (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-23 10:30 - 13:00
In May 1942 and in great secrecy, 2500 radar scientists were evacuated from the south coast to Malvern. Visit the key places involved and learn about this extraordinary story from the Malvern Radar and Technology History Society (MRATHS).
Hear about the move, the effects on life in Malvern and the impact the scientists of the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) had on the outcome of WWII. Many of those scientists became household names in their later careers.
The route is on pavements, with frequent explanatory stops, with some new insights to be shared.
The walk will end at the Malvern Winter Gardens where refreshments can be purchased.
£6.00
Distance: 2 miles
Duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Leisurely/Gentle
Date: 23 May
Start time: 10.30 am
Walk leader: Dennis Williams
Start location: Great Malvern Railway Station
Station Approach
Malvern
WR14 3AU
Grid reference: SO 783457
What3Words: bunch.hiking.cages
Further details:
Car parking at front and rear of station or on nearby streets.

Cradley – A Historic Village
2026-05-23 13:00 - 17:00 | Cradley Church, Rectory Lane, Cradley, WR13 5LH
As part of the Herefordshire Histories Festival, various events are taking place in the historic village of Cradley, located in beautiful rolling countryside on the western edge of the Malvern Hills National Landscape.
On 9, 10, 23 & 25 May, between 1pm and 5pm, visit Cradley Village Hall to see the exhibition ‘Cradley Through the Ages’ and to learn more about the oldest village hall in Herefordshire and the local history resources available there.
On 9, 10, 23 & 25 May, at 2pm, guided tours of the church (St. James the Great) and churchyard will take place.
On 9 & 10 May only, at 3.15pm, join a guided walk through historic Cradley.
Refreshments will be available in Cradley Village Hall all afternoon.

Walking up a thirst – from the Hop Shed Brewery (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-23 13:30 - 17:30
The walk starts and returns to the Hop Shed where their bar will be open before, and more sensibly for us, on our return to buy and sample some of their award winning ales. There will also be a pizza van open before to fuel up, or afterwards to satisfy a hunger. Up and down of 500m.
We set off and ramble through the hop farm that supplies the Hop Shed and onwards through apple and pear orchards. The surrounding countryside is quiet and beautiful nestling below the Suckley Hill with views of the Malvern Hills in the distance.
En route we will stop for a quick break so you may want to bring snacks and liquid refreshment.
£6.00
Distance: 7 miles
Duration: 3.5 to 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Date: 23 May
Start time: 1:30 pm
Walk leader: Rachel James
Start location: The Hop Shed Brewery
The Old Chicken Shed
Suckley
WR6 5EQ
Grid reference: SO 722503
What3Words: glorious-nothing-gems
Further details:
Park neatly at the Hop Shed, but unfortunately the brewery cannot be accessed via public transport as it is in a remote area

A Walk through Time (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-23 14:00 - 17:00
A walk through the area of Malvern known through history as ‘Barnards Green’. This includes the present day Barnards Green and down to Guarlford. It is an area full of history covering over 2000 years. It includes:

The current shopping area of Barnards Green
Pound Bank
Saxon and early Medieval Malvern
Guarlford Church
Wood Street – the prehistoric trackway
A WWII listening station
Victorian Mill
Bluebell Inn
The real location of Barnards Green.

The circular walk is about 5 miles and mostly flat. There are no stiles to climb but there are a couple of upward slopes along Wood Street. If it has been raining, it can be muddy.
The walk will take about 2½-3 hours, depending on how much time we spend investigating the various locations.

£6.00
Distance: 5 miles
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Date: 23 May
Start time: 2:00 pm
Walk leader: Catherine Banks
Start location: Barnards Green Bus Shelter, next to the roundabout
WR14 3BY
Grid reference: SO 78713 45626
What3Words: exists.racing.inner
Further details:
Car park in Geraldine Road (pay and display) or on-street parking. The nearest station is Great Malvern, about 1/4 mile away.

LANO Quartet at Croome (Elgar Festival 2026)
2026-05-23 14:30 - 15:30 | Croome Park, High Green, Worcester, Worcs, WR8 9DW
The perfect opportunity to combine exploration of Croome Court with the experience of wonderful English music performed in an idyllic setting – why not make a day of it?
Participants in the Elgar Festival/Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Young Performer Showcase Programme and formed in 2024, the LANO Quartet is a dynamic young ensemble dedicated to expressive and thoughtful music-making who perform across the UK and internationally. Recent engagements including the Leeds International Concert Series and the International Malcolm Arnold Festival. The LANO Quartet has received coaching from renowned ensembles such as the Kuss Quartet and the Castalian Quartet, among others. Each member brings a distinct musical background, enriching the quartet’s collective sound and artistic vision.
Programme
Rebecca Clarke Poem for string quartet
Elgar String Quartet in E minor, Op. 83
Tickets: £5 – available to book via the Elgar Festival website (please note: National Trust entry charges apply to non-members)
Visit the Elgar Festival website for more of this year’s events.

Enigma Re-imagined (Elgar Festival 2026)
2026-05-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Malvern Cube, WR14 2YF
An exciting new collaboration for 2026 led by Malvern-based multi-disciplinary artist Nakisha Swatton. In the run up to the festival Nakisha will work with local amateur and professional musicians to explore & create new musical portraits inspired by Elgar’s Enigma Variations, culminating in this performance of a new contemporary multi-instrumental suite.
Performers
Nakisha Swatton, director
Malvern Taiko Drummers
Daniel Neville String Ensemble
Black Voices Choir
Academy of Contemporary Music Birmingham
Grosvenor Road Studios
String Box Duo, Jill & Martin
Tickets: £8 – available via the Elgar Festival website.
Visit the Elgar Festival website for more of this year’s events.

Malvern Hills End to End (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-24 09:00 - 16:00
We will meet at North Quarry car park and take a coach to Chase End, at the Southern end of the Malvern Hills range. We will then walk back to North Quarry taking in each summit on route. There are some short, steep ascents and descents at the start of the walk. The terrain is mixed and can be muddy and loose under foot in places. Good walking boots/shoes are essential. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink. Keep an eye on the forecast for the day and layer up. Even on a sunny day it can be windy and cold on the tops. There is a cafe and toilets at the half way point and another toilet stop before the final push to the Beacon.
£16.00
Distance: 11 miles
Duration: 6-7 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Date: 24 May
Start time: 9:00 am
Walk leader: Richard Vale (Malvern Hill Trust)
Start location: North Quarry Car Park
North Malvern Road
WR14 4LT
Grid reference: SO 7711 4693
What3Words: munched.factory.teardrop
Further details:
North Quarry car park is pay and display, £6.00 for the day (but maybe increased from April). All monies raised from parking goes back to managing the hills.

Alfrick, Lulsley and the Knapp and Papermill (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-24 10:00 - 13:00
We leave Alfrick across fields towards Lulsley Pool. Here we join the Worcester way through to Blackhouse Woods, an ancient semi- natural woodland with rare lime trees and a rich moth population, where we follow leafy paths down a steep(ish) incline to an old orchard and a track leading to Whitehouse lane. Fields and tracks to the Knapp and Papermill and a lovely walk along Leigh brook where we might catch a darting flash of blue from the resident kingfisher and home with a short steep(ish) incline. The Knapp and Papermill reserve is the home of an 18th century Papermill ( no longer working) and has a rich geological history involving a glacial meltwater gorge. The surrounding woodland is ancient and the area around the reserve once contained a deserted medieval settlement called Kenelmstowe.
There are a few hills on this walk, 1-3 stiles depending on terrain on the day and lovely views.

£6.00

Distance:
5 miles

Duration:
3 hours

Difficulty:
Moderate

Date:
24 May

Start time:
10:00 am

Walk leader:
Amanda Williams (Leadon Vale Ramblers & Alfrick Active)

Start location:
Alfrick village hall
Clay green
Alfrick
WR6 5HJ

Grid reference:
SO 7453

What3Words:
https://w3w.co/develop.digested.robe

Further details:
Park behind the village hall. There is a bus stop nearby and Malvern train station is 8 miles away
Cafe for refreshments at end of walk on weekdays

Bredon Hill (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-24 10:00 - 15:00
A lovely traverse of Bredon Hill. A short climb to start, then a lovely flat walk south along the side of the hill before heading to the top. Back through woods and fields.
Up and down of 1,300 feet.
£6.00
Distance: 8 miles
Duration: 5 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Date: 1 June
Start time: 10:30 am
Walk leader: Mary Walters (Powick Ramblers)
Start location: Great Comberton Village Hall
Great Comberton
Pershore
WR10 3DP
Grid reference: SO 954014 1973
What3Words: Trickle-Snips-Shuttled
Further details:
Donation of £1 required to park at village hall.
Bring a packed lunch

Industrial Malvern (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-24 10:00 - 15:00
This route will focus on the industrial past of the Malvern Hills to include mining, tramways and light rail as well as the heavy railways and some of the infrastructure associated with this.
The route goes past the Downs School, up Brockhill Rd turning off towards Park Lane and Harcourt Rd, following the county boundary between Worcestershire and Herefordshire heading north on west side lower slopes of the hills along West Malvern. Then onto the ridge line of the Suckley Hills towards Storridge where it intersects with Cowleigh Rd and then following the Worcestershire Way to Earl Beauchamps fountain. Heading up through Tank Quarry and over North Hill the route takes in the peaks of North Hill (optional) and Worcester Beacon and back to Wyche Cutting. Final stretch is from Chase Inn to Colwall taking in mine shafts and the tunnel vent.

£6.00

Distance:
8 miles

Duration:
5 hours

Difficulty:
Hard

Date:
24 May

Start time:
10:00 am

Walk leader:
Beverley Nielsen

Start location:
Colwall Station car park (tbc)
Station Road
WR136RN

Grid reference:
SO 756425

What3Words:
https://w3w.co/late.perfectly.organic

Further details:
To follow

Malvern: The Culture and The Cure (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-24 14:30 - 16:00
Starting at the Florence Nightingale bench in Church Street, this is an entertaining and informative circular walk around Great Malvern led by a Civic Society guide. The emphasis will be on the town’s varied cultural history, as well as its role as a centre for the controversial Water Cure in the 19th Century. We’ll hear about such artistic luminaries as Sir Edward Elgar, Dame Laura Knight, George Bernard Shaw, Jenny Lind, Evelyn Waugh, CS Lewis and Elizabeth Barret Browning and their connections to Malvern. Plus how the Water Cure attracted the great and the good to this small Worcestershire town, and how it was the starting point for one of Victorian England’s greatest scandals! Duration: approx 90 minutes. The route will include The Priory, Belle Vue Terrace, The Unicorn, Dr Gully and Dr Wilson’s Water Cure Establishments and Priory Park. Due to the hilly nature of the town this is sadly not suitable for those with mobility issues. Includes one steep descent down steps. No stiles.
£6.00
Distance: 1 miles
Duration: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Date: 21May & 24 May
Start time: 2:30 pm
Walk leader: Nick St George
Start location: The Florence Nightingale Bench, Church St, Great Malvern (near Malvern Tourist Information Centre)
Church Street
Great Malvern
WR14 2AY
Grid reference: SO 776459
What3Words: pits.spray.prices
Further details:
Nearest parking: Grange Road, Edith Walk, St Ann’s Road. Approx 10 mins walk from Great Malvern station.

Helicopter rescue – what money can’t buy! (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-24 17:00 - 20:00
The Midlands Air Ambulance service is the charity the Festival supports as they do a wonderful job rescuing folk injured on outside events – fortunately we’ve never needed their services. Annually they invite us to visit their air base behind Strensham motorway services on the northbound M5 just past junc 8, where hopefully we will meet the medics and hear about the wonderful service they provide and see over the helicopter. There is of course a risk that they will be out on an emergency call, in which case we will have to settle for an interesting presentation by one of their staff.
As this is a walking festival, after the visit to the base, we’ll drive back to Upton for a leisurely 2 mile walk around by the River Severn before departing
You may want to bring some liquid refreshment and snacks for the afternoon / evening.
No stiles and no altitude gain.
£6.00
Distance: 2 miles
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Date: 24 May
Start time: 5:00 pm
Walk leader: Keith Collins
Start location: Midlands Air Ambulance base behind Strensham services
Strensham services on north bound M5 just junc 8
Croome
WR8 0BZ
Grid reference: SO 894 407
What3Words: rigs.mailings.talkative
Further details:
There is plenty of parking outside the air base but no access via public transport. Full access details will be given to those booked nearer the date of the event.

Hanley Castle (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-24 18:00 - 19:30
A fascinating historical walk in and around the pretty village of Hanley Castle. Pass many interesting homes and learn about the people who lived in them, including:

a 17th century cottage occupied for more than 200 years by five generations of the same family;
a pub whose landlords for more than 100 years have been three generations of another family;
one of the oldest cottages in the parish, containing a beam proved to have been felled in the winter of 1457/58;
a former vicarage and farm occupied in the mid-19th century by a gifted tenant farmer who won prizes for his livestock and designed a silver medal for the county agricultural society;
Severn End mansion, ancestral home of the Lechmere family since the 12th century.

£6.00
Distance: 2 miles
Duration: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Date: 24 May
Start time: 6:00 pm
Walk leader: Malcolm Fare
Start location: Hanley Castle High School car park
WR8 0BL
Grid reference: SO 83918 42031
What3Words: timed.boasted.force
Further details:
5.5 miles from railway station

An Evening with Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber (Elgar Festival 2026) (Sold Out)
2026-05-24 19:00 - 21:30 | Elmslie House, WR14 3AG
In celebration of his seventy-fifth birthday, Elgar Festival Patron Julian Lloyd Webber joins forces with his wife and fellow cellist Jiaxin in a fascinating ‘double-sided’ programme. With a first half of live music exploring the extraordinary reasons why Bach’s sublime Cello Suites remained unperformed for two hundred years, the second half sees Julian embark on a magical musical tour through his career along with unique video clips and a rare chance to quiz both Lloyd Webbers about playing with musical icons Yehudi Menuhin, Stephane Grappelli, Joaquin Rodrigo, Philip Glass, Elton John, Julian’s brother Andrew Lloyd Webber and many more.
Tickets: as of 22 April, this event is sold out; check the Elgar Festival website for any returned tickets that may become available
Visit the Elgar Festival website for more of this year’s events.

Hartlebury Common (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-25 10:00 - 12:30
The walk starts in Hartlebury Common (free) Car Park. We cross the main road and head along the lane to join the disused railway line. We follow the line along to the canal and then follow the canal into the edge of Stourport. We then walk along the River Severn, past the confluence with the Stour and finally cut across country back to the common. No stiles.
The walk is mostly flat, with a slight ascent at the end, back on to the common. No stiles etc.
There is a nice mixture of country walking and post-industrial environment.
There is a possible coffee stop in the middle of the walk by the river: bring drink/snack.
£6.00
Distance: 4 miles
Duration: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Date: 25 May
Start time: 10:00 am
Walk leader: Colin Walls (Malvern Walking Group)
Start location: Hartlebury Common Car Park
DY13 9JB
Grid reference: SO 826714
What3Words: https://what3words.com/town.squad.dollar
Further details:
Car park is free of charge.
1.8 miles from Hartlebury Railway Station.

History in Hanley Castle and Upton (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-25 10:00 - 12:30
Starting from the Hanley Road car park we walk along by the River Severn to Hanley Castle to look at the Medieval wharf and then the church. From there we go to King John’s Hunting Lodge and on past the mill on Poolbrook. Our route then takes us over the disused Malvern to Upton railway line and to Clive’s Fruit Farm where we break for refreshments (at own cost). From Clive’s we visit the cholera graveyard and then follow the railway line back to Upton. Finally we walk through the town and look at some of the historical sites in Upton itself, returning to the car park.
There are 3 stiles. Paths can be muddy, so good footwear is required.

£6.00

Distance:
5 miles

Duration:
2.5 hours

Difficulty:
Easy

Date:
25 May

Start time:
10:00 am

Walk leader:
Catherine Banks

Start location:
Hanley Road Car Park
Hanley Road
Upton upon Severn
WR8 0HU

Grid reference:
SO 849407

What3Words:
replaying.impeached.doormat

Further details:
The car park charges are £2 for 4 hours (2025).
Meet by the payment machine.

The Pubs of Malvern – Past, Current and Future (Malvern Walking Festival)
2026-05-25 10:00 - 13:00
This is a town walk, mostly on the flat. We will start off at Malvern Town Centre, looking at the pubs there, both current or historical. All are shaped by the history of Malvern itself and our turbulent brewing industry. Walking to Link Top along the main road we will look at the pubs there. After a return via Graham Road, and a few more pubs, we will (optionally) sample the offerings of one of our town centre pubs.

£6.00

Distance:
2 miles

Duration:
3 hours

Difficulty:
Easy

Date:
25 May

Start time:
10:00 am

Walk leader:
Richard Newton

Start location:
near Elgar statue, Belle Vue Island.
Church Street
Great Malvern
WR14 2AB

Grid reference:
SO 77512 45951

What3Words:
snake.caller.perky

Further details:
Parking in the town centre.
Belle Vue Island is in flat area between the Post Office and main Wells Road.
Nearest railway station is Great Malvern, half a mile away
