The details of this walk were checked against the route source on 15 Sept 2026. Distance and climb measured along mapped paths; time estimated at 4 km/h plus 1 minute per 10 m of climb, without stops. Things change, so check before you travel.
Route overview
Ordnance Survey’s GetOutside team describes this ridge walk to the highest trig pillar in Worcestershire. It starts at Gardiner’s Quarry car park on Jubilee Drive. The route climbs a steep zigzag path, or a gentler alternative, onto the ridge by the side of Pinnacle Hill. It then follows the crest north over Jubilee and Perseverance hills to the Wyche Cutting, and on over Summer Hill to the Worcestershire Beacon.
Return the same way for the best of the views in both directions. Or make a loop by coming back along the lower paths and the Jubilee Drive path. It is a satisfying half-day that crosses the middle of the range.
Route map
Route line follows mapped paths (OpenStreetMap). Use it to plan, and follow the paths and signs on the ground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Route points as a list
- Start: Gardiner’s Quarry car park, Jubilee Drive
- Pinnacle Hill
- Jubilee Hill
- Perseverance Hill
- Wyche Cutting
- Summer Hill
- Worcestershire Beacon
- Worcestershire Beacon toposcope
After your walk
Where to eat, where to stay and how to get back, worked out from where this walk starts and ends.
Where to eat after this walk
-
A tearoom on Jubilee Drive with a balcony looking west over Herefordshire, close to the Jubilee Drive car parks. It says booking is essential for breakfast and lunch.
- By a walk start
- Dogs welcome
Website for The Kettle Sings (opens in a new tab) Directions to The Kettle Sings (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
-
A hillside hotel above Malvern Wells with wide views east. It serves afternoon tea in its restaurant or on the covered terrace (book at least 24 hours ahead), and has pet-friendly rooms.
- Walk from the door
- Dogs in rooms
- Parking
- Breakfast
- Packed lunches
- Accessible rooms
Book direct (opens in a new tab) Website for The Cottage in the Wood (opens in a new tab) Directions to The Cottage in the Wood (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
-
A freehouse in Upper Colwall on the western slopes that bills itself as a stop after a walk on the hills.
- Dogs welcome
Website for The Chase Inn (opens in a new tab) Directions to The Chase Inn (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
Our picks are chosen for their position near the route; partners are paid placements. Check opening times before you go. More food and drink
Staying overnight?
The most practical base for this walk is Malvern Wells: hillside village between the town and British Camp, close to the central ridge.
- Central ridge
- Quieter stays
- Springs and wells
Our picks nearby
-
Three self-catering properties on the Perrycroft estate on Jubilee Drive, right on the western flank of the hills, each with a private garden. Sleeps: The Lodge 6; Coach House Cottage 4; The Hayloft 2.
- Walk from the door
- Dogs in rooms
- Parking
- Drying room
- Self-catering
Book direct (opens in a new tab) Website for Perrycroft Holiday Cottages (opens in a new tab) Directions to Perrycroft Holiday Cottages (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
-
A hillside hotel above Malvern Wells with wide views east. It serves afternoon tea in its restaurant or on the covered terrace (book at least 24 hours ahead), and has pet-friendly rooms.
- Walk from the door
- Dogs in rooms
- Parking
- Breakfast
- Packed lunches
- Accessible rooms
Book direct (opens in a new tab) Website for The Cottage in the Wood (opens in a new tab) Directions to The Cottage in the Wood (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
-
A B&B in two acres of garden below the central hills at Malvern Wells, with parking. Bookings are by phone or email. The owners say sat-navs using the postcode go to the wrong end of Green Lane, so use the house name.
- Parking
- Breakfast
Website for The Dell House (opens in a new tab) Call The Dell House Directions to The Dell House (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
Also close: Colwall or British Camp. Compare all areas.
Getting back
This walk brings you back to where you started. If you came by train or bus, here is how to get home from the finish.
- Colwall station · 1.1 km from the start. Station details · Train times
- Bus 675 (First Worcestershire): Crossing the hills at the Wyche. Good for linear walks: Upper Wyche and the Beacon Road car parks, West Malvern and Colwall. Monday to Saturday (no Sunday service found). Timetable
- Bus 42 / S42 (LMS Travel): Getting from the town up towards the Wyche. Monday to Saturday. Timetable
- Access Taxis (taxi, Great Malvern) · 07749 621594 · website
- Pittstop Travel (taxi, Malvern) · 07894 630458 · website
- Smith Taxis (taxi, Malvern) · 01684 568686 · website
We don’t copy timetables because they change. Check times on the day, especially on Sundays. The hills without a car
Making a weekend of it?
- Tomorrow: Colwall to Great Malvern over the hills · 5.5 km, 2 hr 30 min
- Weekend itineraries for the hills
- Build a trip plan around this walk
Step-by-step directions
The route overview and map above show the way. We add turn-by-turn directions once we have walked a route ourselves, so they’re right on the ground.
Terrain and elevation
- Total ascent
- 348 m (1142 ft)
- Highest point
- 425 m (1394 ft)
- Route type
- Out and back
- Grass paths
- Steep sections
- Exposed ridge
Parking and getting there
Pay-and-display car park on Jubilee Drive, close to Pinnacle Hill and Jubilee Hill.
Charges: £6.50 per day (valid in any Malvern Hills Trust car park that day), or £3.75 after 6pm. Blue Badge holders free. (checked Sept 2026)
Pay-and-display car park on Jubilee Drive, close to Jubilee Hill and Pinnacle Hill.
Charges: £6.50 per day (valid in any Malvern Hills Trust car park that day), or £3.75 after 6pm. Blue Badge holders free. (checked Sept 2026)
Safety and walking conditions
- The ridge is exposed. Wind and cold are often much stronger on the tops than in the town. Low cloud can reduce visibility quickly.
- Steep ground and old quarries. Some slopes are steep and loose, and quarry edges can be sheer. Stay on the paths and keep children close.
- Livestock. Cattle and sheep graze parts of the hills. Keep dogs under close control and on a lead near animals.
- Daylight. Allow time to finish in daylight, especially in autumn and winter. Check sunset and conditions for today.
- In an emergency call 999 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue. Give your location as precisely as you can.
This information is general guidance, not a guarantee of safety. Conditions change, and you are responsible for deciding whether a route is right for you on the day.
Hills and viewpoints on this walk
Hill
Pinnacle Hill
A central summit above Jubilee Drive with possible Bronze Age burial mounds, and a surfaced easier-access trail on its western slopes.
Hill
Jubilee Hill
A central summit named in 2002 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, between Perseverance and Pinnacle hills.
Hill · Worcester Beacon
Worcestershire Beacon
The highest point of the Malvern Hills and of Worcestershire, with a toposcope and trig pillar on its rocky summit.
Landmark
Wyche Cutting
The narrow pass cut through the ridge carrying the road between Malvern and Colwall, on the Herefordshire–Worcestershire boundary.
Viewpoint
Worcestershire Beacon toposcope
The 1897 view indicator on the highest point of the Malverns, naming the landmarks you can see across the surrounding counties on a clear day.
What to take on this walk
- Shoes or boots with good grip Grass slopes get slippery after rain and some paths are loose and rocky.
- A waterproof jacket Showers arrive quickly from the west, and there is little shelter on the tops.
- Water and a snack There is nowhere to buy food or drink on the ridge itself.
- A map, and a phone with the route saved offline Paths criss-cross the hills and cloud can come down quickly. Phone signal is patchy on the western slopes.
Nearby walks
Jubilee Drive path from the Wyche
- Distance: 3.0 km · 1.9 mi
- Time: 1 hr
- Route type: Out and back
A gently graded path above Jubilee Drive with big views west over Herefordshire, from the Wyche Cutting to Gardiner’s Quarry car park.
Colwall to Great Malvern over the hills
- Distance: 5.5 km · 3.4 mi
- Time: 2 hr 30 min
- Route type: Linear
Take the train to Colwall, climb onto the ridge below the Beacon, cross to North Hill and descend to Great Malvern or Malvern Link for the train home.
Black Hill easier-access trail
- Distance: 1.4 km · 0.9 mi
- Time: 40 min
- Route type: Out and back
A short surfaced trail from Black Hill car park towards the ridgeline, laid by the Malvern Hills Trust for pushchairs and people with limited mobility.
More walks like this
Last checked 15 Sept 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.