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
This loop turns the British Camp climb into a longer outing. After the hillfort, follow the ridge south over Millennium Hill and Broad Down towards Hangman’s Hill, with the Shire Ditch earthwork running alongside the path. Then look for Giant’s Cave, a tiny man-made cave cut into pillow lava. It is also called Clutter’s Cave.
From the cave, drop down to the lower paths on the flank of the hills and wander back north to the car park. Children love the cave as a target, and the ridge section has some of the best views in the southern hills.
The ridge is exposed and some slopes are steep and loose, so good footwear helps.
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: British Camp car park, A449
- British Camp
- Millennium Hill
- Giant’s Cave
- Hangman's Hill
- Return to the start
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
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Directly across the road from the British Camp car park, so it is the obvious stop before or after the hillfort. The hotel says walking maps are available from reception.
- Walk from the door
- Dogs welcome
- Breakfast
- Food on site
Book direct (opens in a new tab) Website for Malvern Hills Hotel (opens in a new tab) Directions to Malvern Hills Hotel (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
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Right beside British Camp car park, at the start of the climb to the hillfort. It posts news and opening times on Facebook.
- By a walk start
Website for Sally's Place (opens in a new tab) Call Sally's Place Directions to Sally's Place (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
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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)
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 British Camp: right at the hills, below the Iron Age hillfort, with the southern ridge on the doorstep.
- Walking from the door
- Southern hills
- Dog walks
Our picks nearby
-
Directly across the road from the British Camp car park, so it is the obvious stop before or after the hillfort. The hotel says walking maps are available from reception.
- Walk from the door
- Dogs welcome
- Breakfast
- Food on site
Book direct (opens in a new tab) Website for Malvern Hills Hotel (opens in a new tab) Directions to Malvern Hills Hotel (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
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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)
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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: Malvern Wells or Colwall. 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 · 2.2 km from the start. Station details · Train times
- No regular bus stops close to this walk. Bus routes around the hills.
- 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: British Camp and reservoir circular · 4.8 km, 2 hrs
- 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
- 142 m (466 ft)
- Highest point
- 338 m (1109 ft)
- Route type
- Circular
- Grass paths
- Steep sections
- Rocky in places
- Exposed ridge
- Muddy when wet
Parking and getting there
Pay-and-display car park on A449 Ledbury Road, close to British Camp and Millennium Hill.
- Toilets
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 · Herefordshire Beacon
British Camp
Herefordshire Beacon, crowned by British Camp: one of the best-preserved Iron Age hillforts in Britain, with huge views from its ramparts.
Hill
Millennium Hill
The summit just south of British Camp, on the route from Giant’s Cave up to the hillfort.
Hill · Hangmans Hill
Hangman's Hill
A southern summit between Broad Down and Swinyard Hill, above Giant’s Cave.
Landmark
Giant’s Cave
A tiny man-made cave cut into pillow lava on the ridge south of British Camp, and a favourite target on family walks.
Landmark
Shire Ditch
An ancient bank and ditch along the crest of the hills, long linked to a 13th-century boundary dispute but now thought to be partly much older.
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
British Camp and reservoir circular
- Distance: 4.8 km · 3.0 mi
- Time: 2 hrs
- Route type: Circular
A gentle loop around the lower slopes of British Camp and the old reservoir, from the car park at Wynds Point. Add the summit if you have the energy.
British Camp hillfort summit
- Distance: 1.3 km · 0.8 mi
- Time: 30 min
- Route type: Out and back
Short and steep: straight up from the car park to the ramparts of one of Britain’s finest Iron Age hillforts, with huge views both ways.
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.