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11 routes

Family walks in the Malvern Hills

Good family walks here have a clear goal, like a summit, a cave or a hillfort. They are short enough for small legs and have a café or toilets not far away. We have included routes with interest along the way and noted where paths are steep, loose or unsuitable for pushchairs.

  • 11 walks
  • 1.3 km–6.4 km range
  • 4 circular
  • 11 good for dogs

The routes

Filter all walks
Moderate Popular

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.

  • Dogs
  • Families
  • Pub
Under 1 hour
Easy

St Ann’s Well from Great Malvern

  • Distance: 1.3 km · 0.8 mi
  • Time: 30 min
  • Route type: Out and back

A short, steep stroll from the town centre up to St Ann’s Well, the 1813 spring house with a café, on the way to the Worcestershire Beacon.

  • Dogs
  • Families
  • Car-free
Under 1 hour
Easy

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.

  • Dogs
  • Families
  • Accessible
  • Pub
Under 1 hour
Easy Popular

Easiest route up the Worcestershire Beacon

  • Distance: 2.6 km · 1.6 mi
  • Time: 55 min
  • Route type: Out and back

The gentlest way to the top of the Malverns: start high at the Beacon Road car park and follow the surfaced path to the summit toposcope.

  • Dogs
  • Families
Under 1 hour
Moderate

Midsummer Hill hillfort from Hollybush

  • Distance: 2.8 km · 1.7 mi
  • Time: 55 min
  • Route type: Out and back

A short climb from Hollybush to the ramparts of the Midsummer Hill fort, where more than 400 hut platforms have been found.

  • Dogs
  • Families
Under 1 hour
Easy

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.

  • Dogs
  • Families
  • Accessible
Under 1 hour
Moderate

British Camp and Giant’s Cave circular

  • Distance: 3.2 km · 2.0 mi
  • Time: 1 hr 5 min
  • Route type: Circular

Over the British Camp hillfort and south along the ridge to the little Giant’s Cave, returning below the hills. A great family outing.

  • Dogs
  • Families
  • Pub
1–2 hours
Easy Popular

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.

  • Dogs
  • Families
  • Pub
1–2 hours
Moderate Popular

Worcestershire Beacon from Great Malvern station

  • Distance: 6.4 km · 4.0 mi
  • Time: 2 hr 30 min
  • Route type: Circular

The classic climb from the town: past the Priory and St Ann’s Well to the toposcope on the highest point of the Malverns, and back down.

  • Dogs
  • Families
  • Car-free
Half day
Moderate Popular

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.

  • Dogs
  • Families
  • Car-free
Half day
Moderate

Ragged Stone Hill and Chase End Hill

  • Distance: 5.6 km · 3.5 mi
  • Time: 2 hr 30 min
  • Route type: Circular

The quiet southern end of the Malverns: a steep pull up Ragged Stone Hill, then on to the trig point on Chase End Hill, the last summit in the range.

  • Dogs
  • Families
Half day

Compare at a glance

Distance, time, climb and parking side by side.

Comparison of family walks in the malvern hills
Walk Distance Time Difficulty Route Ascent Dogs Pub Parking
British Camp hillfort summit 1.3 km · 0.8 mi 30 min Moderate Out and back 102 m Yes Yes British Camp car park
St Ann’s Well from Great Malvern 1.3 km · 0.8 mi 30 min Easy Out and back 89 m Yes — Train station
Black Hill easier-access trail 1.4 km · 0.9 mi 40 min Easy Out and back — Yes Yes Black Hill car park
Easiest route up the Worcestershire Beacon 2.6 km · 1.6 mi 55 min Easy Out and back 132 m Yes — Upper Beacon Road car park
Midsummer Hill hillfort from Hollybush 2.8 km · 1.7 mi 55 min Moderate Out and back 133 m Yes — Hollybush car park
Jubilee Drive path from the Wyche 3.0 km · 1.9 mi 1 hr Easy Out and back — Yes — Gardiner's Quarry car park
British Camp and Giant’s Cave circular 3.2 km · 2.0 mi 1 hr 5 min Moderate Circular 142 m Yes Yes British Camp car park
British Camp and reservoir circular 4.8 km · 3.0 mi 2 hrs Easy Circular — Yes Yes British Camp car park
Worcestershire Beacon from Great Malvern station 6.4 km · 4.0 mi 2 hr 30 min Moderate Circular — Yes — Train station
Colwall to Great Malvern over the hills 5.5 km · 3.4 mi 2 hr 30 min Moderate Linear (one way) — Yes — Train station
Ragged Stone Hill and Chase End Hill 5.6 km · 3.5 mi 2 hr 30 min Moderate Circular 238 m Yes — Hollybush car park

Times are for a steady pace without long stops. Ascent is the approximate total climb.

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