The details of this walk were checked against the route source on 14 Sept 2026. Distance and time as published by Malvern Hills Trust (path length). Things change, so check before you travel.
Route overview
Jubilee Drive runs along the western side of the hills, and above it the Malvern Hills Trust maintains a path about 1.5 km long between the Wyche Cutting and Gardiner’s Quarry car park. The gradient is gentle, which makes it one of the easiest walks on the hills with a proper view. The whole of Herefordshire opens out to the west.
Start from either end and return the same way, or catch the 675 bus at the Wyche for a one-way walk. The surface is rough and narrow in places and the Trust says it is not suitable for wheelchairs. It is fine for most walkers and very good in the evening light.
Route map
Route diagram only, not for navigation.
Route points as a list
- Start: Gardiner’s Quarry car park, Jubilee Drive
- Jubilee Drive
- Pinnacle Hill
- Jubilee Hill
- Wyche Cutting
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
- A family weekend on 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. The original published route has its own directions.
Terrain and elevation
- Total ascent
- Not yet measured
- Highest point
- —
- Route type
- Out and back
- Gravel track
- Grass paths
- Woodland paths
Access notes: The Malvern Hills Trust lists this path on its easier-access page: a gentle gradient, but the surface is rough and narrow in places and the Trust says it is not suitable for wheelchair users. Walkers have priority and horse riding is restricted. Source: official route information.
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)
Bus: The 675 bus crosses the Wyche Cutting at the northern end of the path. Bus information.
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.
Viewpoint
Jubilee Drive
The road along the western side of the hills, with a gently graded path above it and wide views west across Herefordshire.
Landmark
Wyche Cutting
The narrow pass cut through the ridge carrying the road between Malvern and Colwall, on the Herefordshire–Worcestershire boundary.
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 windproof layer The ridge is exposed. It is often much windier and colder on top than in the town below.
- Water and a snack There is nowhere to buy food or drink on the ridge itself.
Nearby walks
Worcestershire Beacon along the ridge from Jubilee Drive
- Distance: 7.3 km · 4.5 mi
- Time: 2 hr 25 min
- Route type: Out and back
The central ridge: from Jubilee Drive past Pinnacle and Jubilee hills, across the Wyche and up over Summer Hill to the Beacon, then back.
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 14 Sept 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.