Two days is enough to see the best of the Malverns without rushing. Pick the plan that fits your trip, or build your own in the trip planner.
Every plan below pairs a walk with lunch nearby and a sensible base. The walks, cafés, pubs and places to stay are the same checked records as the rest of the site, so distances, times and facilities are consistent everywhere. We don’t list opening hours because they change: always check before you travel.
Where to base yourself: Great Malvern if you’re arriving by train or want cafés and a theatre on the doorstep; near British Camp or in Colwall for the quieter southern hills. See the best bases for a walking weekend.
2 days · First visit
The two things everyone should do on a first visit: stand on the Worcestershire Beacon, and climb the Iron Age ramparts of British Camp. Here is how to fit them into a relaxed weekend.
About 12 km of walking in total · suits first-time visitors
2 days · Two days of walking
The hills have two characters: the high, busy northern tops above Great Malvern, and the quieter hillforts of the south. Walk one each day.
About 11 km of walking in total · suits regular walkers
2 days · Big walking weekend
For keen walkers: every summit of the ridge in one long day, then an easier day in the quiet south.
About 29 km of walking in total · suits fit, experienced walkers
2 days · Dog-friendly weekend
The Malverns are brilliant for dogs, as long as you plan around the grazing animals. Here is a weekend with walks, pubs and stays that welcome dogs.
About 13 km of walking in total · suits dog owners
2 days · Couples
Big views, afternoon tea and a good dinner: an unhurried weekend with one proper walk each day.
About 5 km of walking in total · suits couples
2 days · Without a car
Arrive by train, walk from your door and use the railway to link walks over the ridge. No car needed.
About 13 km of walking in total · suits visitors arriving by train
2 days · Family
Short walks with a target at the end: a hillfort, a cave, a spring house. Plus easier-access paths and ideas for a wet day.
About 6 km of walking in total · suits families with children
One day · One day
Only got a day? See both great landmarks of the hills: the British Camp hillfort and the Worcestershire Beacon, with lunch in between.
About 4 km of walking in total · suits day visitors by car
Tell the trip planner how long you have, who’s coming and how you’re travelling, and it builds a day-by-day plan with walks, food stops and places to stay.