Seeking your next walking or cycling holiday? Looking for some of the most picturesque views that the whole of the UK has to offer? Then, why not come and explore the Malvern Hills, a uniquely beautiful location that’s spread over three English counties (Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire) and has been awarded an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for its series of dramatic hills and rich historical culture.
A choice of good quality holiday lettings for a week or weekend break
Find a comfortable holiday letting as a base for a week or short break and escape to the countryside to cycle or walk and absorb the beauty all around. The holiday cottages are ready and set up to welcome guests with freshly laundered bedlinen on the beds, good bathrooms and living accommodation. Many are pet-friendly so that you can take your dogs out on the Malvern Hills with you.
Click to view country cottages in the Malvern Hills
Whether you’re wanting to put your feet up or get your adrenaline pumping, there’s something for everyone in some of England’s finest countryside. Choose whether to have that once in a lifetime opportunity that you’ve always dreamed of with a bird’s eye view of these amazing landscapes by contacting Malvern Hang Gliding Club. Professionals and novices both welcome. Alternatively, if it’s animals you love, why not feel the rush of the fresh country air by horse riding across the width and breadth of the hills and commons. Want some practice first? Malvern Riding School is a friendly outdoor training centre that’s been established within easy reach of the hills since 1999.
Take your dog on holiday to the Malvern Hills
There’s nothing better than appreciating the panoramic landscapes around you than by walking around and adjusting to country life. Try telling that to your pet pooch too! With walkers and dogs allowed to access all areas of the Malvern Hills, will you choose to trek End to End for over 9 miles and take in all the sensational sights or enjoy a circular 3 mile walk around the Worcestershire Beacon, the hills highest location at 425m. As you go, why not enjoy a halfway and hearty refreshment of Homity Pie with chutney and a Hot Chocolate at the picture-perfect St Anne’s Well Café? Go on! You’ve most certainly earned it.
Malvern Food Festival and oodles of history
History is so important in this part of the world and fortunately, the Malvern Hills have an abundance of it nearby. Great Malvern is a treat of a town to visit for young and old alike and as well as The Great Malvern Food Festival taking place every May and showcasing the stunning local produce in front of crowds of thousands of people, there is also The Great Malvern Priory, once a Benedictine monastery and now an Anglican parish church which at almost 1,000 years old has been recognised as the building that truly signifies the incredible beauty of the whole area. Art, music and literature are other fields synonymous to this popular location. It is rumoured that C.S Lewis and J R R Tolkien loved the area so much that it helped inspire them to write their own respective ground-breaking novels, whereas 19th century composer Edward Elgar, born and bred in the area wrote many of his popular compositions whilst cycling and walking around many of the lovely town attractions. How about following in the footsteps of the great man himself by taking the popular Elgar Route and discovering the Elgar Birthplace Museum in Lower Broadheath as well as his final resting place at St Wulstan’s Catholic Church in Little Malvern?
Romantic picnics and theatre in those hills
Ready to wind down after your day exploring Malvern Hills in all its glory? Make your way to the Edwardian Malvern Theatres overlooking Priory Park, the perfect setting for that romantic picnic. A hub for drama and entertainment in the West Midlands, the complex regularly welcomes award winning shows from slapstick pantomimes to leading West End productions. Did you know that the Autumn in Malvern Festival held annually in the stunning setting of the magnificent Malvern Hills were founded by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw in 1929? Certainly, food for thought. Especially when dining at the theatres high quality restaurant Scene Bistro with its locally sourced and freshly prepared food, ranging from Calves Liver with Crispy Bacon to a luxurious and quintessentially British Afternoon Tea.
A day out in Upton-upon-Severn, just east of the Malvern Hills
If there’s one place in the Malvern Hills that’s got it all, it’s definitely Upton Upon Severn. Once a thriving port on the banks of the River Severn, the longest river in the UK, the town now blends an eclectic mix of historical and contemporary culture. A feat that the locals are extremely proud of! At the heart of this charming town is its array of music festivals throughout the year. Whether it’s jazz, folk, the blues or something different, everybody will be left tapping their foot outside the Old Church of St Peter and St Paul, nicknamed ‘The Pepperpot’ to songs of past and present.
Want to find out more about the history of the oldest surviving building in Upton? The Upton Upon Severn Tourist Information Centre is now housed inside ‘The Pepperpot’. If you’ve got green fingers, then again here is the ideal place for you. The floral blooms around the whole of the town are always second to none, especially in 2008 when it was awarded first prize at the Regional Heart Of England Bloom Campaign. A glorious feat which certainly matches the town’s stunning backdrop.
End your day in the pub British-style
After all this sightseeing, you could do much worse than having a pint in the variety of pubs dotted around the town. With taverns on the High Street including Ye Olde Anchor Inn, The Kings Head Inn and The White Lion Hotel, will you be tempted to get your glad rags on and make a night of it? We are guessing yes!
The Malvern Hills are one of those special places in the UK that captures your imagination and runs away with it. Encompassing sensational scenery, interesting history and a walk with the dog to boot, it’s enough to say to yourself ‘What are you waiting for? Book a country cottage for a few days and get those bags packed today!’
