I love being outside, and although the weather in the UK can be a bit unpredictable, on a good day, there are few places that can match it. Whilst the hills in Worcestershire's Malvern are not the most famous in the UK, they allow a more relaxing, personal experience. Many of these hills are quite small, but what they lack in size they more than make up for in lush greenery, soaring views and exclusivity. It's easy to spend a few hours in these hills and never see another person.
I've walked in the sandy forests in Germany, high canopy jungles in Thailand and open glens of Scotland, but for pure views, and a perfect place to sit and think, these hills are up there amongst the best. Late Spring is the best time to visit this area, with less chance of a rainy wash out, and the temperatures are not too high (a rare risk in this central part of the UK).
For the truly adventurous who'd like to experience the hills to their fullest, there is a small cave near the top of the more southern 'beacon' (the word normally used for these hills) where two people can comfortably sleep. I spent two nights in this cave, and by day explored the hills and the tiny little towns that dot this area. I found a cute little antique bookshop in Colwall (one of the small villages in the area) where I quite randomly found a 1st Edition Hemingway book (I'm a bit of a collector) for a great price, and then sat in the most picturesque cafe with a terrace looking out over the valley and had a cider. Colwall also has a train station for those who wouldn't mind cutting out a bit of the climb up into the hills.
The perfect place to visit after a tourist attraction packed visit to London or Birmingham
If you need to get rid of some of the city stresses, find a bit of peace or just to explore one of the most beautiful areas in the UK, the Malvern Hills of Worcestershire would be high up on my list!
The author
Joe Thorpe
Are you ready to experience this story yourself?
