The centre of Alfrick includes the
village shop and church, although
sadly the Swan Inn is no longer open
to serve local ales.
Knapp and Papermill reserve
provides a valley of birdsong through
orchards, woodlands and wildower
meadows, lying alongside the
undulating Leigh Brook.
This outcrop of Old Red
Sandstone was deposited by graded
streams and estuaries following the
tropical seas which developed the
fossiliferous Amestry Limestone.
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Ravenshill Wood Nature Reserve.
The small Discovery Centre is open
March to September, but visitors may
enjoy the walks at any time.
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The ravages of time have taken their
toll of this elderly orchard.
Lulsley boasts a number of
dwellings of considerable antiquity,
including a moated house. The manor
was given to Cormeilles Abbey in
Normandy by William, Earl of Hereford.
Colwall & Cradley - 15 miles/400ft climb/Easy/2 - 3 hours
A pleasant meander around the meadows in the vicinity of Cradley
Brook.
Undulating, but with no nasty climbs and all on country lanes, so
suitable for families and occasional riders.
Recommended Start Point: Colwall Railway Station
Pubs: Colwall: Crown Inn and Colwall Park Hotel
Stiffords Bridge: (1 mile) Red Lion &
Prancing Pony
Wellington Heath: (2 miles) Farmers Arms
Ledbury: (2.5 miles) Choice of 10.
Shops: Colwall, Cradley & Ledbury (2.5 miles)
Visit: Coddington Vineyards,
Cradley Heritage Centre
British Camp & Bromesberrow - 20 miles/1050ft climb/Moderate/2.5 - 4 hours
This ride includes two sections of main road together with one
prolonged climb to Jubilee Drive, so is less suitable for children and
inexperienced riders.
Start Point: British Camp or Colwall or Ledbury (0.5 miles)
Pubs: British Camp: Malvern Hills Hotel
Welland: Pheasant (0.5 miles)
Castlemorton: Plume of Feathers, Robin Hood (0.5 miles)
Rye Street: Duke of York (1 mile)
Ledbury: (0.5 miles) Choice of 10
Colwall: Crown Inn and Colwall Park Hotel
Upper Colwall: Chase Inn, Wyche Inn
Cafes: Colwall, Eastnor Castle (summer), Ledbury,
Kettle Sings (Jubilee Drive)
Shops: Colwall & Ledbury (2.5 miles)
Visit: Little Malvern Priory, Eastnor Castle
Storridge & Knightwick - 26 miles/1400ft climb/Hard/3 - 5 hours
A hilly excursion using the lesser used lanes around the delightful
Suckley Hills. Includes three short lengths of main road and three
prolonged climbs, which make it a good workout for the active rider.
Start Point: Leigh Village Hall or the Talbot at Knightwick
Pubs: Stiffords Bridge: Red Lion and Rocky Donkey
Longley Green: Lord Nelson
Knightwick: Talbot and Fox & Hounds (Lulsley)
Leigh Sinton: Royal Oak
Shops: Cradley, Longley Green, Alfrick, Leigh Sinton
Round the AONB Ride - 60 miles/2800ft climb/Demanding
Allow a day including a pub lunch!
The complete route can be ridden by joining up all the above rides.
INFORMATION
Tourist Information Ofces:
Malvern: 21 Church St, 01684 892289
Ledbury: 3, Homend, 01531 636147
Getting to the Malvern Hills area
The area is well served by bus, coach and rail services in
addition to motoring via the M5 and M50 motorways.
Bikes on Trains Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Colwall
& Ledbury
Central Trains to Hereford, Worcester, Birmingham
& Nottingham - will take 2+ bikes.
First Great Western to Hereford, Worcester, Oxford,
London Paddington - will take 2 - 6 bikes.
Adalante services must be pre-booked.
First Great Western - Great Malvern to Gloucester,
Bristol & Taunton - will carry 2 bikes.
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Travel Line: 0871 200 2233
Cycle Shops
MyCycles, 271Worcester Rd, Malvern Link. 01684 574836
Back on Track Mtn Bikes, 6, North Malvern Rd, Malvern.
01684 565777
Halfords, Retail Park, Roman Way, Malvern Link
Cycles Clements, 6 Bank Crescent, Ledbury. 01531 632213
Saddlebound Cycles, 3 Southend, Ledbury. 01531 632213
Pip Powell, 67 The Homend, Ledbury. 01531 632139
Visit www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk for information on
'green' accommodation.
Designed and produced by www.jaro.co.uk
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Rest your legs on this long climb and
stop to admire the wooded landscape
of the Suckley Hills, with this derelict
greenhouse contrasting mans
endeavours with that of nature.
One of six surviving milestones
placed in 1898 by Martley RDC on the
unclassied road route between Leigh
and Bromyard. The reason for this
remains unexplained.
The White House was the seat of
the local squire - more recently Lady
Waechter, who, during the war housed
elephants and other animals from a
refugee circus.
Surviving railway bridge under the
Worcester to Leominster railway, which
puffed unprotably from 1897 to 1964.
Note the exquisite diagonal brickwork.
Larger farm units have sought to
maintain protability by creating larger
elds out of the former mosaic of
hedgerows and pastures.
The B4917 used to cross the River
Teme at this point prior to the opening
of the new bridge carrying Telford's
A44 Oxford to Aberystwyth road.
Competition from Europe & USA has
led to a sharp decline in hop yards.
Adjacent is one of the increasing
number of new cider orchards supplying
Bulmers and others.
A disused quarry near the Nelson
Inn and village shop in Longley Green
exposes the Amestry Limestone which
underlies most of the wooded Suckley
hills.
This rural industrial estate above
Batchelors Bridge replaces the old Bruff
hop picking machinery plant. Bruff
machinery was used on most UK hop
farms and was much exported.
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At the bottom of the hill in the centre
of the old village is the village shop.
Cradley recently boasted two pubs, but
the nearest now are at Stiffords Bridge
on the A4103.
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Many new cider orchards have been
planted since the 1990s. This one is
signicant in providing a retail outlet
which opens at weekends.
This abandoned quarry near the
hamlet of Greenhill would have
provided sandstone blocks used in the
building of nearby cottages. Now left
to the tender care of nature.
Across the elds to the left can be
seen the bracken of Bringsty Common.
The idiosyncratic and difcult to nd
Live & Let Live pub still exists, but has
not served ales for many a year.
Knightwick & Storridge Cycle Route
This map is reproduced fromOrdnance Survey material
with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the
Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary Office. Crown
Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown
Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings.
Worcestershire County Council, 100015914.
F o u r r i d e s e x p l o r i n g t h e
l a n d s c a p e , c u l t u r e a n d h e r i t a g e
o f t h e M a l v e r n H i l l s
A r e a o f O u t s t a n d i n g N a t u r a l B e a u t y
b y p e d a l p o w e r
B y B i k e
i n t h e F o o t h i l l s
o f t h e M a l v e r n s
T H E M A L V E R N H I L L S A R E A O F O U T S T A N D I N G N A T U R A L B E A U T Y
Figures in brackets refer to distances from the marked route at the
nearest point.
This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey
material with the permission of Ordnance
Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her
Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright.
Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown
copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil
proceedings. (100024168) (2007).
St James Church Colwall lies on the
site of the pre-railway Saxon village. The
C16 Church Ale House, a site of much
revelling before it was later converted
into an almshouse.
A surviving nger post near Old
Colwall. Most of these posts were
removed to confuse invading armies
during the second world war, and were
presumably melted down to assist the
war effort.
The 2 acre Coddington Vineyard is
one of the smallest in Britain. A public
footpath takes you past the winery
through some delightful grounds to the
early English village Church.
A well tended garden beyond
Coddington village, a hamlet of 120
souls on a road to nowhere. Primitive
living conditions of earlier dwellers
is indicated by the denition - "a
collection of mud huts".
Hop Kilns at Old Country House, the
home of Colwall railway tunnel engineer
Stephen Ballard. The numerous hop
kilns in the area have now found new
life as private dwellings.
A short detour (uphill) takes you to
the splendid half timbered C16 Cradley
village hall, nestling against the south
wall of the churchyard.
Bridge 580 over Cradley Brook at
Mathon considerably enlarged since
the siting ( ) at bridge 273. The near-
by church of St John has a medieval
timbered porch.
Below the fertile Herefordshire soil
is a considerable depth of gravel which
was extracted at several local pits into
the 1980s. Behind the sign is a glimpse
of a ooded pit.
Facilities such as the picturesque
Mathon village hall are highly
important to the structure and cohesion
of rural communities.
Horticultural businesses provide a
vital source of local jobs. The visual
impact of the polytunnels has been
minimised at this thriving plant nursery.
Malvern water, said to be favoured
by the Queen, is bottled at the Colwall
spring - a source shared with some
fortunate local residences.
Herefordshire Beacon. At 1109ft
the Iron Age earthworks of British
Camp provide excellent views of the
Cotswolds and Black Mountains.
Little Malvern Priory is the remnant
of a Benedictine c15th tower and
chancel owned by the Berrington
family since 1650. Limited public
opening.
Castlemorton Common was part
of the c12th royal hunting ground
of Malvern Chase. Increasingly rare
black poplars are found here plus
the newt residents of this pond.
The Gullet Quarry provides an
excellent opportunity to study the
various ancient rocks which embody
the Malvern Hills. Swimming not
permitted.
A short detour towards the secluded
hamlet of White Leaved Oak reveals
this bridge which carried the carriages
of the estate owners en route to
Malvern or Ledbury.
One of the numerous walled gardens
to be found in the AONB. The walls
provided shelter from the wind,
maximising production of vegetables,
fruit, grapes and owers.
The south lodge of the Bromesberrow
Estate, with views of a parkland
landscape enclosed by durable
blacksmith made cast iron fences.
Only the post remains of this sign to
Pepper Mill, as it overlooks the fertile
arable sandy loams which continue to
Ross-on-Wye, and re-appear in south
Devon.
Clenchers Mill ford over the Glynch
Brook - the mill is 100m to the north.
An abandoned limekiln opposite would
have produced lime for building and
agricultural use.
Opposite the cricket pitch is Eastnor
Castle, a grand gothic style mock castle
completed by Lord Somers in 1822.
Open to the public mid July to end
August + Bank Hols.
The Eastnor village green
encapsulates all that one expects from
a pastoral village centre, with the
covered well anked by the church and
village school.
Mitchells Farm reects the fast
changing face of UK agriculture, with
buildings no longer relevant to modern
farming systems, & either abandoned or
converted to dwellings.
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The rail bridge carrying the
Worcester to Hereford line which
opened in 1861. The depressions of
a medieval moat can be observed
opposite. 200m along the lane is bridge
273 close to the Cradley Brook source.
The east lodge of Elizabeth Barrett
Brownings Hope End Estate,
landscaped by Capability Brown.
Carys 1837 map shows the lodge as a
turnpike on the old road from Ledbury
to Worcester via Malvern.
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The Evendine Lane spout is much
visited, and is appreciated by young
and old alike.
Note: , , , described in the Colwall
route
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Colwall & Cradley Cycle Route
British Camp & Bromesberrow
Cycle Route
Whilst every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of the
information in this publication, the Malvern Hills AONB
cannot accept responsibility in respect of any error or omission
which may have occurred. The producers of this map have no
responsibility for the physical state or maintenance of the route
and therefore give no warranty as to its condition.
This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey
material with the permission of Ordnance
Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her
Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright.
Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown
copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil
proceedings. (100024168) (2007).
The Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
The 105 sq km Malvern Hills AONB was designated in 1959. It
embraces parts of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Glouces-
tershire. The core of the AONB is the Malvern Hills themselves
and the surrounding commons. These form approximately 11%
of the AONB and are owned and managed by the Malvern Hills
Conservators - a public body charged by Acts of Parliament to
look after this land. Beyond the main hills lies a rich diversity
of wooded, farmed and other managed landscapes.
The primary purpose of AONBs is to conserve and enhance
natural beauty. This refers not just to the landscapes and
wildlife but to other natural and human features that make an
area distinctive including archaeology, soils, communities and
buildings. The Malvern Hills AONB is rich in geology, history
and cultural associations as well as in its varied wildlife and
ancient landscapes. The cycle routes illustrated on these maps
will help you to explore this fascinating heritage via a network
of tracks and quiet lanes. We have sought to avoid main roads
where possible.
The Malvern Hills AONB Partnership exists to provide strategic
direction for the area and to help to co-ordinate the activities
of those who inuence it. Local authorities, government bodies,
parish councils, landowners, communities and voluntary
groups are all represented on the Partnership. The Partner-
ship is nancially supported by Natural England, Herefordshire
Council, Worcestershire County Council, Malvern Hills District
Council. Gloucestershire County Council and Forest of Dean
District Council.
Cycling Off-road
For those who wish to spend more time riding off-road,
a number of bridleways can be found throughout the area.
Cyclists are welcome to use these routes but are urged to ride
carefully to avoid surface damage and not to ride too fast
where it is not safe to do so - there may be other users just
around the bend! The Malvern Hills themselves are a very
popular destination for many different types of recreation.
Even here cycling is only permitted on designated bridleways
and it is suggested that cyclists may nd it more rewarding to
explore these routes at off-peak times. Off-road cycling maps
for the Malverns area can be purchased from local Tourist
Information Centres, bookshops and cycle shops or
on-line from www.imba-uk.com.
This guide can be downloaded from www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk.
This map is reproduced fromOrdnance Survey
material with the permission of Ordnance Survey
on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's
Stationary Office. Crown Copyright.
Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown
Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil
proceedings.
Worcestershire County Council, 100015914.
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