End in sight

It's a lovely but very short walk from Colwall to Hollybush, where the Way finishes rather lamely in a car park by the A438. If you feel that's a bit of an anticlimax to a splendid 50 miles you might like to do the loop walk which is also described. It takes you to the top of Ragged Stone Hill and Chase End Hill, the most southerly and least explored of the Malvern Hills.

Chase End Hill is occasionally called the Gloucestershire Beacon because the trig pillar which marks its summit is on the border of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. At the bottom of the hill all three counties meet at the idyllic hamlet of Whiteleaved Oak.

For some years there has been concern at the lack of grazing on the Malverns but this problem has at last been addressed, with a conservation grazing scheme launched in July when flocks of sheep made a welcome return to the hills. There are two types, Hebridean and North Country Cheviot, under the care of shepherd Richard Smith.

This is one of several new initiatives which form part of a rural recovery plan in the wake of foot and mouth disease. Some of the other measures are for the benefit of tourists but the sheep directly benefit the hills.

Much Malvern grassland is considered to be of national importance but if grassland isn't grazed it soon becomes woodland.

You're likely to meet some of the sheep, so please keep dogs under close control and remember to close the new gates which have been installed on Chase End Hill.

Directions

Take the footbridge over the railway and the signposted "Worcestershire Way link path" which leads uphill through woods and meadows. Before long you'll come to a junction where several paths are waymarked - the southbound Worcestershire Way goes to the right. However, if you wish to visit The Kettle Sings tea shop, you should go left.

The Way descends through woods to a stile then continues through two meadows before returning to woodland. Leaving the woods behind, it descends past Spindrift to Evendine. Turn right, then left by Upper House on an enclosed path which soon enters fields. Frequent waymarkers direct you on towards Herefordshire Beacon, which looms large ahead.

Eventually you come to a junction where the Worcestershire Way turns sharp right, signed ermissive route". If you want to go to the Malvern Hills Hotel or the snack kiosk at Wynds Point you should go straight on instead. Rejoin the Way by retracing your steps to this point or by following the road (A449).

The Worcestershire Way meets the road opposite Beacon Lodge. Cross over, turn left, then right on a track which takes you round the side of Herefordshire Beacon, through News Wood and Gullet Wood then around Midsummer Hill to meet the A438 at Hollybush - the end of the Way. The bus stop is over the road, to the right.

If you're going to do the loop walk, turn left beside the road. Just before a phone box, turn right on a path which runs along the eastern side of Ragged Stone Hill. Soon after passing through a gate, branch right on another path to the summit.

Descend to the south to rejoin the lower path, turn right for a few paces and then left, by a green garage, through woodland. Follow it to a lane at Whiteleaved Oak and turn left. Just before the entrance to a house turn right on another path which skirts Chase End Hill.

Pass through two new wooden gates. At a third gate, don't go through but turn right to the top of the hill. After the trig point, drop to the left, very steeply at first, but with the gradient soon easing towards Whiteleaved Oak. Turn right at the lane, then left after Lamberts Cottage. A gate gives access to Ragged Stone Hill and you'll recognise the path you used earlier. Turn left by the green garage and walk back to Hollybush.

FACTFILE

Start: Colwall Station, grid ref SO756425.

Finish: Hollybush, grid ref SO758369.

Length: 8 miles/12.8km.

Maps: OS Explorer 190, OS Landranger 150, Harvey Superwalker Malvern Hills.

Terrain: excellent paths through an undulating but relatively gentle landscape, except for the Hollybush loop, which includes two steep bits - one up, one down.

Stiles: 6.

Parking: Hollybush.

Public transport: take the train to Colwall or go by bus, changing at Great

Malvern to the 675 (weekdays) or 476 (Sundays); alternatively, on Sundays only, you could take the 144 direct from Worcester, not to Colwall but along the B4232 - ask the driver to drop you at The Kettle Sings and join the Worcestershire Way there. For your return journey from Hollybush the 244 (Malvern Hills Hopper) runs Sundays/bank holidays only until end of September - it will take you to Malvern (or Ledbury) for buses or trains to Worcester. On Saturdays (all year) service 388 leaves Hollybush for Ledbury at 1258 and 1728 only; there are no realistic weekday services. Details from Traveline on 0870 608 2608.

Refreshments: shops and pubs at Colwall; a tea room (The Kettle Sings) and the hotel and snack kiosk at British Camp are also very close to the Way.

Guidebook: the official guidebook to the Worcestershire Way is available in local shops and tourist information centres.

DISCLAIMER

This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be correct at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for loss or injury, however caused.