Summerhill and Chase End

Grade - Moderate, with a couple of steady climbs.

Map - O.S. Explorer 190 (Malvern Hills and Bredon Hill)

Suitable for - All ages/families, but not practical for pushchairs - and watch the toddlers!

Duration - 3 hours

Start - Car parking on Castlemorton Common at Berrow Down, Grid Ref. SO765381 (Click here for large scale map or here for detail)

Refreshments - None on walk that I know of but sometimes Ice Cream van at Berrow Down.

This walk visits the Southern end of the Malvern Hills, an area not so frequented as are the British Camp and Great Malvern summits, with their undeniably greater panoramic views. It is much quieter and has a more secluded feel, especially towards Chase End, but does not suffer because of this.

Indeed, a greater feeling of being 'in the countryside' can be experienced at this end of the Hills, lacking as it does the great number of people who flock to the top of Great Malvern on every Summer Sunday. The walk commences from the car park at Berrow Down, just below the Gullet Quarry. Before commencing the walk, pause for a while and enjoy the quiet beauty of Castlemorton Common as it stretches downhill away from you into the distance.

Many people get no further than where you are now stood - and who can blame them? It is an ideal picnic spot, with a distant horizon and big sky to help sooth away the tensions of everyday life, so spend a few minutes just letting your eyes take it in - after all, we're not watching the clock today, are we?

After looking your fill at the view stretching away to the East, now turn your back on the Common and, following the metalled track past the charmingly situated cottage to your left, enter the Gullet Quarry. Follow this path to trend past the Quarry Pool on your right to join another track coming in from your left, then keep ahead as described in Walk 4 until you reach the junction of paths at the head of the incline which marks the head of The Gullet.

The path here is quite steep in sections and care should be taken in damp conditions as it can become entertainingly slippery! On breaking out of the tree cover a broad track will be seen coming in from your right, to terminate at the car park at Hollybush. Keep roughly parallel to this track, walking down across a broad expanse of grass until the car park is reached.

A notice board at the car park gives out some information on the local surroundings and points of interest, whilst to the left a grand view begins to emerge looking down towards the Severn Vale and beyond.

Turn left at this junction and take the obvious broad path ahead. It soon begins to climb - quite steeply for a short way - to soon pass a house off to the left. Carry on for another few yards and keep a look out for a path branching off at right-angles to the left of the main track, about twenty yards beyond a new-looking gate.

Take this path which will lead you firstly around the Northern flank of Midsummer Hill then turns quickly South to make straight for the top (See sketch 1). This is gained with surprisingly little effort and almost before you know it you are within the boundaries of the Iron Age hill fort. The fort itself is not quite so well-preserved as British Camp to the North but compensates by being generally quieter and more peaceful.

There is a fairly well-worn path to follow through the length of the fort, heading in a generally Southerly direction to eventually begin descending through trees, heading South all the time.

Leave the car park and turn left along the road, keeping a watch for traffic. Cross to the other side and after about 100 yards look for a path on the right next to a house. (Please note: I have been told this path may be blocked. I have recently learned that this is a permissive path and am awaiting a reply from Bromsberrow Estate regarding the matter. Watch this space! If the path proves impassable see an alternative route by clicking here) Take this path, which soon curves to the left and keep on past a fork to the right, which occurs just before the main path also turns right. Follow this main path for about a third of a mile as it heads due South for a most pleasant stroll along the Eastern flank of Raggedstone Hill. To the left the view extends over the tiny hamlet of Glenberrow towards the Vale of Evesham far beyond. The path eventually bears half right then left. Keep ahead, ignoring a footpath going off left, to come to a junction of paths, here turning right onto a path behind cottages that soon gives out onto a quiet lane.

Sketch 2

Here turn sharp left to follow a path which leads off through woods initially, curving gently to the right to emerge on to open land near the summit of Raggedstone Hill (See sketch 3).Keep forward to the summit at 833 feet, then turn right to cross a gentle saddle leading to the other, slightly lower summit due East.

Here turn left to descend along a path that keeps roughly to the North-East to pass to the right of trees, eventually coming to a path junction. Here turn left and retrace your steps to reach the road. Turn left at the road and regain Hollybush car park, again watching for traffic. From here a broad, obvious track heads off slightly left from the car park. Follow this track as it climbs steadily over the lower slopes of Midsummer Hill, with pleasant long distance views off towards your left, then descends to the path junction at the head of The Gullet.

From here turn right to descend to the old quarry, pass by this to reach the car park just beyond and the end of your walk - and hopefully the ubiquitous Ice Cream van will be waiting to greet you!

Walk 1. Walk 2. Walk 3. Walk 4. Walk 6. Walk 7. Walk 8. Walk 9. Walk 10. Walk 11. Walk 12. Walk 13. Walk 14. Walk 15

Here turn right and, as the lane bears to the left, look for a footpath sign on the left leading up a drive (See sketch 2). Take this path, still heading generally South, to head across open ground and then climb quite steeply up to the summit of Chase End Hill, the Southernmost summit of the Malvern Hills chain and the Southernmost point of our walk. At 626 feet it's no great height (probably feels like the Eiger though!) but the view is well worth the effort and it's a great place for a rest and a bite to eat before the return trip.

Leave the top of Chase End Hill and retrace your steps back to the lane, taking the track back up behind the cottages to the path junction.