Summerhill

Midsummer Hill

Grade - Moderate

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

Suitable for - All ages/families

Duration - 2 hours or so.

Start - Hollybush car park, Grid ref. SO757368 (click here for start point map)

Refreshments - None except sometimes an ice cream van at the foot of Gullet Quarry!

This walk visits Midsummer Hill, which tends for some reason to be the 'forgotten hill' of The Malverns. Perhaps it's because it's just off the beaten track a little, or maybe it's due to the fact that it is South of British Camp, the far better known hill fort that dominates the skyline not a mile away.

Yet Midsummer Hill is another large hill fort, probably constructed at much the same time as British Camp, certainly around 300-400 BC. It was in its time a significant construction and the earthen ramparts are still evident - on top of these would have been a wooden palisade, making attacking the fort a daunting undertaking.

The walk begins at Hollybush car park, which is situated about a third of the way along the A438 between its junction with the B4208 (the old Gloucester road) in the East and its junction with the A449 (Malvern - Ledbury road) in the West, at the apex of a hill.

It is almost opposite a thatched cottage that stands a little back from the road on the opposite side to the car park. The car park is owned by the Eastnor Estate and is provided free of charge but is sometimes closed by the estate if activities are being held in the nearby Eastnor deer park - though this is a rarity.

Presuming you have parked safely - there is no public transport to here that I know of - start off by heading out across the cattle grid and gate as seen in Pic. 1 This road is marked on the OS190 map as The Worcestershire Way though in fact it no longer is - though it is of course still a public right of way. Continue along this wide track, trending uphill all the time, enjoying the panorama to your left and, in late Spring, the huge swath of bluebells to your right as pictured elsewhere on this site!

Upon arriving at a metal gate, cast a glance to your left to spy the Eastnor obelisk - see Pic. 2. It was erected in 1812 and stands 90ft high - built of Cotswold limestone it's a memorial to the son of the 1st Lord Somers who had just died in the Peninsular War.

A little further on, look for an obvious track to your right that is just befor a gate and leads uphill. Follow this track - it's well-worn and easy to follow - until you reach the summit of Midsummer Hill at some 890 feet. Take time here to look around the remains of the hill fort as well as at the view. Pic. 3 shows the view North to Great Malvern and Pic. 4 the view South toward Raggedstone Hill, Chase Hill and, on the horizon, May Hill. The small shelter in Pic. 4 is a memorial to record the gift of Midsummer Hill to the National Trust in 1923. Having looked your fill and regained puff, retrace your steps down Midsummer Hill until you again reach the path near the metal gate. Here turn right to descend quite steeply to a junction of paths.

rock strata above Gullet Quarry

Walk 2. Walk 3. Walk 4. Walk 5. Walk 6. Walk 7. Walk 8. Walk 9. Walk 10. Walk 11. Walk 12 Walk 14. Walk 15

Pic. 1

Pic. 2

Pic. 3

Pic. 4

When you reach the path junction, turn right to follow the path downhill towards Gullet Quarry. This has narrowed of late as vehicles are no longer using it but it's an easy walk through woodland (see Pic. 5). Upon reaching the bottom of the path, take time out to have a look over the quarry, which is now full of water and not a few goldfish!

Off to the left a path will be seen heading quite steeply uphill. This leads to an area of noted geological interest, where the folding of the rocks, caused by immense pressure, can easily be seen. The two images at the foot of this page shoew this layering quite plainly if you do not fancy the uphill trudge, especially as in one area it is quiteclose to the quarry edge - even though a fence is present it can be a bit disconcerting! Pic. 6 is taken from the rock formations mentioned and is a little-seen view of Gullet Quarry.

Pic. 5

Pic. 6

To continue with the walk, resume from where the quarry was entered. Here do not take the path by the quarry wall but instead bear right along a waymarked track that is a continuation of the one you've just come down from Midsummer Hill. This leads along the right-hand side of a small valley with a stream at the bottom and soon joins a narrow metalled road known as Hollybush Roughs.

From here simply follow the Roughs - taking time to admire the views to the left - until a forest track is seen forking right from the Roughs road. Follow this track (it just cuts a corner off, saving a few minutes) until you emerge oto the A438. Cross with care to reach the pavement on the opposite side then head uphill until you reach Hollybush car park. Here again cross back over the road to arrive back at the starting point.