THE MALVERN HILLS

We've been planning to visit this stunning area for a while now and this weekend we finally managed it. This stunning area of outstanding natural beauty spans three counties: Worcestershire, Herefordshire and a small part of Gloucestershire. The views from the peaks really are spectacular and include The Welsh Black Mountains, a panorama of the Severn Valley and on a clear day, the Bristol Channel.

The Malverns afford picturesque scenery, spectactular hiking opportunities and quaint surrounding villages to explore. If you like hiking, this is the perfect place. The paths over the hills are wide and easy to navigate and the views, far reaching on a clear day.

We parked up at Malvern Link station which was £1 all day but drive up a little further to Cockshot Road and you'll find free parking just up on the left. There is also a free parking bay just before The Nags Head pub (which is where our walk began) with enough space for around ten or so vehicles. If we'd known this we would definitely have parked for free but hey...£1 isn't going to break the bank and there are public toilets (20p) just up the road from the station, so all good!

We followed an app, the route led us up over Neds Peak first before taking us over the ups and downs of the many peaks of the Malverns. The hike is fairly steep in places but there are benches at regular intervals, so, take your time and take breaks to stop, rest and appreciate the stunning views. The circular route guides you over the peaks then back around the foot of the hills. Beware! there is some road walking, not my preference but it did mean we avoided just simply turning around and retracing our steps back.There are many routes available of varying distances so make sure you do your research and choose one that suits you and your preferences.

What a day, a mixture of sunshine and clouds, perfect for hiking and worth the hour and a half drive. That's the beauty of 'Little Blue', the journey just becomes part of the adventure. Then, when the day has been filled, nothing quite beats a home cooked meal enjoyed in the comfort and warmth of the van.

The perfect end to a perfect day.