There are some fantastic views on the Malverns, including this one to Herefordshire Beacon.

IN the days following the July floods, the Malvern Hills proved a popular vantage point for walkers wanting a bird's-eye view of the Severn valley, from Worcester down through Upton and Tewkesbury to Gloucester and beyond.

It was well worth making the effort, but then it always is - in times of flood or drought, the views from the Malverns are hard to beat, as this beautiful linear walk from Colwall to Great Malvern demonstrates.

It includes the highest point in the county, Worcestershire Beacon, as well as several of the smaller tops along the ridge, such as Pinnacle Hill, Summer Hill and the rather scary-sounding Perseverance Hill (don't worry - it's little more than a bump). As always in the Malverns, the route is capable of infinite variation: if it's a wild, wet and windy day and you don't fancy walking along the ridge-top you can choose from several lower paths. To avoid almost any climbing, keep west of the ridge while you're south of the Wyche and then switch to the eastern side once you're north of the Wyche.

FACTFILE

Start: Colwall station, grid ref SO756424.

Finish: Great Malvern station, grid ref SO782457.

Length: 6 miles/9.5km.

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

It is a steep climb to the top of Worcestershire Beacon but it is worth it when you get there.

Terrain: Well-trodden paths through pasture and woodland at Colwall; a mix of hard-surfaced and grassy paths on the Malvern Hills - there are no steep ascents and any steep descents are easily avoided.

Footpaths: Excellent.

Stiles: Seven.

Public transport: Daily trains from Worcester to Hereford stop at Great Malvern and Colwall. Those of you with free bus passes may prefer to take the 44, 363 or 364 to Great Malvern then the 675 to Colwall (476 on Sundays); www.herefordbus.info or www.nationalrail.co.uk or Traveline 0871 200 2233, or National Rail Enquiries 08457 484950.

Refreshments: Colwall, the Wyche and Great Malvern, including a café at St Ann's Well and Lady Foley's Tearoom at the station.

DIRECTIONS

1 Take the footbridge across the railway, pass to the left of a nature reserve and enter a meadow. Take the left-hand path, cross a stile in the top corner then take the right-hand path, rising up a slope. Ignore a cross-path and continue uphill, passing to the left of a large oak tree, then turn right along a field edge.

2 Watch for a waymark directing you left and go straight uphill through pasture. Cross a stile when the slope levels out and continue in the same direction. Keep straight on at the first junction but turn right at the second. Walk along the top edge of a pasture then through a gate into woodland to find a post bearing numerous waymarks.

3 Turn right, descending through the wood to find a stile and a sudden view of British Camp. Head towards it, going to the far right corner of a meadow. Continue along the edge of another meadow until a stile gives access to woodland. Turn left. After leaving the wood, continue along a fenced path and then along a driveway. Ignore a path on the left and proceed to a lane.

4 Take a path on your left and head to the right, following tyre tracks through a meadow to rejoin the lane. Turn left, then take an unsigned path on the left at Brand Green, just after a stone cottage. Walk up to a road (B4232), turn right then cross to a wide path climbing gently to the summit ridge of the Malvern Hills. Turn left, crossing Black Hill, Pinnacle Hill, Jubilee Hill and Perseverance Hill. Descend to the Wyche and cross to Beacon Road. After a short distance a path on the right offers a more interesting alternative but eventually the two meet up again. Keep straight on over Summer Hill and Worcestershire Beacon.

5 Keep heading north from the summit of the Beacon. The path descends to a saddle or col about 400m below, where numerous paths meet, including easy ones down to Great Malvern. This is the obvious way to go but here's an alternative route, which should only be attempted if you are confident (and competent) on steep slopes. Turn right soon after descending from the summit, on the first wide, well-trodden path that you see, well above the saddle. You'll soon pass a wooden bench and you should be heading due east until the path swings left to head north. Turn right shortly before reaching another bench, on a grassy path which descends steeply. When you come to a junction you have another chance to choose a gentler route by turning right. Otherwise, keep straight on down to a small rock outcrop. Fork right here, descending to meet a wide path. Turn left to a junction - either keep straight on for an easy option or go steeply down to St Ann's Well.

6 Take a path on the left above the well. This crosses open grassland then descends through scrub into woodland, soon joining a wider path. Turn left, then right at another junction, and left at the next, joining a concrete path which descends in a series of bends to meet the St Ann's Well access road. Turn left, then soon right, following the Worcestershire Way through Rose Bank Garden to Great Malvern.

7 The most obvious route to the station is down Church Street, then right on Avenue Road. A much pleasanter way is through the grounds of the priory and then through Priory Park, next to the theatre complex. Pass the bandstand, cross a footbridge, turn right past a pool then take a path on the left. Proceed down Clarence Road, ignoring turnings, until you can turn left by a horse chestnut tree to follow Imperial Road to the station.

12:06pm Tuesday 7th August 2007

Make your way to Pinnacle Hill.

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