This one of the most beautiful spots in the area. It is cared for by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. In the spring time the woods are full of bluebells and there is a meadow going down to the river which during the summer is full of wild flowers including some rare orchids. I have seen kingfishers, various species of butterfly and the birdsong - if you heard it in a film you would think the special effects overdone! My family have visited this spot over the last 10 years and whatever time of year it is always beautiful. When the children were small I would describe our days there as Enid Blyton Days. Not many people go there so it is a real haven of peace and quiet

The Knapp House, Bridges Stone, Alfrick, Worcester, WR6 5HR
www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/index.php?section=learning:schools:knapp

Google map: bit.ly/bIqEw3

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Ever enjoyed the poem 'the road not taken' by Robert Frost? This walk allows you to make that life choice in wonderful Worcestershire countryside. This is a great walk for the less agile who enjoy a gentler challenge. Take the road from Malvern south and west to Eastnor Castle. Pass by the Eastnor estate until you come to Hollybush Hill, one of the gentler hills in the Malvern range as they die back into the fields and woods at the southern end. This walk takes you up Ragged Stone Hill, on the other side of the road to Hollybush. Park in the Hollybush car park and cross or park on the other side in the layby before the path leaves the road.
The path gently climbs through a wooded belt - look out for the fly agaric and other fungi under the trees. You will come to a clear split in the 'road' - left will take you up to the top of the hill for lovely views of countryside ravishing in its colour and form at this time of the year. Carry straight on under oak and chestnut until you arrive at the small picturesque hamlet of Broad-leaved Oak: scattered cottages and houses hidden in the heart of the Malvern Hills. Walk a hundred yards to the left and then take another path to the left that skirts the bottom of the hill until you meet the original road. Take the left back to your car at the layby or the carpark at the foot of Hollybush. Paths radiate away if you want a longer ramble - go to the Gullet Quarry, Golden valley or back to the Eastnor estate to view the 19thC castle, deer park and obelisk monument that dominates thew western slopes of the hills. It's all good and never more so than in October.

The A438 from Eastnor to Tewkesbury - before the hamlet of Hollybush.
Google map: bit.ly/bqQtLR

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The Malvern Hills are fantastic for a gentle walk with really satisfying veiws. From the tops - which only take about half an hour or so to get to you have a 360 degree panorama for miles and miles. Then you can walk along the ridge as far as you want. Absolutely brilliant - maximum result for minimum effort. Although if you're not used to walking up hill you will also feel like you've had a good work out.

Malvern Hills, Worcestershire
Great Malvern Station

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Lovely unpretentious B&B in an old school building. The cooked breakfast was great.
In the town centre and very near the hills - you can just walk onto them.
So nice to go somewhere that is neither trying to be flash or twee, just comfortable and interesting.
Also very reasonable price.

Como House, Como road, Malvern, Worcestershire.
www.comohouse.co.uk. Doubles from £62.
Google map: tinyurl.com/37c29la
01684 561486
Near Great Malvern Station

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In among the steep, tangled streets of Great Malvern lies a Victorian lavatory. This may not be the first destination in mind for a child’s day out but ‘The Theatre of Small Convenience’ is the world's smallest theatre. It houses a variety of exceptional and quirky performances such as puppetry, storytelling, poetry and music. The shows are performed on demand every 5-10 minutes and with a seating area for the audience and each production is made very personal and memorable. This is guaranteed to excite and amaze young children.

www.wctheatre.co.uk/
Nearest Train Station is 15 min walk away.

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Belts are perfect for festivals. You can carry all your belongings, purse, camera etc and can even attach or hang bottles of drinking water to them. This is a great way of carrying all you belongings around with you but keeping your hands free for dancing! Which, at the end of the day is the whole reason for being there.

You can find them in most hippie type shops. They are also sold at most festivals.

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Malvern has a funny mixture of places to shop when you are bored of walking, or getting rained on. Great Malvern has the best shops I think.

I love shiny things and found this little gallery in Malvern's town centre, Great Malvern. It's full of fab jewellery and some unusual bits and pieces like tin aeroplanes and model chickens made from plastic bags!

I also found a fab knitting shop - and I don't even like knitting - called the knitting parlour. Sod's law one is at the top of the hill and one at the bottom so you need to be fit to visit both! Iapetus is at the top on Bellevue Terrace and knitting shop is at the bottom near a set of traffic lights surrounded by banks.

I noticed someone else had mentioned the theatre in the old loo - it's really something, has to be seen to be believed!

Also top cafe in town is by that theatre. It's called leaf and serves all local yummy stuff. Good for people watching too!

www.iapetus.co.uk
www.theknittingparlour.co.uk

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If you're fit and you have a whole day, and a friend (or a taxi) who can deliver you to the south end of the hills, the Malverns are one of the best single day walks you can have.

The hills lie in a single north-south bumpy ridge, like walking along a dragon's back. To the left, you can see to the Welsh border, and the Brecon Beacons; on the east, the low lying valley of the Severn. I've seen it flooded, the whole plain below reflecting silver in the light; or dusted with snow. You can see as far as the edge of the Cotswolds, and there's only the rounded, low Bredon Hill with its patchwork of hedges and fields between you and Oxfordshire.

Hollybush car park on the A438 (south end): Clock Tower car park, Great Malvern

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A cafe half way up the hills if you are walking from the town. It is in a beautiful Victorian building with a spring still flowing into a fountain inside. A great place to stop for generously portioned food - on the hippy side, but very tasty.
You can eat inside, or on the terraces outside.

www.hillsarts.co.uk/stannswell/
or telephone: 01684 560285

Variable opening hours, but sometimes open on Christmas day.

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It is a very small theatre - the smallest in the world apparently - located in an old public loo. It is beautifully decorated and run by enthusiastic volunteers.

Performances are on demand and last for five minutes. Apparently the runs of shows tend to last a long time as the theatre's founder has to make all the puppets etc from scratch.

I really recommend this as it is such an unusual way to spend five minutes and lets you get your breath back after trekking up the hills.

www.wctheatre.co.uk/

It's in Malvern town on Edith Walk (uphill on the street between Waitrose and Somerfield).

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