The Malvern Hills might not be a huge area geographically, but for walkers, the region southwest of Worcester is a top destination in the UK.
And with nine days of themed and guided walks on and around the Malvern Hills, the walking festival, which takes place from Saturday, May 25 to Sunday, June 2, is a great way to meet fellow walking enthusiasts and to explore the region.
There are 10 walks on the first day, including a strenuous 20-mile trek, which includes 15 peaks and around 6,000 feet of elevation.
Other walks on the Saturday include Georgian Pershore and the Avon, the hills and sights above and around Ledbury, history walks, tree walks, and a stroll at the Hanley Nature Reserve.
On Sunday, walks include the best of the Worcestershire hills, a walk that includes a cider mill, and several history-related hikes.
There are seven walks set for the Bank Holiday Monday, one of which, Worcestershire in a day, clocks in at 31 miles. There are flora walks, a three-pub walk, Tewkesbury and two rivers, Eastnor and the obelisk, and more.
One of the Tuesday walks looks at the geology of the region, another takes a historical angle to look at when radar came to Malvern, there is a walk dedicated to conservation, a walk in and above the Teme Valley, and other history-related hikes.
There are six and eight walks on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, with a further six events on Friday.
The final weekend of the festival includes 10 walks on Saturday, and nine on Sunday, with subjects varying from history to geology to singing.
There are also three multi-day walks, the Three Choirs Way, from Gloucester to Hereford, a 31-mile walk from Thursday, May 30 to Saturday, June 1; the 27-mile Rail Trails from Monday, May 27 to Wednesday, May 29; and another 31-miler, the Worcestershire Way from Saturday, May 25 to Monday, May 27.
Many of the walks are already fully booked, but information on the different walks can be found here.
