North Hill, Malvern
| North Hill | |||
| Worcestershire | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 North Hill from Great Malvern Priory | |||
| Range: | Malvern Hills | ||
| Summit: | 1,302 feet SO769463 52°6’52"N, 2°20’20"W | ||
North Hill is the second-highest point of the range of Malvern Hills that runs approximately eight miles north-south along or close to the Herefordshire-Worcestershire border. North Hill itself lies entirely within Worcestershire, and is in the northern part of the hills, where the Worcestershire border sweeps westwards. North Hill reaches a height of 1,303 feet. The Worcestershire Way climbs up the hill, reaching its the highest point on North Hill.
The eastern flank of the hill lies directly behind Worcester road in Great Malvern from where its summit is a brisk 15 – 20 minutes steep walk from the town centre by St Ann's Road and Happy Valley. A path from the car park in North Malvern follows the lower contour of North Hill to Happy Valley and St Ann's Well.
Historical interest
The flint route from Snowdonia to the West Country lay, it seems, to the north of the Malvern Hills, but traded flint is still found here from those days; parts of an arrowhead, scraper and flint flakes have been discovered between the North Hill and Table Hill.
An 19th-century guide book describes both a collapsed burial mound on North Hill named the Giant's Grave and a tump on Table Hill. These tumuli may have been connected to the Dobunni settlement in Mathon.[1]
A track that runs along North Hill was known as the “Pyx Path” and was used by the priest from Worcester when bringing sacrament to the hermits who lived in Malvern in the 11th Century. It was also referred to as the "Pixie Path", which has led to the belief that locals held the path to be used by fairies.[2] The Lodge spring can be found at the foot of North Hill, off Worcester road. The ornamental fountain has a small spout and basin that is similar in design to those at St Ann's Well.[3]
The Worcestershire Way
When launched back in 1989 the Worcestershire Way was 48 miles long and ran partly into Herefordshire. The route and its length were modified in 2004 and it now runs wholly within Worcestershire.[4] The last few miles of the Way now ascend to the northern part of the Malvern Hills and skirt around the contours of End Hill, Table Hill and along Lady Howard de Walden's Drive on North Hill, before descending to Great Malvern by way of St Ann's Well.[5]
Outside links
- Walks on the Northern Hills
- Panoramic views, from the BBC:
References
- ↑ Smith, B.S: 1978 A History of Malvern Allan Sutton and The Malvern Bookshop ISBN 0904387313
- ↑ Severn Burrow, C.F: 1948, A little city set on the hill: the story of Malvern
- ↑ Bruce Osborne & Cora Weaver: 1994, Aquae Malvernensis - The Springs and Fountains of the Malvern Hills ISBN 1873809077
- ↑ Worcestershire Way - Ramblers Association
- ↑ Malvern - The Worcestershire Way Worcester News Tuesday 23 December 2008