FF: The Malvern Hills - A walk along the hill-tops (VERY hilly 6-mile hike)

First-timers and regulars are welcome to admire the S T U N N I N G scenery of this magnificent location. Another repeat of the first ever Friendly Faces group hike which has been scheduled many times since, and always puts contented smiles on faces for the drive home.

What to expect...
I can honestly say that being at the top of the Malvern hills looking down is a truly amazing experience, and if I describe it its easy to imagine, so lets take a moment...
All you can hear is birds singing softly, and the faint sound of the odd motorbike engine riding through the country lanes far away. Maybe a light breeze brushes past, rustling the leaves of the trees.
The views from the top are absolutely breath-taking, and as you let your eyes relax into the distance and rest on the tiny houses below, you realise how therapeutic it is being away from the bright monitors and mobile-phone screens of daily life.
As you breath deeply and feel the fresh air in your lungs, you smile and feel satisfied at having reached the top and wonder why you dont get out to places like this more often.

So make this dreamy guided meditation into a reality and take an afternoon to drive out to the bottom of the hills with a group of like-minded people, and hike up and along the tops to take in this outstanding experience.

It's perhaps worth noting that this is not a hike for the weak or unfit. The initial ascent generates a lot of huffing and puffing, and when we reach the top - the route along the top is up and down smaller peaks for the duration. Please consider that unlike other easy walks/hikes you may have attended, this hike is for intermediate hikers.
Rest assured that the entire route consists purely of normal pathways (as per the one in the photo) that are well-trodden by families and people of all age-groups. It's 100% walking and no climbing with your hands is needed.
There are plenty of places to stop and sit down along the way so lots of opportunities to take a break for a while before continuing. The views get better the closer you get to the top, and upon reaching the top you'll agree it was worth the effort.

Depending on how we move as a group it shouldn't take us much more than 3 or 4 hours before we are back down at the bottom of the hills again.
As is customary when we reach the end of a Friendly Faces hiking route, we'll call in at a nearby pub (this time the very convenient local Wetherspoons) for a well-earned drink and a sit down / final chin-wag, before heading home.
Bear in mind that while dogs are allowed to attend this event, Wetherspoons pubs dont allow dogs anywhere on their premises.

Getting there...
Drivers offering lifts from their local town will undoubtedly gain hero/heroine status, so if you have an empty space or two in your car please write a comment below with your preferred pick-up point.
If you aren't a driver and would like a lift to and from the starting point, leave a message here on the event page asking if anyone is driving from your home town that could help.
In fact - do that now, because leaving that request until the last few days before the event is too late.
Don't forget to offer a few pounds to your driver towards petrol money.
The meet-point is x miles away from...
Warwick 51; Leamington 52; Kenilworth 54; Coventry 54; Rugby 61; Central Birmingham 40.
We'll meet outside the Abbey Road Cafe which is near the bottom of the hills, grab a coffee / take a quick trip to the toilet, and then begin our ascent.

Oh and parking...
Aim for the Priory Road South carpark as its the biggest and best (and a bargain at £4 for 24 hours) but please bear in mind that there is a 15-minute walk from the carpark to the coffee shop meet point, so factor that into your planned arrival time.

Other things to note...
- Well-behaved dogs ARE allowed 🐶✔️ to attend this walk, but must be kept on a lead. Remember also that some people can be fearful of dogs and hide it well, so please be respectful of that and keep your dog under control at all times.
- Compared to other hiking routes in the huge Friendly Faces library of routes, the terrain for this one is very hilly. Ankle-protecting boots are always recommended for hiking distances like this, and for this event they are essential.
You'll hopefully be attending many more Friendly Faces hikes scheduled for the year ahead, so if you don't own proper walking boots then it will be a great investment.

Finally...
With this fantastic area of outstanding natural beauty only an hours drive away from Warwickshire, we dont need any flight bookings or suitcases or airport transfers - lets just get in the cars and take advantage of what this country has to offer for free!
So with your imagination excited at the prospect of a super afternoon out, hit the attend button now so you dont forget.

Feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions in the meantime.

EVENT SUMMARY / IMPORTANT POINTS

1. 'First-timer' attendees are always welcome to come along and check out who we are and how we do things. After that if you wish to return for another one, becoming an official subscribing group-member is necessary, so provided you're (strictly) within the permitted group age range of 25 to 55 qualifying you to join, read the details here...
https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/

2. This event starts at 1pm. Do not be late. Make sure you arrive early enough to get parked, and be ready at the start point for this time or we will leave without you. In the past, several people have discovered how unpleasant it is to arrive at a meet-point and find it deserted, only to have to turn around and drive home again. Plan your journey beforehand and check for traffic/roadworks on the day.

3. To attend this hiking event you must be physically active, hike-fit, free from injury, and have experience of covering this distance in one go. If you are not all of these things - please remove yourself from the attendees list.
In the past, several people have discovered how unpleasant it is to arrive at a meet-point and find it deserted, only to have to turn around and drive home again. Plan your journey beforehand and check for traffic/roadworks on the day.

4. Dogs ARE allowed 🐶✔️ to attend this event. This is due to close proximity with farm animals and public pathways taking us through farmers land.

5. This is a hiking event, and all attendees are expected to wear proper hiking footwear. No matter how confident/familiar you feel about walking in the countryside - due to the uneven terrain on this route, ankle-protecting waterproof footwear is compulsory.
If you do not currently own any - please invest in a pair in advance. The many Mountain Warehouse stores offer an excellent selection, so there is no excuse to not be equipped for this event.
Trainers may not protect you from a nasty injury - which could bring an unpopular end to the event for everyone.
(* 2026 UPDATE *) To ensure that all attendees sensibly follow this request respectfully of everyone else : Anyone who injures themselves and is not wearing ankle-protecting hiking footwear will be removed from the group.