Walking in the Malvern Hills with Kids

 

On a nice day there can be nothing better than a walk in a beautiful setting followed by a refreshing drink in a lovely country pub.

Now, the Malvern Hills certainly are a beautiful setting, but at 1,394 ft above sea level at their highest point, are they really child friendly? Well as we found out with our three kids, with a bit of cheating, it can be a perfect day out. 

There are various different places to access the hills and start your walk, but to make it more manageable we took the car up to higher ground in West Malvern. Here you can find free parking on the roads near to the Brewers Arms pub (we’ll be back here later!), and if you head up the steep road on the opposite side of the main road, you can start your walk with a bit of a head start.

We were heading to the Worcestershire Beacon, which is the highest of the hills. The initial walk up is definitely a bit challenging for small legs, so you may get pestered for “big carry” or if they are small enough then maybe bring a child carrier or baby sling.

But after the initial climb up and away from the road and the houses, the paths do become more manageable. You can follow the paths which lead to the summit or, if you have two adventurous boys like us you can head “off road” a bit.

At the summit the views are breathtaking, especially if you are lucky to get a clear day. There is a trig point and viewfinder, which the kids enjoyed looking at (and climbing on, just to get that little bit higher!). They certainly felt very proud of their achievement!

Now to head off for that well earned drink! Back down we went, much easier on the legs this time. The two boys went off road again, clambering over rocks and even finding wild blueberries to snack on!

The Brewers Arms pub is a great find. Tucked off of the West Malvern Road, it is both family and dog friendly. When we arrived there were ride on toys dotted around the garden, child size pub benches and even water bowls for the dogs.

We admired the views from the terrace and enjoyed a well earned drink and snack.

So if you’re looking for a slightly challenging walk, stunning scenery and a family friendly pub pit stop, then I’d highly recommend checking out the Malvern Hills.

Have you walked in the Malvern Hills with Kids? What have I missed? I’d love to hear your tips.