Length : 19.2 km (11.9 mi) [shorter and longer versions possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent : 565/490m
Net Walking Time : ca. 5 hours
Toughness : 6 out of 10
Take the 08.56 Paddington train from Great Malvern (change at Worcester Foregate Street 09.08/09.15), arrives Hagley 09.45. [If the connection is missed, there will be a 30 minute wait.]
Return from Hagley to Great Malvern: xx.01 and 15.31, 17.31, 19.31.
Return from Barnt Green to Great Malvern : xx.50 (change at Bromsgrove).
Buy a Barnt Green Return (which is dearer than a Hagley Return, so hopefully will be accepted on the stretch between Droitwich Spa and Hagley).
Return from Barnt Green or Hagley direct to London : either via Worcester Foregate Street (longer) or via Birmingham (to Euston).
Return from Great Malvern to London (with sub 3 hours journey time): 19.02, 19.45.
This walk follows the North Worcestershire Way along the ridge of the Clent and Lickey Hills (or North Worcestershire Hills) about 15 kilometres south west of Birmingham. Near the start, there is a short out and back extension to visit Wychbury Hill (an Iron Age hillfort site with an obelisk). The route then passes Hagley Park (ticketed entry) to enter the Clent Hills (National Trust), and climbs to a very fine viewpoint by The Four Stones (a folly) and on to the summits of Clent Hill (309m) and Walton Hill (315m).
Optional: from The Four Stones, contour around the north side of the Clent Hill ridge along a well maintained path to a Café at Nimmings Wood car park (bacon butties, nice view, toilets).
Further along, from Walton Hill, you have two options:
Shorter Circular Walk – return to Hagley via a lower route which passes Dark Pool and some good pubs (The Vine Inn in Clent and The Woodman (the ex-French Hen) and The Hill Tavern in Adam's Hill). There is another fine pub passed as you reach Hagley ( The Lyttelton Arms ) and there are also a pub (The Station Inn) and a café/wine bar (West One) near Hagley station.
The Main Walk – stay up high, and follow the "Clent-Lickey" ridge via Calcot Hill, Romsley Hill, the Waseley Hills and the Lickey Hills (298m) to Barnt Green Station.
Lunch: Picnic .
Tea: The Duckpond Café (3.5 km from the end), The Barnt Green Inn and The Victoria (both a short walk from Barnt Green station).
For walk directions, map, height profile , photos and gpx/kml files click here .