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Florence Nightingale Bench
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Under normal circumstances, a half day walking in the hills, a few pints followed by a large curry would ensure a good night's sleep. Sadly this was not the case on this occasion. I find sleeping under canvas extremely difficult ... I always seem to be sited under a tree that is home to an anti-social Owl. It isn't just that though, my senses seem to be on full hyper alert mode and I can't switch off. furthermore my blow up pillow seemed to have a puncture and deflated quicker than I could blow it up. Hopefully that explains why I'm wide awake at 3 AM listening to the rain and engaging in some tent Yoga. Is that a thing? I can't see it catching on anyway. We make a quick getaway around 8 Am without anybody evening knowing we had been there.
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| Malvern Clock Tower | |
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Partaking of the water
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We arrive in Malvern just as it is waking up. I am quite taken by the 'Florence Nightingale' bench close to the old Priory. It is one of 5 benches installed in the town centre with each one
featuring a unique story or legend linked to Malvern’s history. This one has her beloved cat, old medicine bottles and writing implements, I also saw the 'Morgan car' with It's wheel design. We are starting off today from 'Tank Quarry. Very close to the 'Clock Tower' one of several sites where the famous Malvern healing waters can be collected. Unlike tap water, it has not been artificially filtered, has no
additives and unlike other natural waters, it contains very little
dissolved minerals.
Today we are walking the 'Northern Hills' and will be going to the
highest point of the Malvern Hills, 'Worcester Beacon'. The early cloud has cleared and it is a beautiful day. Fueled by a 'Peppermint tea and yesterdays leftover pasta we are ready to go. We are climbing towards 'Sugarloaf Hill'. The summit of Sugarloaf Hill is 368 metres (1,207 ft) above sea level. It is usually climbed on the way to the Worcestershire Beacon.Once again the views are totally stunning in every direction. It really does take your breath away.
The 'Beacon' looks very intimidating as we approach. The hills are mostly igneous and metamorphic rocks from the late pre-Cambrian, around 600 million years old. Hundreds of millions of years of erosion and glacial passage have given
the Beacon and its neighbouring peaks their characteristic smoothly
rounded features.
The Worcestershire Beacon has historically been used as a location for
signalling beacons. In 1588 it formed part of a chain of warning fires
which were lit when the Spanish Armada attempted to invade England.
On the summit is one of my favourite things a 'Toposcope' or viewfinder. Identifying all the other points of interest that can be seen from the location. I did take a picture but it didn't turn out too well unfortunately. It was erected to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
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Not a bad view at all !
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The last climb of this circular walk is 'Summer Hill'. It is a great place to look back from to the Worcestershire Beacon. Its eastern flank is scarred by an abandoned quarry. We will now start to wind our way back towards Malvern. There is still a central area that we haven't covered on this trip. I notice that the next peak is called 'Perseverance Hill'. Very appropriate really considering what would have gone before. They will have to keep for another day though.
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The Beacon from Summer Hill
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It has been another fantastic day of walking . We finish with a tour in the foothills of the Victorian Town of Malvern. In total 7.6 miles covered with an elevation of 1801 ft.
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