North Hill, Malvern

North Hill is the second highest point of the range of Malvern Hills that runs about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north-south along the Herefordshire-Worcestershire border, although North Hill lies entirely within Worcestershire. It has an elevation of 397 metres (1,302 ft),[1] making it the highest point of the Worcestershire Way.

North Hill
North Hill from Great Malvern Priory
Highest point
Elevation397 m (1,302 ft) [1]
Prominence15 m (50 ft)
Parent peakWorcestershire Beacon
Geography
LocationMalvern Hills, England
OS gridSO768462
Topo mapOS Landranger 150
Geology
Age of rockPre-Cambrian
Mountain typeIgneous, Metamorphic
Climbing
Easiest routeHiking

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 via 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.

History

Although the flint route from North Wales to Wessex lay to the north of Malvern, there is some evidence to suggest that traders passed over the Malvern Hills. Parts of an arrowhead, scraper and flint flakes have been discovered between the North Hill and Table Hill. A 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.[2]

A track that runs along North Hill was known as the "Pyx Path" and was used by the priest from Worcestershire when bringing Sacrament to the hermits that lived in Malvern in the 11th Century. It was also referred to as the "Pixie Path", as it was believed to be used by fairies.[3] 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.[4]

Folklore

In Early British Trackways, Moats, Mounds, Camps, and Sites Alfred Watkins theorised that North Hill was the beginning of a ley line to Pen-y-Beacon via Mathon Church, Moat at Birchend, Stretton Grandison Church, Shucknell Hill, White Stone Chapel, Burcot Pool, Ten Houses Pond and Sugwas Park.[5]

The Worcestershire Way

When launched back in 1989 the Worcestershire Way was 48 miles (77 km) long and ran partly into Herefordshire. The route and its length were modified in 2004 and it now runs wholly within Worcestershire.[6] 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 via St Ann's Well.[7]

References
  1. "Identification of key views to and from the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty A Report prepared by Cooper Partnership for The Malvern Hills AONB Partnership" (PDF). malvernhillsaonb.org.uk. The Malvern Hills AONB Partnership. March 2009. p. Appendix Table L2: Assessment of Views from and within Malvern Hills AONB. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. Smith, B.S: 1978 A History of Malvern Allan Sutton and The Malvern Bookshop ISBN 0-904387-31-3
  3. Severn Burrow, C.F: 1948, A little city set on the hill: the story of Malvern
  4. Bruce Osborne & Cora Weaver: 1994, Aquae Malvernensis – The Springs and Fountains of the Malvern Hills ISBN 1-873809-07-7
  5. Watkins, A. 1921 Early British Trackways, Moats, Mounds, Camps, and Sites.
  6. Worcestershire Way Ramblers Association
  7. Malvern – The Worcestershire Way Worcester News Tuesday 23 December 2008

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