Discover the Malverns
The autumn and winter months are a great time to discover the Malverns. Walk in the countryside that inspired one of Britain’s greatest composers, Edward Elgar, and enjoy the crisp air and wonderful scenery that makes this area so special. If you have the energy you can walk from one end of the hills to the other and back again covering over 16 miles! For the less adventurous there are various walks and trails that offer a great experience of the English countryside at its best. Each of our local towns has a diverse nature with Victorian Spa town Malvern world renowned for its hills, water, Morgan Cars, showground and theatres. Tenbury Wells is famous for its links with the cider industry, mistletoe and fishing while Upton upon Severn’s fortunes were moulded by the river trade and its role as a battle site during the English Civil War and it is now known for its festivals and river cruises.
C.S. Lewis, was at school in Malvern, and later, along with contemporaries such as JRR Tolkien and WH Auden, returned frequently to walk the hills. It is understood that he used to enjoy a pint at the Unicorn pub in the centre of Great Malvern along with other literary friends. A warm welcome still awaits all visitors to the areas excellent pubs and hotels. Great Malvern is famous for its water spouts and wells and was once a spa centre made famous by doctors Gully and Wilson who started the famous
A CENTRAL LOCATION
The area today is even more popular as a visitor destination and acts as a great centre to explore the surrounding Herefordshire borders, the Cotswolds and the Shropshire Marches. There are many award winning Bed and Breakfast’s, Guesthouse and Farmstays, great hotels like the renowned Cottage in The Wood hotel on the side of the Malverns that has spectacular long distance views across the Severn Plain.
EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON
There are festivals and events taking place in all the towns throughout the year, but in Tenbury, the year really comes to a climax in October with its now famous Applefest when growers and brewers come together to celebrate the apple with many unusual
varieties on show. The festival is closely followed by the Mistletoe Season that starts in mid November and runs to Christmas and involves the UK’s largest mistletoe auctions, processions, music, drama and all things mistletoe. After a long year there’s nothing better than enjoying the fruits of the harvest. The Malvern Autumn Show at the Three Counties Showground takes place on 24th and 25th September. A show for food and gardening lovers, the event hosts a range of cookery demonstrations, gardening talks, vegetable displays, vintage tractors, crafts and a wide selection of shops. Some of the most prestigious musicians, poets, writers, film makers and other artists perform during Autumn every year at the Autumn in Malvern Festival. This year’s festival runs from 24th September until late October. Winter markets are a popular feature in Great Malvern, and the best is in December when the town holds its annual Christmas event. The streets come alive with entertainers, market stalls and excited children waiting for a glimpse of Santa. The Priory Church bells ring out and the smell of Christmas fills the air. Malvern has a host of quality shops, some with famous names but many independent and artisan businesses selling a variety of quality products. An ideal opportunity to kick-start your Christmas shopping. Upton is the festival capital of the district, hosting four major music events across the year covering folk, Jazz, blues and world music. The town also holds a winter Victorian market during the run-up to Christmas.
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Toposcope on the Beacon by Christopher Turner
INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE
water cure treatments back in the 1840’s. Many key figures of the day such as Charles Darwin and Florence Nightingale visited the town to participate in these popular treatments. History has it, that patients were woken up at 5am, wrapped in wet sheets and given cold showers before being sent up the hills for exercise and to drink the water from St Ann’s Well. Malvern now has a modern spa and hotel facilities where you can relax and enjoy the benefits and a state of the art fitness suite without having to rise at 5am – unless you really want to!