Malvern Hills - British Camp to Upper Wyche

Essential Intel

Please note, Agents: this is a clockwise driving Trail around the North Malvern Hills. If you prefer to walk or cycle the approximate 10.5 mile route, please feel free to do so.

The Trail ends at Upper Wyche, 2.5 miles from the start point at British Camp car park, so plan your return before you set off if you are not driving the full route. If you walked or cycled your mission and want to get back to British Camp, follow the signs to Ledbury after finishing this assignment.

There are several places along the way where you will need to park. You will need to buy a day ticket which allows parking all day in all the car parks around the hills.

Navigating The Route

This is a clockwise driving Spy Mission around the North Malvern Hills from British Camp to Upper Wyche, with Agents helping Agent Jane Pond find the de-activation code hidden in the clues after Dr Horrid has hidden a dirty device in the Malvern Hills to contaminate the spring waters.

The mission covers around 10.5 miles and should take 2.5+ hours to complete. You'll begin at British Camp car park on the A449 from Ledbury to Malvern, work your way around the North Malvern Hills, stop in Colwall village, continue through Great Malvern and finish at Upper Wyche.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Although it is a driving route, sections can also be walked or cycled, and the route includes an optional walk to a summit from the car park, steps up to the car park, a footpath climb with glorious views, plus busy roads, pavements and road crossings in places.

Take care on the roads and in parking areas, and keep the party together, especially younger Agents. Keep your eyes peeled for Dr Horrid's fictional henchmen, black SUVs and drones, but give the real attention to traffic, crossings and car parks.

Getting There

By car: Start your operation at British Camp car park on the A449 from Ledbury to Malvern (WR13 6DW). There are toilets across the road, and you need to buy a day ticket which allows parking all day in all the car parks around the hills.

• British Camp car park (WR13 6DW) - start here. There are toilets across the road.
• North Quarry Car Park (WR14 4LT) - park here on your right after the clock tower.
• Beacon Hill Car Park (WR14 4EH) - if this is full there are more spaces further up the road in Upper Beacon Road car park.

By public transport: Make your way to British Camp car park on the A449 from Ledbury to Malvern to begin the mission. The Trail ends at Upper Wyche, 2.5 miles from the start point, so plan your return before setting off.

Need the Loo?

There are toilets across the road from British Camp car park at the start of the mission, and another set of toilets by the telephone box and bus shelter later on at Wyche.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Agents are welcome on this mission 🐾

The route includes car parks, busy roads, pavements, road crossings, steps, a footpath climb and optional summit access points, so keep canine recruits close around traffic, parking areas and hillier sections. Expect a proper hills-based leg-stretch if you decide to add extra climbs.

Food & Drink Stops

World-saving is thirsty work. You can buy refreshments at the start point or in Colwall at Clue 04.

If it's a fine day, take a picnic too - there are plenty of glorious views along the way if your squad wants to pause between pieces of intel.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Herefordshire Beacon / British Camp

Herefordshire Beacon is known as the British Camp because the remains of a large Iron Age hill fort can be found at the summit. The walk to the summit from the car park is reasonably easy, so it's a strong optional extra for Agents who fancy checking the high ground before Dr Horrid gets any ideas.

Colwall village

The route stops in Colwall village on the way round and suggests finding somewhere to park near the railway station. Refreshments are available here, and the Trail passes through the centre of the village, making it a handy place to pause and regroup.

Great Malvern

The Trail route will see you driving through Great Malvern, so you can slow the mission down and pause there to explore it in more detail if time allows.

Malvern Hills views

There are many glorious views along the way! From the route you can look east across Worcestershire to Bredon Hill in the middle distance and the Cotswolds about 30 miles away on the horizon. There are lots of access points to climb the summits if you wish.

Malvern water springs

Malvern water is famous throughout the world and is best known for 'containing nothing at all'. The King drinks it, and people travel miles to collect water from the springs on the hills - exactly why Agent Jane Pond needs those spring waters kept safe from Dr Horrid's dirty device.