Put the Malvern Hills on Your Photography Bucket List

In this post, a meet-up of landscape photographers organized by Andy McGuire explores the Malvern Hills at sunrise.

Here are some of the most memorable images from photographers Paul Compton and Geoff Moore.

Malvern Offers Photographers 9 Miles of Hills and Ridges

This nine-mile series of hills in Worcestershire has long been popular with hikers, and it’s easy to see why. Access by car and train is convenient, and when you get there, you’ll find clearly defined trails right from the car parks.

Malvern Hills includes 16 named hills with endless vantage points from their serpentine ridges.

Popular spots include Herefordshire Beacon, Perseverance Hill, Worcestershire Beacon and North Hill.

Photographers’ Favourite Spot to Shoot Malverns

We asked both photographers about their favorite places to capture the beauty of the Malvern Hills.

Paul Compton: Worcestershire Beacon offers 360-degree views. I particularly liked that spot, but really, for photographers the entire area is fantastic. There are so many lovely spots.

Geoff Moore: The advantage of the Malverns is that they run north to south, and they’re made up of a range of peaks. If I was really pushed, then shooting from North Hill southwards gives a nice running ridge line peaking its way through the Worcestershire landscape.

Bring Your Hiking Boots to the Malvern Hills

These are hills after all, and you’ll be earning your views. For example, Perseverance Hill is 1,066 ft (325 meters) above sea level, which is not quite as tall as nearby Pinnacle or Jubilee Hills.

You’ll want to capture scenes in numerous directions, so even when you get up on top of the hills and ridges, count on doing more hiking.

History, Nature and Farming – A Photographer’s Delight

Aside from its natural beauty, the Malvern Hills offer a rich cultural heritage of forts, castles and priories that stand proudly in this landscape of ancient woodlands, rolling pastures and open grazing commons.

You’ll notice the patchwork quilt of pastures, and likely see sheep and cattle grazing. That’s because the cover over the hard granite rock is too poor for crops, but just right for the various grasses to feed livestock.

The tones and shapes of these pastures make for interesting photographic compositions.

Learn more about the ancient history of the Malvern Hills on this video from Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty website.

How to Get to the Malvern Hills

Malvern lies approximately 140 miles north-west of London, 40 miles south-west of Birmingham.

From London, take the M40 if you’re driving. Alternatively, there is a direct train link from London Paddington to Malvern Link.

From Birmingham, take the M5, or the train.

Download a detailed map PDF of the Malvern Hills area here, showing all of the car parks and trails on the hills. A map of the south end of the Malvern Hills is here.

Where to Park at the Malvern Hills?

The car parks around the base of the hills make convenient places for meet-ups, such as the one featured in the videos from Paul Compton and Geoff Moore. Shout-out to Andy McGuire for organizing that!

Here is an interactive map of the many car parks at the base of the Malvern Hills.

Parking is £4.40 per day and your ticket is valid on the day of issue at any of the car parks.

Please note that the car park machines accept cash only. Ensure you have the correct coins as the meters do not give change. (Apparently credit card machines are being installed, but it’s best to bring cash, just in case.)

Eating and Drinking Nearby

The town of Malvern, population approximately 30,000, offers a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, fast food and most importantly, pubs for after-shoot activities. Pick your favourite!

Car Rental in Malvern

Where to Stay in Malvern

The Malverns website lists a variety of accommodation including B&Bs (some on farms, others in town), hotels, self-catering and camping and caravanning options. 

When to Visit the Malverns

It’s worth noting that this is a popular tourist destination in summer. That means accommodation may be more difficult and expensive, restaurants will be busy and many more people will be wandering the hills (getting in your shots).

We like autumn for reduced crowds, lovely low light and colour on the trees. Alternatively, winter could deliver some frosty mornings that will make for nice photos. In either case, sunrise is later in the day so you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night.

Clothing and Gear for the Malverns

First on the list would be sturdy hiking boots. Although the terrain is fairly smooth, you’ll be doing a fair amount of hiking, so you’ll want the support.

Dress in layers with the top layer of a waterproof jacket.

For your gear, consider the weight of your bag or backpack before heading out onto the hills. Lighter is better.

Is it Legal to Fly a Drone in the U.K.?

In general, yes, it is. However, there are rules and regulations you should be aware of. Here is drone section of the site of the Civil Aviation Authority. Here’s another helpful site on flying a drone in the U.K.

Paul’s Vlog:

Geoff’s Vlog: