[Closed] Malvern Hills?

Latest from the hill here:

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/malverns-conditions ]http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/malverns-conditions[/url]

Avoid the weekends as its full of walkers, some good loops to be had, easy enough to explore tbh.

There are some nice sections of single-track to be had, don't get abusive if someone says you shouldn't be riding up here - you'll get a lot of that. See if you can meet up with a "local", takes the hassle out of it.

Avoid the obvious trails along the ridge and stay lower down at busy periods, the tourists head for the top.

On a damp winters day is it "soft" and muddy in a way that makes riddind a pain (like the chilterns?)

There's some top riding and good tech singletrack to be had if you know where to look. Seek out a local or go and chat to Back on Track Bikes before you set off. Couple of routes on their website too:

http://backontrack-bikes.com/home.html

Lots of the terrain around Worcester Beacon is rocky so rides well even in iffy conditions. It's also fun in the snow 🙂

Some places get a bit soft but on the whole its hard wearing and rocky so its fine in winter ( i ride them all year round, never been told i shouldn't be riding anywhere up there though, perhaps being female means walkers dont see me as a threat - and a cheery hello and smile helps too).

The BOT web maps are next to useless though

Harvey Maps

If you want a good detailed map then the 1:10,000 Malvern Hills map is the one to get.

[b][u][url= http://www.harveymaps.co.uk/acatalog/Maps_of_Areas_of_Outstanding_natural_Beauty.html ]http://www.harveymaps.co.uk/acatalog/Maps_of_Areas_of_Outstanding_natural_Beauty.html[/url][/u][/b]

bonesetter - Member
The BOT web maps are next to useless though

If you click on each section of the map it is enlarged, don't know whether that makes it any easier. 😕

You can have the best map but it's useless without a route 🙂

Jimster, i've wanted to ride the Malverns for ages and looking at the BOT map looks as if it pretty much follows the ridge at a level half way up. is this in a round about way about right?

just looked at the maps again - haven't for ages and they have improved in that they enlarge alot more than they used to

can't beat a local guide though...??

Hope this works, there should be a link to a quick loop.

[url= http://connect.garmin.com/activity/16011516 ]Malverns quick loop[/url]

bonesetter - Member
You can have the best map but it's useless without a route

True - but why not make up your own route from the map?

hey boogie man, cool, thanks. Is that the same as the BOT route?

All i need now is a GPS device 😀

Z - it wouldn't be the best route. for best riding one needs local help

Nigel, it will be nice if a STW ride or Clent Duffer ride is organised on the Malvern Hills one of this week end, so I can join you. I do know the Malvern a bit, and WHATMTB has a loop in it this month, and i got a GPS.

Gilles - let's do it

Might have to wait till spring first though 😉

The Malverns are awesome. I used to live up at the Wyche and having some fantastic riding right on the doorstep was superb. There are loads of trails, it never gets muddy (unless you stray onto the land rover tracks near Eastnor) and the trails vary from flat-out blasts to techy omg-I'm-going-to-die rocky bits. If you avoid the tops you won't have any bother with walkers either (the view from the top is great, but the best trails are down the sides!)

As an added bonus you need never go thirsty or take a heavy camelbak as there are springs everywhere... 🙂

This is a route I put together for a "best of" loop when showing people round: [url= http://flippet.org/temp/MalvernHills.kml ]Google Earth KML[/url] / [url= http://flippet.org/temp/MalvernHills.trl ]Tracklogs[/url]

As an added bonus you need never go thirsty or take a heavy camelbak as there are springs everywhere...

Or stop at The Nags Head for a decent pint 😉

phiil, could you repost your linky pls. its not working

bonesetter as same as BOT route.

Thanks. What device would I need to use your route?

The links are working here...?

Put the KML link into an online KML viewer, does that work?

Thanks. What device would I need to use your route?

1 x map
1 x pencil

Sorted 😉

I was able to download the tracklog version in my S/W thanks, but didn't try the google earth bit.

map and pencil? when I'm biking I would have to stop and read the map every 5 min as that's the time it take you to the next junction. Map ok when walking, but riding, it's a pain. GPS rocks for that. Nigel, I'm using Garmin Vista HCx and I like it. Bike mount ok and coverage ok except Forest of Dean. I combine it with the Traklogs S/W to download a route to the GPS and it works well once on the tracks with a few uturns needed sometime when spotting the track is not obvious in the field.

What is the S/W you refer to?

Is it a problem you cannot use Multi Maps on your device?

When I said "combine" I mean I use on my PC the Tracklogs S/W which come with OS maps to draw the route I'm intended to ride. Then I download the route to the GPS (via usb cable). On the GPS screen itself, the route appears as a basic track , no OS map background, but you can work out your bearing by viewing your position compare to the track itself. Fancy GPS like Satmap do have a OS map background, which is pretty good, but still a bit pricey and the bike mount is very chuncky.

Hey Guys
Thanks for all the info. Will try and get out for a blast soon. Phiiiil your map is awesome thanks.