I live in Malvern and work in Hereford.
Haugh Woods is your local – head off and investigate, the trail pixies are regularly building and repairing felling damage. Good mix, some quite tech stuff especially when it’s wet. I have big XC loops which link Malvern to Haugh and also to Dymock. I’m not sure Dymock is ‘legal’ bridleway riding, but there sure as hell is a lot of secret singletrack in a small area.
Malvern, obviously. I lead the Thursday steady social which is a ride for all levels so is slower, steady and rarely full on tech. Wednesdays, in the summer especially, there are often tech groups out – fast up, fast down, steep stuff. Sunday group does some of the hidden stuff too. There will always be people to show you around if you ask on the MCS FB page 🙂
Also, Black Mountains Bike Park, just down the road. Look at Yat Pack and Wye Valley Warriors in Monmouth for some of the stuff down that way. Keep going along the Heads of the Valleys and you’ll be at BPW in an hour.
Heading North there is loads in Powys. You’re not a million miles from Rhayader which has some stunning ride.