Malverns this Saturday. Good route? Is it worth it?

Off to see some friends in Worcester this weekend and have a couple of hours for a ride before we turn up. I thought the Malverns might be a good spot. I have fond memories of walking there many years ago and there seems to be a tonne of Bridleway.

Does anyone have a route recommendation for a max 3 hour ride? We usually ride in the South Downs but within our comfort zone in the Quantocks/Exmoor. Ideally we’d like to avoid the crowds.

Given that we’ll be arriving at 11:00 at the earliest, is it just going to be too busy to be enjoyable? If so, any thoughts on an alternative.

Thanks for any help

You can ride on the ridge in the Worcestershire side of the Malverns – but it isn’t viewed kindly on the Herefordshire side.

It sounds like there’s a lot of things that aren’t viewed kindly in the Malverns.

It sounds like there’s a lot of things that aren’t viewed kindly in the Malverns

I wouldn’t know – I’m not a local, I’m from Birmingham. I have been stopped on the Herefordshire side and challenged and simply sharing the ben fit of that experience.

There’s a strong presence of the red sock brigade patrolling Malvern especially on a weekend.

How about the Fod or Wyre forest?

You could try these – scenic rather than gnarr, but probably a pleasant ride https://www.malvernhills.org.uk/visiting/cycling/mountain-bike-trails/

We’re coming up from Hampshire. FoD is a long way out of our way.

I’ll take a wee look at Wyre Forest. Just had a look, looks interesting but we’re coming up from the south so it’s quite a diversion.

Thanks for the tip though.

Malverns are fine at weekends as long as you ride expecting there to be someone round the corner. Sunny bank Holidays tend to be busy.

There’s a marked mtb route around it now, although it misses out the tops of the hills.

Route details here

I often do a combination of some of that marked route, then wang up the tops too being considerate and undickish.

@kayak23 & @onewheelgood I saw those routes, but couldn’t tell if they were any good, or just created to say they’d got some mtb trails. Good to hear from a local that they’re not a complete waste of time.

My wife has never been to the Malverns before, so (assuming the weather’s not godawful) it would be nice for her to get the view from the tops. How would you recommend fitting the ridge into that loop?

If you’re going on a weekend either go early so you’re done by 10am or wait until the evening, the rest of the time is silly busy dodging tourons, especially at the Malvern end.

The way-marked mtb route is a bit of a joke, more of a gravel loop. Theres good riding there but hard to find and be prepared to do a lot of climbing if you do. My shout would be the Wyre, probably the only time of year it’ll be dry.

If you want to get a view from the top the easiest thing. Go from 13 and head up the main tarmac path of Summer hill. At the S of quarries take the main gravel track left up to near the top of the Worcestershire Beacon, Have a mooch around, take photos etc then head north to Sugarloaf and pick up the route around Table Hill.

Fab, thank you

The way-marked mtb route is a bit of a joke, more of a gravel loop.

Yeah, it’s not a gnartechfest or anything but it’s a beautiful place anyway. I think they were basically trying to keep bikes off the main paths.
The tops are very open, whereas the route stays more in the lower trees.

As K says, 13 is a good place to head up from the mtb route onto the tops and finally head back down to the car park at the end.

I always like to go up British Camp as it’s quite a crazy landscape.

Go to the Wyre, its really worth the diversion.

Methinks for your purposes the waymarked trails would be good, as others have said it’s not gnarly, but you do get some great views.

Not sure about Wyre, last time I was there I had local knowledge showing me around.

Thanks everyone. A slight scheduling fubar means we’re probably going Sunday morning.

Hangover/tiredness probably dictates being closer to the scenic end of the gnarmageddon scale. So that tweak to the waymarked route might be bang on.

How did you get on OP?

I did the route posted by kayak yesterday, met one other cyclist and about 3 walkers. Really enjoyed it, although there is no gnarr it’s a lovely ride in the woods and the climbs give you a decent workout, although if you make it round the rocky switchback on the final descent you’re braver than I am.