Great Malvern via St Ann's Well up Worcestershire Beacon: route map, distance and time
425 m · Welsh Borders S · OS grid SO768452
Worcestershire Beacon is the highest point of the Malvern Hills, a grassy summit with a toposcope above Great Malvern and a ridge walk along the range.
You climb through the woods to St Ann's Well, then up open grassy slopes to the summit.
Great Malvern via St Ann's Well at a glance
| Distance | 1.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 290 m |
| Time up | 0h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 1h 5m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Great Malvern town centre |
| Start grid reference | SO 775 459 |
| Summit grid reference | SO768452 |
Great Malvern via St Ann's Well map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- The Unicorn0.1 km
- The Old Royal Library0.1 km
- Great Malvern Hotel0.2 km
- Abbey Road Coffee0.0 km
- Caffè Nero0.1 km
- Papa's Cafe0.1 km
- Public toilets0.1 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Public toilets0.3 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Great Malvern via St Ann's Well takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 0h 40m | 0h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 0h 45m | 1h 5m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 0h 55m | 1h 20m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:39, sunset 18:09. Start by 16:04 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:41, sunset 18:07. Start by 16:02 to be down before dark, allowing 1h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Worcestershire Beacon summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Sunday 18 October
Light drizzle, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 25 mph gusting 31 mph, 20% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:39, sunset 18:09.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate rain, up to 11°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 1°C, summit wind 26 mph gusting 33 mph, 90% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:41, sunset 18:07.
Best day of the next seven for Great Malvern via St Ann's Well: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 31 mph and a 20% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Worcestershire Beacon forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Worcestershire Beacon?
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -1°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 31 mph.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Worcestershire Beacon
Worcestershire Beacon is the highest point of the Malvern Hills, a grassy summit with a toposcope above Great Malvern and a ridge walk along the range. More about Worcestershire Beacon, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Marilyn, historic county top, county top.
Challenges that include Worcestershire Beacon
Other routes up Worcestershire Beacon
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyche Cutting | 1.6 km one way | 161 m | 0h 35m | Easy |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SO 775 459, the summit at SO768452), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Great Malvern via St Ann's Well: questions and answers
How far is Great Malvern via St Ann's Well?
Great Malvern via St Ann's Well is 1.5 km one way to the summit of Worcestershire Beacon, with 290 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 3.0 km.
How long does Great Malvern via St Ann's Well take?
About 0h 45m to the summit of Worcestershire Beacon and 1h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 1h 20m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Great Malvern via St Ann's Well?
Great Malvern via St Ann's Well starts from Great Malvern town centre. The grid reference is SO 775 459.
Is Great Malvern via St Ann's Well suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Great Malvern via St Ann's Well today?
By 16:04 at the latest. Sunset on Worcestershire Beacon today is 18:09, Great Malvern via St Ann's Well takes about 1h 5m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Great Malvern via St Ann's Well?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).