Midsummer Hill and Gullet Quarry walk

Wednesday 23^rd April

The walk explores the diverse geology and landscape to be seen in this southern area of the Malvern Hills.  It follows the route of the Trail Guide ‘Malvern Hills (2)’  published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust.  In particular we saw -

• Landscape and geology visible from Midsummer Hill, as well as the iron age ramparts on the Hill,
• Panoramic views west and north from the Obelisk hill in Eastnor Park,
• The geology unveiled at Gullet quarry, including the famous unconformity where deeply upturned strata of May Hill Sandstone from the Silurian period meet the Precambrian rocks of the Malverns Complex.

Walk details

Start and Parking:  Hollybush car park, GR 758368, at 10.00 a.m.

Length of walk:  4.5 miles, finishing about 1pm.

Refreshments: after the walk we can call for lunch at The Duke of York at Berrow, around 2 miles from Hollybush.

The walk is undulating and steepish in parts, in particular on the path up Midsummer Hill and the path up to the higher level in Gullet Quarry.  There are some stiles.  The path along Gullet Pass can be wet, and both this and the path up Midsummer Hill can be muddy in places.  In the quarry we followed a well-trodden path to the higher level to see the unconformity, keeping well away from the quarry edge.