Walk around North Hill
The walk was led by John Payne who has a considerable knowledge of this area.
The rocks of Tank Quarry are heavily metamorphosed. The display of imported rocks by the car park were briefly examined. A short walk leads to an exposure of the plane of the East Malvern Fault, showing fault breccia and slickensides. The track to St Ann’s Well passes a number of rock exposures, especially dolerite dykes and particularly Ivy Scar Rock and a recently revealed example on the hill side. Above St Anne’s Well is a quarry which shows the degradation of the granite by kaolinisation.
Ascent over the ridge-top col leads to Dingle Quarry. This shows a variety of igneous rocks and intrusions with, importantly, their junctions. To the north of the Dingle is an exposure of Miss Phillips's Conglomerate, a remnant of the beach of the Silurian sea. A climb, but not quite to the top of North Hill, leads to the highest spring on the Malverns. From the spring, the descent down Rocky Valley shows results of Ice Age erosion.
Along the route, the geomorphology and hydrology of the hills was discussed, as well as the surrounding scenery.
Start and parking at Tank Quarry. Going up North Malvern Road the way into the quarry parking area is up the track just beyond the Clock Tower. Free parking!
Start – 09.30
Length of walk about 6km
Total climb is about 240m [but fairly gently!] Hiking boots recommended
Duration -- 3 to 3.5 hours
Refreshments – after the walk we met for lunch at the Nags Head.