Circular walk, West Malvern, near Worcester.

This walk starts and ends by the Outdoor Centre in West Malvern, at the top of Old Hollow road. Walk down the path through the outdoor centre and on to the farm. You cross the yard through the two metal gates and then stick to the path through two fields in which sheep are grazing. At the top far corner f the next field you go up through the next field and in the top corner you pass under trees to a path entering the wood. After you pass through the wooden gate you go a little further up before meeting a path making a t with the one you are on. You have now done the hardest part of the walk. Take the left hand path and you follow the ridge through the woods until you reach a metal gate. This is a long flat section of the walk. You now go through a farm yard and then on to the bottom of a private road. Just past a few houses on the left is a footpath sign, and following this you go through a few fields and then are back at the first farm at the outdoor centre.

Sheep freshly shorn

Here are a few of the sights I saw today following this walk.

First field

View north

Towards wooden gate onto ridge

Tree detail

Ridge path

Path in dappled shade

View west towards Herefordshire

View east across to Malvern Hill from second farm

Lower path back to first farm

Interesting burr in hedgerow

West Fest, Music Festival 2013, Worcestershire,

Main stage to left of inflatable slide

West Fest is a small music festival held annually in West Malvern, Worcestershire. This year it took place on the 6th July, a fantastically beautiful Saturday, bathed in sunshine and set as always on the village playing fields. This year there were three music stages, as a new stage, The Deakin Diversity stage, made it's first appearance. The main stage, (loud electric) and the second stage, (which is an acoustic stage) played host to 15 different bands, rock and roll/ jazz/ country/ original groups and those playing mostly covers- a very varied mix. The diversity stage had a more "world music" feel, but also saw a silent disco take it's turn. I have been to every West Fest, and the event must have been going now for about ten years. The bands get better and better each year.

View from inside the shade of beer tent

A one day event it's entry is priced so anyone can afford to go, and all it's profits go every year to help various charities. Look out for when it is to be staged next year as it is well worth visiting.

There were also at least twenty art and craft stalls etc

West of England Quarry, Malvern, Worcestershire, Misty Morning.

Woods awaken

Early misty morn

Dew drops on branches

 Optamistic green shoots

And bulging buds

Waiting for warnth

Longing for sun light 

Enchanting enigmatic 

Fragile beauty

By Izzy Silver

Remanent from old quarry works

 Quarrying used to threaten this area of great beauty. In 1931 the Malvern Hills Conservators bought this area, but there are still reminders from the quarrying companies doted about if you look close enough. The area is now recognised as an area of outstanding natural beauty and a site of scientific interest. The last quarry to close was the Gullet, which didn't close until 1977. What remains however is beautiful. 

The path I followed

A bulging bud

Quarry Entry