Here is our pick of the Alan Rogers Assessors, expert-recommended campsites for the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Lying southwest of Worcester, the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was created in 1959, and its dramatic landscape straddles Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. The hills are spectacular, the highest point being Worcestershire Beacon at 425 metres: on a clear day, there are views over to Wales and the Cotswolds. Some of these rocks are estimated at over 600 million years old, making them among the oldest in England.
Ancient woods are scattered across the hills and the rural pastures, crisscrossed by trails for walkers and cyclists and offering a variety of terrain and habitats that shelter different flora and fauna. The type of terrain changes across the AONB, with striking contrasts between the north-south ridge and the undulating agricultural land on either side. There are ancient forts, crumbling castles and medieval priories dotted across the 105 square kilometres of this AONB.
Malvern Hills spring water is a popular choice here, prized for its pure and natural qualities. The bottling plant at Holy Well is reputedly the oldest in the world.
Malvern Hills Caravan and Motorhome Club site is located close to Malvern Hills and the towns of the Malverns. Malvern is 4 miles and the Three Counties Showground 3 miles. The latter is a fantastic venue for the many events taking place through the year, including The RHS Spring Flower Show, The Autumn Quilt Show, The Royal Three Counties Show and The Firework Spectacular. If you are looking for peace and tranquillity in an idyllic rural setting this site will make you very welcome. It is maintained to the usual high standard of the club. The site is dog friendly and has a dog walk, but all dogs are to be kept on a lead at all times. There are 204 grass and hardstanding pitches spread over 22 acres. Each has 16amp electric hook ups. From the site it is just a short distance to visit local landmarks such as Worcester for its Cathedral and Royal Porcelain Museum, Upton upon Severn for the charming traditional pubs and Jazz Festival in June, Bromyard for September's Folk Festival and Ledbury for its quaint black and white buildings.
Redbrick Barn is not your normal site, in fact what you will be staying on is the owners garden and is maintained that way. The site is kept neat and tidy with a manicured lawn and an ever-growing selection of plants and shrubs. The aim is to offer visitors an experience that harks back to the popular beginnings of caravanning when you could park up and relax totally autonomously without toilet blocks and pitches - just take in the beauty of your surroundings. However, power and water are provided but this is optional. The site has just 5 grass pitches with electric hook-up.
