The Malverns form a steep nine-mile ridge running roughly north-south five miles east of Ledbury and rising over 400 metres at the Worcestershire Beacon. The whole ridge is open access land managed by the Malvern Hills Trust, and a sealed path runs along the spine — the easiest walking on a major British range, and the views from the top are panoramic in every direction (Welsh mountains to the west, Cotswolds to the east, Severn Vale below).
The most popular short walk from Ledbury is the climb up the British Camp Iron Age hillfort at Wynds Point, just south of the highest summit. A round trip from the car park takes an hour and the earthworks are some of the best-preserved in England. Bring water — there are no springs on the ridge, despite the famous Malvern spring water bottled at the foot of the hills.