By: Blonde Two
One of the lovely things about this time of year is seeing a multitude of families out enjoying the hills together. Blonde One saw lots of people up on Dartmoor yesterday and things were no different where I was on the Malvern Hills.
My sister and I had a Sunday lunchtime appointment with some important parsnips so we elected for a quick assault on the Worcestershire Beacon from the Wyche Cutting. No witches here – see previous blog post for an explanation http://wp.me/s2OiIR-meadow
The concrete paths (an odd concept for a Dartmoor bog plodder) were sparkling and slippery with a thick frost, very beautiful but I decided to engage four-leg-drive and use my walking poles. I had had my first 4WD experience in Mr B2’s truck on the way up there and was feeling quite proud of myself.
We saw people of all shapes and sizes as we climbed the hill. There was one whole family looking a bit chilly in colourful onsies and wellies whilst a guy in desert camouflage watched them in a rather stern way as they descended (safely) past a quarry. The winner of the “best dressed group” award had to be the runners (and limpers) in their Christmas florescents (I have heard that Santa is considering these for next year as a gesture towards health and safety). If they stopped for long at the top, this lot would also have been the winners of the “closest to hypothermia” competition. There were rucksack carriers and fellow walking-polers. There were hordes of very happy looking dogs and lots of cheery hellos. One chappy took great pains to warn us about that well known potential hazard, the rabbit hole whilst we were making our way up a particularly slippery slope. He had suspiciously long ears and claimed to be “born and bred on these hills” so maybe he knew more about rabbits than he should have done.
It would appear that, since I moved away, the variety of methods of transportation on the Malverns has increased. I like this, in the olden days, you were in risk of having your big toes cut off if you so much as touched your bicycle wheel on the hallowed turf. Yesterday, there were mountain bikes swooping down from the heights, a sight to see as it was clear that stopping in the ice would be impossible. On the way back down, we saw another, rather surprising, mode of wheeled transport; two young ladies were making their way steadily up the hill on a pair of unicycles. I would have loved to have stayed to watch them come back down again but the parsnips were calling.
Worcestershire Beacon – that’s another Marilyn to your credit, although I guess you won’t attach much importance to that. I approve of your recent Paramo purchase. My jacket is perhaps my most used garment for walking and everyday use as well, although it’s too bulky and heavy for multi-day backpacking in the summer.
Your rabbit hole man does not quite fit into my “profit of doom” category: the guy who tells you the village you are heading for will be all booked up, or the weather is about to drown you, or the river will be impossible to cross or, worst of all, tries to persuade you to take his version of the route to your destination.
I was telling my sister about Marilyns as we walked up. Now need to find her a book as she is more likely to collect them than me. I think I have climbed this particular one more times than most as I started doing so when I was six. School was at North Malvern and we used to have regular “nature walks” across the hills. A favourite spot and the Rabbit Man just added to the enjoyment!
The Relative Hills of Great Britain published by Cicerone Press lists the Marilyns. There have been a few alterations since publication including an appendix update (2006) on the last page. For a full up to date and interactive list (once you have signed up) go to: http://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/waypoints/download/?list=marilyns
for a full up
Beautiful pics B2!
Thank you 🙂
Thanks for the lovely photos of the Malverns. I climbed them for the first time last August on one of the hottest days of the year, quite a contrast to your latest visit. Dehydration was more of a problem then than hypothermia. On my day, too, there was an interesting assortment of summiteers hopping, skipping and jumping, mostly of the burnt red chest variety.There was one delightful bloke running around with a butterfly net, I wonder if he metamorphoses into a rabbit for Xmas. Obviously a popular place.
Seriously – they are beautiful hills and I will revisit soon.
Only one more day and your year’s daily blog is complete. I for one have enjoyed it so your mission has been worth it.
[Just realised Marilyns would be a suitable focus for one or two Blondes. I’ve tried to avoid them – the Marilyns not the blondes.]
Congratulations and a Very Happy Blonde New Year.
Thank you so much – I am so glad that you have enjoyed both the blog and the Malverns. You are right, it can get very hot up there, a trip to St Anne’s Well is always recommended on the way up.
I have to say that the Blondes are tempted by the Marilyns – we are not that good at getting out of Devon but maybe it is time that we started!
Happy New Year!
was a crispy peach of a morning on top of the Worcestershire Beacon, B2, worth a little dance, no eskimoes available to tango with but that never stopped Julie Andrews. was lovely x
Just you you watch out for those eskimos, you never know when they are going to disguise themselves as rabbits! x