With steep climbs and views across Herefordshire and Worcestershire the Hills are an exciting place to cycle both on road and off road.
Cyclists are welcome to explore the Malvern Hills and Commons on the bridleways that cross this landscape. With over 56km of bridleways there are hilltops, wooded slopes and open commons to get to know.
Grab hold of one of our free, walking and cycling map and guides for the Malvern Hills and Commons.
Bridleways that cross this iconic landscape are clearly shown to help cyclists plan their route and find their way.
Advice about enjoying this shared landscape in a responsible way is also provided on side one. Please help us to care for the precious heritage and sensitive wildlife of the Hills and Commons, and fellow visitors too.
The map and guide is available from our offices, local Tourist Information Centres, cafes, bike shops, and other visitor attractions.
Copies of the map and guide can also be downloaded below - please note that these files are large due to the detailed mapping within the guide.
Map and Guide, side one - Northern and Central Hills (PDF, 9.7mb)
Map and Guide, side two - Southern Hills and Castlemorton Common (PDF, 4.5mb)
We have been working closely with local mountain bikers to produce this map and guide.
This is part of our Malverns by Mountain Bike project that we've been working on. Scroll down to find out more.
Malverns by Mountain Bike is a campaign by the Malvern Hills Trust and local mountain bikers.
The aim of this project is to encourage responsible mountain biking on the Malvern Hills and Commons so cyclists can enjoy and experience this landscape in a way that protects this special place for the future.
We're working to provide better information for cyclists before they head out onto the Hills and to improve access for cyclists once they're here! Some of the important parts of this project are listed below.
There are three signposted cycling trails, Short, Medium and Long, that take in both the open hilltops offering stunning views and the scenic wooded slopes of this iconic landscape.
The routes range from 5.6km to 19km and have been provided to help cyclists find their way around the bridleway and permissive cycle paths of the Malvern Hills Trust.
Our map and guide is now available from our offices, local tourist information centres, cafe, and local bike shops. With all the bridleways on the Hills and Commons marked it will provide information for cyclists to plan their routes before heading out and check their route whilst out on the Hills and Commons. Links are available above to download an electronic copy (large files).
As part of the project, we've recognised that the bridleway network on the Malvern Hills is disjointed and incomplete in places. To help improve access on the Hills we have created a number of permissive paths to allow cyclists to better explore this amazing landscape.
All the permissive paths can be viewed on our new walking and cycling map and guide. Click on the link below for a full list of the new permissive paths.
New permissive cycle paths (PDF)
We have three signposted routes on the Malvern Hills, Short (5.6km), Medium (8.7km), Long (19km), why not give them a go!
Mountain biking trails on the Malvern Hills
Our trails are not graded for difficulty and are intended for leisurely rides around Hills - there are certainly some tricky climbs though if that's what you're looking for!.
There is very little single track and downhill to be found on the Malvern Hills due to the cycling access on bridleways and permissive cycle paths of the Hills, and the large number of other visitors you can expect to find here. If you're looking for something a little more technical, or somewhere to up the pace, the below may offer more suitable terrain and facilities.
Forest of Dean Cycling Centre (external link)
Ribbesford Bike Park, Wyre Forest (external link)
Cwmcarn, Newport, South Wales (external link)
BikePark Wales, Merthyr Tydfil (external link)
417 Project, Cheltenham (external link)
The Hills and Commons are a shared landscape with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with many nationally protected habitats and archaeology.
Please help us to look after the Hills and Commons for the future by following the following tips.
Leave no trace
Please don't create your own trails or routes on the Hills and Commons. These "wild trails" can be really damaging to our special landscape by eroding rare habitats, ancient archaeology and legitimate paths, and can also put you and other visitors in danger.
Check out British Cycling's Trail Smart video below for more tips on sharing trails and riding responsibly!
Check out British Cycling’s mountain bike skill videos to prepare yourself for some great riding on our trails. From knowing what to pack through to finding your flow: there are video guides for all levels of rider.
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/trailsmart (external link)
There are few things better than experiencing the freedom of the trails on two wheels but, to make them an enjoyable experience for all and to preserve the environment, there are a some simple rules of etiquette you should follow.
Electric bikes are permitted on the bridleways of the Hills and Commons if they meet the EPAC (Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles) requirements.
The requirements are:
It must also display one item from each of the following:
Any electric bike that doesn’t meet the EAPC rules needs to be registered and taxed and cannot be ridden anywhere on the Hills and Commons. You’ll need a driving licence to ride one and you must wear a crash helmet.
The vehicle will also need to be ‘type approved’ to make sure it’s safe to use on the road.
Electric Bikes (GOV.UK) (external link)
