Cycling code

The Hills and Commons are a shared landscape with many nationally protected habitats and archaeology which hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy every year.  

Cyclists are welcome on the bridleways and the permissive cycle paths where cycling access has been granted by the Malvern Hills Trust.

Please help us to look after the Hills and Commons for the future by following the following tips.

• Avoid the archaeological monuments including the British Camp, Shire Ditch and Midsummer Hill which are sensitive to erosion and damage
• Always give way to walkers and horse riders
• Be courteous and patient with other path users who may be moving more slowly than you
• Cycle at a sensible speed as there could be children, dogs and livestock anywhere on the hills at any time
• Be particularly careful at junctions, bends or other blind spots where people could appear without warning
• Carry a bell and use it, or call out to avoid surprising people.  Don't assume people can see and hear you
• The Hills can be busy at weekends and bank holidays and you may enjoy your ride more by cycling outside the busiest periods
• Electric cycles that meet EPAC requirements are welcome on the bridleways and permissive cycle routes. Check if your bike is permitted by scrolling down to the info below

Wild Trails

Please don't create your own trails or routes on the Hills and Commons.  They 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.  

If we are made aware of such trails which we deem to pose a risk to public safety or the health of our landscape, we will close these trails in line with our 'Wild Trails' document which you can read below. Please report any evidence of such trails to us via info@malvernhills.org.uk. 

Wild Trails Document

Check out British Cycling's Trail Smart video at the bottom of the page for more tips on sharing trails and riding responsibly and check out our map and guide below!

Walking and Cycling Map and Guide

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 page 2.  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 currently available from our offices, and will shortly be available from local Tourist Information Centres, cafes, bike shops, and other visitor attractions.

Copies of the map and guide can also be downloaded below:

Malvern Hills Walking and Cycling Map and Guide

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 with funding from Malvern Hills National Landscape.  Scroll down to find out more.

Malverns by Mountain Bike

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.

Signposted mountain biking routes on the Malvern Hills

There are three signposted cycling trails, Short (5.6km), Medium (8.7km) and Long (19km), that take in both the open hilltops offering stunning views and the scenic wooded slopes of this iconic landscape.

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!

Permissive cycle paths

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 and signposted mountain bike trails (PDF)