Walking with Jesus to the Mountain Top.
In the Bible and in Christian tradition, the hill top is a sacred place, a special area where God is encountered and we can be changed and transformed. This walk is linked to the Transfiguration and especially the Disciples experience of Jesus’ Transfiguration.. It follows a route up the most northerly of the Malvern Hills, North Hill, partly because it gives the most wonderful views and vistas and also because generally it is quieter than the Hills further south and hopefully more conducive for peace and prayer.
For preparation it is suggested you read the Transfiguration account from Mark chapter 9, verses 2-13. There are perhaps 3 stages in the walk, as there was for Jesus and the Disciples, the ascending of the hill, the mountain top experience and then the descent afterwards. The ascent for us has a sense of expectation, as we look forward to the top of the hill and its views and vistas, to being at that sacred space, yet for the moment having to trudge on ordinary uphill ground. The hill top is characterised by a similar experience to the disciples; at that place we are exposed to a burst of spiritual energy, for a moment we are taken beyond ourselves to the horizons of eternity. This experience then needs to come back down and be translated into the reality of our daily living. The descent then like the disciples’ experience is about reflecting together on that holy moment, asking questions to try and understand what it means and how to live out the vision of the hill top in ordinary living.
Walk Length- approximately 3 miles. Grade- easy, with moderate ascent and descent
Ordnance Survey Map: Explorer 190.
Start and Finish point; North Quarry Car Park, North Malvern.
Follow the path south eastwards from the car park for approximately ½ mile until you reach a junction of paths. Take the path on the right, with a stone sign for North Hill, almost doubling back on the way you have come.
Continue to follow the path steeply up the hill, enjoying the unfolding vistas. Cross over Lady Howard De Walden Drive and go through the gate straight ahead. Continue upwards until you reach the summit.
At the summit, the views, if it is clear! are spectacular. From the south west across to the Welsh Hills, the clockwise view looking north has the Suckley Hills with Wenlock Edge on the horizon. Further round, the Abberley Hills come into view. Looking east beyond Malvern and Worcester, Warwickshire can be seen and finally south eastwards reveals Bredon Hill across the Severn Vale. Here we can indeed be taken beyond ourselves to a moment of eternity.
Having enjoyed the summit experience, take the path south westwards for about ½ mile until you come to a junction of paths. Cross the main path and continue eastwards down the Green Valley. At the junction of paths bear left. At the fork in the paths bear right keeping downwards.
Head northwards along the path for approximately ½ mile, through trees, often following a broken wall. Eventually you join up with another path. Continue on until you return to North Quarry Car Park.
In the Bible and in Christian tradition, the hill top is a sacred place, a special area where God is encountered and we can be changed and transformed. This walk is linked to the Transfiguration and especially the Disciples experience of Jesus’ Transfiguration.. It follows a route up the most northerly of the Malvern Hills, North Hill, partly because it gives the most wonderful views and vistas and also because generally it is quieter than the Hills further south and hopefully more conducive for peace and prayer.
For preparation it is suggested you read the Transfiguration account from Mark chapter 9, verses 2-13. There are perhaps 3 stages in the walk, as there was for Jesus and the Disciples, the ascending of the hill, the mountain top experience and then the descent afterwards. The ascent for us has a sense of expectation, as we look forward to the top of the hill and its views and vistas, to being at that sacred space, yet for the moment having to trudge on ordinary uphill ground. The hill top is characterised by a similar experience to the disciples; at that place we are exposed to a burst of spiritual energy, for a moment we are taken beyond ourselves to the horizons of eternity. This experience then needs to come back down and be translated into the reality of our daily living. The descent then like the disciples’ experience is about reflecting together on that holy moment, asking questions to try and understand what it means and how to live out the vision of the hill top in ordinary living.
Walk Length- approximately 3 miles. Grade- easy, with moderate ascent and descent
Ordnance Survey Map: Explorer 190.
Start and Finish point; North Quarry Car Park, North Malvern.
Follow the path south eastwards from the car park for approximately ½ mile until you reach a junction of paths. Take the path on the right, with a stone sign for North Hill, almost doubling back on the way you have come.
Continue to follow the path steeply up the hill, enjoying the unfolding vistas. Cross over Lady Howard De Walden Drive and go through the gate straight ahead. Continue upwards until you reach the summit.
At the summit, the views, if it is clear! are spectacular. From the south west across to the Welsh Hills, the clockwise view looking north has the Suckley Hills with Wenlock Edge on the horizon. Further round, the Abberley Hills come into view. Looking east beyond Malvern and Worcester, Warwickshire can be seen and finally south eastwards reveals Bredon Hill across the Severn Vale. Here we can indeed be taken beyond ourselves to a moment of eternity.
Having enjoyed the summit experience, take the path south westwards for about ½ mile until you come to a junction of paths. Cross the main path and continue eastwards down the Green Valley. At the junction of paths bear left. At the fork in the paths bear right keeping downwards.
Head northwards along the path for approximately ½ mile, through trees, often following a broken wall. Eventually you join up with another path. Continue on until you return to North Quarry Car Park.