British Camp along the horizon, Clutter's cave lower right

Thirty years ago when I could walk the Welsh mountains our training walk used be along the Malvern tops, which stretch for 7 miles almost perfectly north to south. Last Friday, on a short walk organised by Redditch U3A Exploring Science group, and along some of the route south from the British Camp car park, our aim was very different.

 

Under the tutelage of Peter Garner, plant Recorder for Herefordshire we got to know something about the many microscopic low growing plants of the area, and how they have been affected by geological and other factors.

 

According to geopark.org.uk/pub/2015/12/clutters-cave/

 

'Clutters Cave

 

Geological Overview

South of British camp on the Malvern Hills just below the west side of the ridge is a man made cave, Clutter’s Cave or Giant’s Cave. This has been excavated into pillow lavas. Almost 600 million years ago a volcano erupted under the sea. It was cooled by the cold sea water and a solid crust formed around globules of lava, which were piled up as more lava erupted. Though they have since been deformed by Earth movements some of the rounded ‘pillow’ shapes can still be seen around the entrance to the cave.

 

Here there are also beautiful views over the Herefordshire countryside and from the ridge over the valley of the River Severn to the Cotswolds

 

Location

Eastnor, Malvern Hills, Herefordshire; Grid Reference: SO 7619 3937'

 

British Camp

According to Wikipedia:-

 

'British Camp is an Iron Age hill fort located at the top of Herefordshire Beacon in the Malvern Hills. The hill fort is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is owned and maintained by Malvern Hills Conservators. The fort is thought to have been first constructed in the 2nd century BC. A Norman castle was built on the site.

 

The extensive earthworks remain clearly visible today and determine the shape of the hill.

 

The height of the summit of British Camp is 1,109 feet (338 m).'

 

 

Done