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Exploring the Commons
Activities - Things you might need to know
- Activities
- Walking
- Dog walking
- Horse Riding
- Cycling and Mountain Biking
- Picnics or barbeques
- Camping
- Running and Orienteering
- Gliding
- Wildlife watching
- Organised or sponsored events
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Climbing
- Scuba diving
Bylaws - Things you might need to know
Where is the Common?
Castlemorton Common is in the West Midlands, Worcestershire at the foot of the Malvern Hills. It surrounds the villages of Castlemorton, Welland, and Birtsmorton.
How to get there?
By road - To reach by road please see Multimap.
Parking cars
There are 4 car parks available for use and which are marked on the maps.
Parking on the grass or an area out side a car park will cause damage to the grassland, trees and soil. This is a precious landscape, and dripping car oil, erosion by tyres, and compaction from the weight of the vehicle can seriously damage the common for wildlife, livestock and for other users.
By train and bus - Main line trains run to Great Malvern 8.11 miles from the Castlemorton village.
Train station to the common by bus -
The 363 bus runs from Great Malvern station to Welland. In the summer months extra buses are often laid on.
- See Traveline for local bus time tables.
What should I do when I’m there?
Below is a list of activities relevant to the common and advice and contact details for those who wish to know more. Further information can also be found at the local Tourist Information Centre or by visiting the Worcestershire Tourism Web site.
Activities - Things you might need to know
The Castlemorton Commons are a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. Many people choose to visit just to walk or exercise their dog but many people also horse ride on the Common or have a picnic.
Below are a few things you might be interested in doing and contact details so you can find out more.
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Walking
Walkers do not have to stick to footpaths on Castlemorton Common which is why you will not see footpath signs except on the edge of the common. If you would like to go on a recommended route try the link below:
Dog walking
Guide lines for dog owners and walkers and information on how they can train the dogs to ignore livestock are available from the Malvern Hills Conservators, but if you think your dog might chase livestock please keep it on a lead.
Horse riding
Many people ride horses on the common, they are not restricted to bridleways but are asked not to ride in a way that will damage the Common.
Cycling and Mountain Biking
There are several recommended cycle routes in the area. Cycling is limited to the roads and the bridleways, of which there is only one on the Common. For alternative routes see the cycle guides below:
Picnics or barbeques
You are welcome to picnic in the area but remember to take home your litter and do not give or leave any food for the animals. If you would like to have a barbeque please take precautions to prevent the base of the barbeque burning the ground and, in dry weather sparks setting fire to the grassland.
Camping
Camp sites are available locally. It is against the byelaws to camp overnight in any structure, on the common.
- Malbank Inn
- Caves-Folly Eco camp site – Colwall, Herefordshire
- Kings Green Caravan Park - Malvern, WR13 6AQ. Tel: 01531 650272
Running and Orienteering
When walking or running on the common you do not have to stick to footpaths but please take special care when near livestock. If you wish to organise a running or orienteering event please contact the Malvern Hills Conservators beforehand ( organising and event).
- Malvern HASH Harriers
- MADO - Malvern and District Orienteering
Gliding
In good weather you will often see the Malvern Hang Gliding Club flying above Swinyard Hill. Only one club has permission to fly from the Malvern Hills. Please contact them before setting out for your flight.
Wildlife watching
On Castlemorton Common 115ha of the 275ha site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) this means that the special wildlife and geology are acknowledged and protect by the law. The wildlife particular to the Castlemorton Commons are described in “About the Common”. In addition if you want to get involved in caring for the common for the benefit of the wildlife, the Malvern Hills Conservators run volunteer conservation teams who do practical works on the hills and commons. More information on this can be found on “Caring for the Common”.
Organised or sponsored events
Organised events or sponsored walks are welcome and the Malvern Hills Conservators have guide lines and permission application forms for anyone wishing to carry out such an event. These are available from their offices or on their web site.
Fishing
Mill Pond, Golden Valley - An up to date Environment Agency licence is required and must be available for inspection by wardens. The method of fishing known as Ledgering (casting long lines across the pond) is now banded due to the incidence of wildlife injury on the Mill pond. Please take particular care with the line, it is hazardous to wildlife and livestock.
Fishing in other ponds on the common are restricted to the parishes of Castlemorton and Birtsmorton.
When fishing please take particular care with line, it is hazardous to wildlife and livestock.
Swimming
Swimming is not allowed in the Gullet due to the dangerous nature of the water. The Gullet Lake is in an old quarry which still contains structures under the water and is very deep; as a result there is a very high risk of injury on hidden objects and getting into difficulties due to the extreme cold. Sadly, despite the warnings not to swim three people have drowned in the gullet since 1998.
Climbing
Climbing in the old quarries and on rocky outcrops of the Malvern Hills is not safe due to the loose and fractured nature of the rocks. The Malvern Hills Outdoor Education Centre runs abseiling and climbing activities in the area for groups of children or adults.
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is allowed in the Gullet by affiliation to the Maldives or Worcestershire Diving club. Scuba diving should not be carried out alone.
Bylaws
The common under the jurisdiction of the Malvern Hills Conservators (MHC) is protected by a series of Bylaws which can be views on the MHC web site and are displayed on the common.
Things you might need to know.
There is much to be enjoyed on the Common and while you are there it worth remembering a few things.
Litter
Because there is livestock grazing on the common it is very important to take away your litter and if you are taking a dog on to the common, the dogs faeces. Glass litter in particular can pose a fire risk. Both carelessly left can pose a hazard to wildlife and livestock, as well as despoiling a beautiful place.
Livestock and animals
The Castlemorton Commons is a working Common, this means livestock have been put out to graze not just for appearances but as someone’s living.
The livestock are not enclosed on the common and this means they can walk or run across the road at any time. On the common and roads across the common, livestock have the right of way. In other words, the driver is at fault, not the cow or sheep if there is an accident, and the driver will have to pay compensation to the owner of the animal. If an animal is hit by a car and they are hurt, they often have to be humanely destroyed due to the distress caused to the animal by the injury and by the difficulties in keeping it still while the injury heals.
Stressing the livestock can put their health at risk, for example stressing a sheep, by chasing her or allowing your dog to chase her while she is pregnant can cause her to have an abortion.
While you are on the common take care not to corner livestock. Livestock will normally move out of your way as you walk towards them. Try not to walk between animals (in particular a cow and her calf) or walk so that they feel pushed into a restricted space, as they may feel threatened.
Try not to “creep” up on animals; no one likes a shock least of all ½ tonne of cow. If you don’t think they have seen you, raise you voice and they will soon realise you are there.
Give the livestock a wide berth where possible. Although they are domesticated animals, they are not tame.
The Castlemorton Common is a special area for wildlife. Skylarks are ground nesting birds and are particularly vulnerable to disturbance from dogs. When a dog runs through an area, skylarks will abandon their nests which can result in chilled eggs or chicks vulnerable to predators. Particular care should be taken by keeping the dog on its lead between March and July when skylarks are nesting.
