Notes from the host
5-Bedroom Victorian Townhouse in Malvern Hills
Elegant Victorian townhouse on a residential street in North Malvern with North Hill just over the road. High ceilings and large sash windows provide natural light and stunning views across the Severn Valley.
Direct access to the Malvern Hills and only a 15-minute walk into town. Ideal base for walking holidays, Malvern Theatres, the Three Counties Showground and long weekends.
Sympathetically updated with central heating throughout and underfloor heating on the lower ground floor (kitchen and dining room), the house is great for all seasons - cosy in the winter and you can eat outside in the summer.
HOUSE DETAILS
On the ground floor, there are two sitting rooms, one with a smart TV, the other with an office/study to one side.
Five bedrooms: two on the first floor (one king size, one queen size); three on the second floor two doubles (one of which can be turned into a twin room) and one single. There is a double sofa-bed in the front sitting room (bedding is stored in the sofa-bed). A travel cot is also available. Bed linen is provided and spare items are available.
Two shared bathrooms (one on the first floor and one on the second floor) each with a bath and a shower over the bath. Towels, soap, shower gel, shampoo and loo paper are provided.
On the lower ground floor is the dining room, which has a large table that can seat 10 and has French windows onto the terrace and garden.
The kitchen is next to the dining room. Kitchen equipment includes a double oven, five-ring gas hob, dishwasher (with some tablets), two under-counter fridges, microwave, kettle, Nespresso-compatible coffee machine (with some capsules), toaster and blender. There is a large selection of cutlery, crockery, glassware and serving dishes, as well as a range of pots, pans, casseroles and utensils to cook almost anything you want. A small library of classic cookbooks might help too. There are reasonable amounts of tea (builder's & decaf), coffee (instant, ground & capsules), sugar and sweetener; basic cooking materials (oil, salt, pepper, herbs, spices, hot sauces, foil, clingfilm and, of course, Worcestershire sauce); washing-up liquid, cloth, scourer, tea towels, kitchen roll and cleaning materials.
Off the kitchen, and with access to the garden and street, is a corridor that houses the rubbish/ recycling bins and is great for storing muddy boots and hanging wet clothing.
Utility room in the cellar (on the lower ground floor) houses an under-counter freezer, 10kg washing machine (with some capsules), 9kg tumble dryer, ironing equipment, cleaning equipment and a third toilet. There is a washing line in the garden.
Four floors and three flights of stairs, so although ideal for groups and families, toddlers need to be supervised. Stair gates are available.
You have exclusive access to the whole house and garden. The garden is relatively small and on a series of terraces. It is not well suited for ball games. Note that the garden is NOT dog-proof.
Hawkestone is more than 150 years old, so it has some quirky Victorian charm - creaking floorboards, doors that don't always latch perfectly, bedroom doors without locks and no double-glazing. However, there is electricity, running water and wifi.
A well-behaved dog is welcome, but we ask you to keep it on the lower-ground floor and ground floor only as we have cream carpets on the upper floors. Note that the garden is NOT dog-proof. Please let us know if your are bringing a dog.
The house key is in a lockbox (for which you will be sent the code in the days before your arrival) low to the right of the front door. Someone is always available by telephone (number in Welcome Guide) to help with any questions.
There is no parking on the property. Unrestricted, free on-street parking is available right outside the house. It can get busy on weekends and bank holidays as this is a popular area for walkers and cyclists accessing the Malvern Hills.
THE AREA
Direct access from the house
• Malvern Hills, an AONB/National Landscape since 1959.
• A wide range of walks (we've left a selection of maps, pamphlets and books).
15-minute walk
• Malvern town centre. Malvern Theatres, shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs.
• Gas lamps that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia.
10 minutes by car
• Morgan Motor Company factory, tours (Mon to Fri only), Morgan car rental, Morgan Café and Meet at Morgan.
• Clue HQ escape rooms.
• Three Counties Showground, home of the RHS Spring Show, the Royal Three Counties Show, the Malvern Autumn Show, and Winter Glow.
15 minutes by car
• The Great Worcester Maize Maze (autumn) at Powick.
• Stanbrook Abbey Hotel, a hugely popular wedding venue.
20 minutes by car
• Eastnor Castle and grounds, events from Easter to Christmas.
• Eastnor Pottery has experiences for children, adults and groups.
• Land Rover Experience at Eastnor Castle.
25 minutes by car
• Croome Court. National Trust house and park.
• Ledbury. Historic market town, Britain in Bloom gold medal winner on many occasions.
• Weston's Cider at Much Marcle, just outside Ledbury. Museum, factory tours, restaurant.
• Worcester. Cathedral, Royal Worcester, The Commandery (English Civil War Museum).
Sport
• Premiership rugby at Gloucester.
• Worcestershire County Cricket Club in Worcester.
• Worcestershire Golf Club, 18-hole golf course in Malvern Wells, visitors welcome.
• Manor Park Tennis Club in Malvern.
• Racecourses at Worcester, Hereford and Cheltenham.
• Hill climb courses at Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb and Prescott Hill.
Major annual events
• RHS Spring Show at the Three Counties Showground in May.
• Malvern Walking Festival in late May/ early June.
• Royal Three Counties Show at the Three Counties Showground in June.
• Worcestershire Open Studios in August.
• Malvern Autumn Show at the Three Counties Showground in September.
• Herefordshire's h.Art in September.
• Upton-on-Severn. Jazz, blues, folk and pop/rock festivals from April to August.
• Winter Glow from late November to the end of December.
TRANSPORT LINKS
Malvern is easily reached from the M5 - junction 7 (Worcester South) or junction 8 (South Wales, Ross-on-Wye, M50).
Malvern has two train stations (Malvern Link and Great Malvern), both of which are on a direct line to both Birmingham and London.
