Hollybed Common

A438 at Hollybush

Hollybush crossroads, A438

A438 near Coombegreen Common

A438 descends toward Rye Cross

A438 approaching Rye Cross

The building houses G.Windle & Sons. A filling station was also once operated here, but is now disused, though the canopy remains.

A438 heading east from Rye Cross

Hollybush Hill

It can be quite hard to imagine that 2000 years ago this quiet spot was part of a busy town - the Midsummer Hill iron-age hill-fort. Excavations in the late 1960s by Stan Stanford showed the area full of small building plots. Each plot had been reused time and time again over the centuries suggesting continuous occupation. The buildings used four posts arranged in a square - not at all like the round huts usually depicted for this era. Evidence for similar square buildings have been found in other so called "hill-forts" in Herefordshire and the Welsh Marches

North gate of Midsummer Hill iron-age hill-fort

Looking north along the Malvern Hills. Another hill-fort occupies Herefordshire Beacon on the left. Straight ahead are three overlapping peaks of Pinnacle Hill (north and south) and Black Hill. In the far distance one can just make out Worcestershire Beacon in the haze.

The shelter on Midsummer Hill

The shelter was built by the owners of Eastnor Castle and the hill. In 1923 the hill was given to the National Trust in memory of Captain Reginald Somers Cocks, MC who died in the first world war.

Lane across Castlemorton Common

Long straight lane heading towards Hollybush. Popular route for weekend picnics as it is possible to park on many of the green spaces.

Hillfort ditch on Midsummer Hill

Looking north-west from Midsummer Hill with the Somers Obelisk on the left and Peacock Villa on the right. A commanding view across the countryside as autumn takes a grip. The ditch just below runs around the complete top of Midsummer Hill and Hollybush Hill to enclose a large area. Less well-known than its neighbour the Hereford Beacon, but may well have been just as important in the Iron Age.

The obelisk from Midsummer Hill

From Midsummer Hill looking west across Eastnor Park to Frith Hill above Ledbury.

Track across Castlemorton Common

Heading east towards Bowling Green.

Scrubland at Castlemorton Common

View east with Bredon Hill just visible on the horizon. The evening sun highlights the mixture of rough grazing, gorse and scrub in this more inaccessible part of the common.

West side of Castlemorton Common

Looking north to the cottages on Hancock's Lane lit up by the evening sun.

Coombegreen

The view from Wendy Woodward's seat atop the hillock on Coombegreen Common. Looking out to the houses on the B4208 and those on Birts Street. SO7736 : Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombegreen Common

Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombegreen Common

The seat is at the front of the hill overlooking the Severn Plain. Behind are several commemorative trees including one dating back to 1937 for the King's Coronation. SO7736 : Plaque on Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombe Green SO7736 : Wendy Woodward's seat, Coombe Green Common SO7736 : Coombegreen