Attractions and Places To See around Wychavon - Top 20
Best attractions and places to see around Wychavon, a district in Worcestershire, England, offers a diverse landscape of historical landmarks and natural features. The area includes parts of the Cotswold escarpment, significant hills like Bredon Hill, and the scenic River Avon. Visitors can explore ancient sites, picturesque villages, and varied natural habitats.
Best attractions and places to see around Wychavon
- The most popular attractions is Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill, a man-made monument that stands on historic Bredon Hill. From its 981-foot (299 m) summit, views extend across Worcestershire to the Malverns and into the Cotswolds.
- Another must-see spot is Broadway Tower, a castle and man-made monument situated at 1,024 feet (312 m) above sea level. It is the second-highest point on the Cotswold escarpment, offering views into many counties.
- Visitors also love Pershore Old Bridge, a historical site originally built in the 1400s. This bridge served as a key crossing point and is now a picturesque spot marking the start of the Pershore Bridges Circular Walk.
- Wychavon is known for historical landmarks, natural features, and charming villages. The district offers a variety of attractions to see and explore, from ancient sites to scenic riverside settings.
- The attractions around Wychavon are appreciated by the komoot community, with more than 160 upvotes and over 90 photos shared.
Last updated: July 6, 2026
Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill
Highlight • Monument
The hill was once an Iron Age hillfort, known as Kemerton Camp and it then became an important Roman encampment. In the 18th century, the squire of Kemerton Court erected a small stone tower, Parsons Folly. A number of ancient standing stones also adorn the hill.
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Broadway Tower
Highlight • Castle
The ‘Saxon’ tower was the brainchild of Capability Brown and designed by James Wyatt in 1794 in the form of a castle. It was built for Lady Coventry between 1798–99. You can buy tickets to visit the tower.
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Broadway Village
Highlight • Settlement
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Pershore Old Bridge
Highlight • Historical Site
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RAF Bomber Crash Memorial at Broadway Tower
Highlight • Monument
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St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle
Highlight • Monument
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St John the Baptist Church, Grafton Flyford
Highlight • Historical Site
The church, with the exception of the 14th-century tower, was entirely rebuilt in 1875, but the old work appears to have been very largely re-used. The modern work is already getting into a very bad state of repair.
The chancel has a 15th-century east window of three lights with a segmental pointed head. In the north wall is a square-headed 14th-century window of two ogee trefoil-headed lights. In the south wall are two square-headed two-light windows and a priest's door, mostly modern. On this side is a single sedile with a cusped head, and near it a pointed piscina with the bowl missing. An internal string-course, largely modern, is carried round the chancel. The chancel arch is of two chamfered orders dying into the wall; the voussoirs are small and regular and are of late 13th or early 14th-century date.
In the north wall of the nave is a pointed 14thcentury arch of two chamfered orders opening into a small chapel with a single-light window on the east and west. Further west is a pointed window of the same date with two lights and a traceried head. In the south wall are two windows, each of two lights and similar to that on the north of the chancel; between them is a plain pointed door. All these features have apparently been restored and reset.
The 14th-century tower is faced with ashlar and three stages high with low diagonal buttresses to the western angles of the ground stage. The tower arch is acutely pointed and of two chamfered orders. This stage rests on a deeply moulded plinth and has a pointed 15th-century west window of three cinquefoiled lights. The second stage is lighted by loops only, but the third stage has a pointed 14th-century window of two trefoiled ogee lights in each face. The parapet is embattled, with carved gargoyles at the angles of the string and panelled and crocketed pinnacles rising above them. From within it rises a low octagonal pyramid of stone capped by a truncated pinnacle set diagonally.
The fittings include a 17th-century communion table with turned legs, a 15th-century semi-octagonal pulpit (on a modern base) having a moulded rail and traceried heads to the panels, and a modern font. In the north chapel is a broken marble monument to Roger Stonehall, who died in 1645. Under the tower are roughly designed paintings on boards of the evangelistic symbols with black letter labels, perhaps of the 16th century; here is also a painted achievement of the royal arms of Charles II inscribed 1687 C.R. In the tracery of the east window are some fragments of 15th-century glass tabernacle work and in the north chancel window are two shields, one with the arms of Mortimer and the other imperfect with those of Beauchamp. In the west window are fragments of white and yellow 15th-century glass in the tracery.
There are five bells, all cast by John Martin in 1676: the tenor is inscribed, 'All men that here my roring sound repent before you ly in ground, M. Robert Baker 1676'; the fourth, 'We wish in heven theer souls may sing that caused us six here for to ring, Amell Doxly, Richard Haynes C.W. 1676'; the third, 'Be it known to all that doth wee see John Martin of Worcester, he made wee 1676'; the second, 'All prayse and glory be to God for ever 1676'; and the treble, 'Jesus be our good speed, God Save the King 1676.'
The plate includes a cup and cover paten, London, 1571, and a plate, London, 1679, inscribed 'Grafton Flyford.'
The registers are in one volume as follows: baptisms 1676 to 1813, burials 1676 to 1812, marriages 1678 to 1777.
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Grafton Wood Nature Reserve
Highlight (Segment) • Natural Monument
Jointly owned with Butterfly Conservation, Grafton has been at the heart of one of Worcestershire’s great conservation successes. The wood is the centre of the only colony of brown hairstreak butterflies in the Midlands. These elusive butterflies, on the wing in August and September, have been the subject of a long-term project to ensure their survival. By working with local landowners and encouraging appropriate maintenance of hedgerows, volunteers from both conservation charities have helped the butterflies to increase in range and in numbers.
Grafton Wood is an ancient semi-natural broad-leaved woodland and, until the 1950s was traditionally managed as coppice-with-standards that provided materials for products such as broom handles, pea sticks, hedge-laying, clothes pegs, spars for thatching and firewood. Our management today aims to replicate this tradition and involves widening the rides through the woodland, coppicing and creating glades. We also ensure that there are scrubby areas containing the young blackthorn bushes that are vital for brown hairstreaks to survive.
The majority of the canopy at Grafton is ash and oak although we also have a small-leaved lime coppice stool that we think must have originally started as one lime tree at least a thousand years ago. In many places there is a dense shrub layer of field maple, hawthorn and hazel. The two compartments of conifers that were planted in the 1960s have largely been removed in 2010.
It’s not just brown hairstreak butterflies that visitors to Grafton Wood should keep a look out for. The wood is also important for other woodland butterflies including silver-washed fritillaries and white admirals. After careful surveying of the habitat and flowering species in the wood pearl-bordered fritillaries were released into the woodland in 2011 in the hope that they would then naturally re-colonise the wood after a 30 year absence. Notable moths include drab looper, rosy footman, Devon carpet and waved black.
Many fungi have been recorded in the wood and it also supports a distinctive flora including herb-Paris, adder’s-tongue fern, violet helleborine, spurge laurel and bird’s-nest orchid. Birds including buzzard, goldcrest, treecreeper, lesser and great spotted woodpeckers are regularly seen in the wood and the adjacent meadows and orchards are important for green woodpeckers. Bechstein’s bats were recently discovered in the wood and the colony is thought to be the most northerly breeding roost in the UK.
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Inkberrow Millennium Green
Highlight • Viewpoint
Inkberrow is on the A422 main road about half way between Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon in the English West Midlands.
The entrance can be found at the bottom of the hill down the lane past the church. In the centre of the village, by the village green, go towards the Old Bull Inn, past the lychgate entrance to St Peter's Church, and down the hill. (approx 250 yards from the A422).
The Millennium Green was officially opened in June 2000. It was supported by Inkberrow Parish Council, The Millennium Commission, English Heritage, The Countryside Agency, Worcestershire County Council and Aqua Vitae 21. It has since been designated a Special Wildlife Site and is now in the
Higher Level Stewardship scheme administered by Natural England.
The Green is some 8.3 acres in extent, divided into two fields. It is owned and managed as a charity - the Inkberrow Millennium Green Trust - with the land vested in the Official Custodian of Charities. The Trust deeds require that the Green be open and "be able to be enjoyed by people of all ages and physical abilities, be an attractive place for people to exercise, pursue leisure activities and pastimes consistent with shared enjoyment of the whole of the land" and to "include significant 'natural' areas where people can enjoy nature and wildlife at first hand".
The Green is managed by the Trustees to meet these objectives, including regular work to sustain, restore and enhance a variety of habitats with ecological and social benefits for the Inkberrow community. The Trustees work in conjunction with outside agencies, such as Historic England and Natural England to ensure compliance with requirements such as those contained in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act (1979) and the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement.
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Church of St Peter, Little Comberton
Highlight • Historical Site
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Popular around Wychavon
Tips from the Community
Beautiful medieval bridge over river Avon. Incredibly well preserved given its age.
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Pleasant views of Malvern and the surrounding areas from up there. The folly is ugly as sin but then it IS a folly so... yeah. Not a particularly difficult climb to get up there from either direction.
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A very fitting end to the Wychavon Way, Broadway is a lovely place.
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The old bridge is picturesque, and its also a great place to while away an hour or two by the river.
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The folly itself actually looks like it really is an industrial tower housing mobile phone equipment, but the views are very good. Nearby is the Elephant Stone - it looks like an Elephant kneeing down. Not far from the Cotswold Stone drystone wall is the circular stone that marks the very top of Bredon Hill.
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Such a beautiful place full of wildflowers and ponds. It is a circular walk. With a slow pace and rest on the bench at the top, it will take you about 30 minutes to walk around. Surrounded by meadows and benches all over the place. Beautiful little village
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Good parking, half a dozen spaces on Woollas Hill, near Deer Park centre. Views on way up to Folly are spectacular. Good to get the climb out the way early with gentle, long descent in to Broadway.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What historical landmarks can I explore in Wychavon?
Wychavon is rich in history. You can visit Pershore Old Bridge, a crucial crossing point since the 1400s, now a picturesque spot and starting point for a circular walk. Another significant site is St John the Baptist Church, Grafton Flyford, which retains its 14th-century tower and older elements despite being largely rebuilt. Also, consider St Mary's Church, Elmley Castle, a delightful church full of character and historic interest.
Where can I find the best panoramic views in Wychavon?
For breathtaking views, head to Broadway Tower, situated at 1,024 feet (312 m) above sea level. It's the second-highest point on the Cotswold escarpment, offering spectacular vistas into 16 counties. Another excellent spot is Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill, where from its 981-foot (299 m) summit, you can gaze across Worcestershire to the Malverns and into the Cotswolds.
Are there any natural attractions or nature reserves to visit?
Yes, Wychavon boasts several natural highlights. Bredon Hill is a major natural attraction, recognized as a Special Area of Conservation with rich wildlife and ancient standing stones. You can also explore Grafton Wood Nature Reserve, an ancient woodland jointly owned with Butterfly Conservation, known for its rare brown hairstreak butterflies. Droitwich Community Woods also offers diverse habitats, including rare inland saltmarsh.
What kind of walking and hiking trails are available in Wychavon?
Wychavon offers a variety of walking and hiking trails. You can find easy walks like the Broadway Tower Country Park loop or the River Avon loop near Eckington. For more moderate hikes, consider the Elmley Castle & Bredon Hill loop or the Hanbury Circular Walk. The district is also home to the Wychavon Way, a 40-mile long-distance route traversing diverse landscapes.
Are there family-friendly attractions in Wychavon?
Many attractions in Wychavon are suitable for families. Broadway Tower offers an engaging experience with its unique castle structure and expansive views. Pershore Old Bridge is a great spot for a picnic and the start of a pleasant circular walk. Additionally, Inkberrow Millennium Green provides open space for leisure activities and nature enjoyment, and is wheelchair accessible.
Which picturesque villages should I visit in Wychavon?
Wychavon is known for its charming villages. Broadway is famous for its independent shopping scene, while Pershore is admired for its beautiful Georgian market town architecture. Other notable villages include Evesham and Droitwich Spa, both offering delightful riverside settings and unique character.
What cultural sites or events can I experience in Wychavon?
The district has a vibrant cultural scene. You can visit Inkberrow Millennium Green, a designated Special Wildlife Site managed for leisure and diverse habitats. The area also hosts a full events program throughout the year, including the popular Blossom Trail and celebrations of local produce like plums and asparagus. Historical events such as the reliving of the Battle of Evesham and celebrations of Droitwich Spa's salt heritage also highlight the area's rich cultural identity.
What is the best time of year to visit Wychavon?
Wychavon offers attractions year-round, but spring and summer are particularly vibrant. Spring brings the famous Blossom Trail, celebrating the area's fruit orchards. Summer is ideal for outdoor activities and enjoying the many local produce festivals, such as those for plums and asparagus. The changing leaves in autumn also offer beautiful scenery for walks.
Are there any hidden gems or lesser-known points of interest?
Beyond the well-known spots, Wychavon has some unique points of interest. The RAF Bomber Crash Memorial at Broadway Tower offers a poignant historical reflection. The Elephant Stone (Banbury Stone) near Bredon Hill is another intriguing spot, steeped in local folklore. Exploring the various sections of the Wychavon Way can also lead you to less-traveled paths and charming, secluded areas.
What outdoor activities, besides hiking, can I do near Wychavon's attractions?
In addition to hiking, Wychavon offers various outdoor activities. You can find several running trails, including loops around Broadway Tower and Hanbury Hall. The River Avon, flowing through areas like Evesham, provides opportunities for scenic riverside strolls and potentially boating or fishing. The district's varied landscapes are also suitable for cycling, with many quiet country lanes to explore.
What do visitors enjoy most about Wychavon's attractions?
Visitors frequently praise the spectacular views from elevated points like Parsons Folly on Bredon Hill and Broadway Tower, often highlighting the extensive panoramas. The historical significance of sites like Pershore Old Bridge and the charming character of the local churches are also highly appreciated. Many enjoy the peacefulness of the natural reserves and the opportunity for scenic walks.
Most popular routes around Wychavon
Most popular attractions around Wychavon
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