The Stiperstones NNR includes the major part of the Stiperstones ridge in south Shropshire, near the Welsh border.
In the lower areas of the reserve heather and gorse heath is dominant, while ling and bilberry predominate on the uplands. The site supports common lizard, brown hare and common frog; and birdlife includes curlew, red grouse, skylark, meadow pipit, stonechat, buzzard, pied flycatcher and wood warbler.
Invertebrates found here include grayling and green hairstreak butterflies, and fox and emperor moths.
The best time to visit the site is in late summer, when the heather and gorse is in bloom.
There is open, and well used, public access to the reserve but it still retains a wild and unspoilt character that has been captured by writers such as Mary Webb, D H Lawrence and Malcolm Saville.
The NNR lies within the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is an Environmentally Sensitive Area. It is also a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) under the European Habitats Directive.
To obtain a leaflet describing the site, email Natural England's Shropshire office or telephone 01743 282000.
How to get there
The reserve is 3 km east of the A488 which runs parallel to The Stiperstones ridge.
Local villages include Snailbeach, Stiperstones, Habberley, Bridges and Pennerley.
By car, access is via minor roads from the A488. There are a number of car parks in the area, the main NNR car park being found on the road to Bridges village.
The nearest train stations are in Welshpool (20 km to the west) and Church Stretton (10 km to the east). Both are served by Arriva Trains Wales. There is a mainline train station in Shrewsbury (18 km to the north east ).
From April to October bus services from Church Stretton to The Stiperstones are provided by Shropshire Hills Shuttles.
Accommodation
There is a camping and caravan site next to the A488 (near the village of The Marsh) and there is a Youth Hostel in Bridges village, 5 km to the south east of the reserve. Hotels and hostelries can be found in local villages and Church Stretton.
Facilities
Toilet and refreshment facilities can be found in local villages. These include disabled toilets in the village of Snailbeach.
Trails
The Stiperstones Stomp: this is an 8 km path that takes in the sights of the ridge and surrounding countryside. The trail starts at the main NNR car park and ends at the village of Habberley.
As well as the Stomp there are a number of shorter alternative routes and a 500 metre all-ability trail. Like the Stomp, this trail starts at the main NNR car park. It offers wheelchair access and has a tapping rail for the visually impaired.
The NNR is also on the route of the Shropshire Way, a 264 km trail from Shrewsbury to Ludlow.
Visitors are reminded that The Stiperstones is an upland area and weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly at any time of the year. The ridge is also subject to lightning strikes.
What to see
The geology of the NNR is of national significance. The Ordovician 'Stiperstones Quartzite' making up the ridge was shattered during the last ice age to create the jagged, boulder-strewn landscape seen today.
The site's lowland heath is of particular interest. Bell heather and western gorse are dominant and there's a transition to a more upland type of heath in which ling and bilberry predominate. On higher, flatter ground heather and bilberry are joined by cowberry and crowberry, while cross-leaved heath, bog mosses, cotton grass and marsh violet are found in wetter areas.
Common lizard, brown hare and common frog live in the reserve and local birdlife includes curlew, red grouse, skylark, meadow pipit, stonechat and whinchat on the heath and heathland fringe, with buzzard, raven, pied flycatcher and wood warbler in wooded areas.
Invertebrates on the site include upland wood ant, grayling and green hairstreak butterflies, and fox and emperor moths.
Land Marks
This site is one of the reserves featured in Land Marks, a colour 140-page softback book detailing the fascinating and often complex history of 21 English NNRs. Contemporary photographs, historic paintings and illustrations complement detailed descriptions of these reserves, the historic personalities associated with them, and their wildlife interest. To order a copy, click here.