Exploring the Stiperstones

The Shropshire Hills have plenty of options for rambling adventures, but to me one of the most awe-inspiring and dramatic is the Stiperstones (52°34'24.8"N 2°55'54.8"W); comprised of a handful of tors (also known as a castle koppie or kopje - read more on Wikipedia), these incredibly unique peaks combined with a blanketing of heather give the area a really distinct look. I would recommend a visit in the Summer so you can see the heather in full bloom. Aside from the stones themselves, the area boasts amazing views and on a clear day you can see many of the other prominent peaks in the Shropshire Hills. When you arrive at the car-park there is a well marked circular walk along with information boards to learn more about the local flora and fauna - this is an area of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), particularly for birds. Make sure you have a good zoom lens or a set of binoculars to get some bird spotting done, if you're lucky you might even spot a grouse or falcon.

Nearby and also worth a stop is "The Bog", which includes a visitors centre where you can grab some food and drink next to a former mining community. You can freely explore the site of the mining community and the entrance to the visitors centre features a lot of interesting information about the area.

If you follow the full walking route (Which will take you through all of the Stiperstones and The Bog) you are looking at a roughly 5 mile walk over some very rough terrain so, as I always recommend, you will want your best hiking boots and maybe some snacks so you can give yourself a break part-way - there is a definite risk of injury here as most of the paths extremely rocky, so do take care. However it is definitely worth the risk of a rolled ankle to get to the views that await you:

Another bonus to Stiperstones is they are well located in Shropshire to explore other nearby locations, such as one of our other favourite spots: Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd, and if you're looking to head further out you are right on the Welsh border - I recommend taking an hour-or-so drive to see Lake Vyrnwy and some of the stops around there (you can read a little about this in my road-tripping post where we pass through this area). If you're after a more built-up stop off then you're in luck, you are just south of the historic and beautiful Shrewsbury, on the way you could stop off at Attingham Park to see the house and their herd of deer.

Whatever your plans, if you find yourself in the Shropshire Hills i absolutely recommend a stop off to enjoy this unique spot, if for no other reason than to grab a few photos for your travelling scrapbook.