Roundton Hill
Time walk
From the top of Roundton Hill it's easy to see why an Iron Age hillfort was once sited here - the vantage point offers great viewing across the surrounding countryside. In later years miners worked the hill for lead and barites. Today, the geological and industrial landscapes of Roundton Hill have created a variety of habitats where specialist plants have taken hold. Perhaps the most significant of these are the 'spring ephemerals' - tiny ground-hugging plants that thrive on areas of thin, dry soil. At one time bats may have played a part in ancient rituals but today they are protected in roosts within the old mine adits.
Best time to visit
Views from the top of Roundton can be spectacular at any time of year, but to catch the ‘spring ephemerals’ you need to get there early – March/April. Throughout the Spring and Summer, bird song fills the air; also keep your eyes peeled for butterflies, making use of the varied habitats.
Roundton Hill is a National Nature Reserve; click here to find out more.
Seasonal checklist
| SPRING | SUMMER | AUTUMN | WINTER |
| Whitethroat | Green Woodpecker | Buzzard | Raven |
| Redstart | Grayling | Red Kite | |
| Small Heath | Common Blue | Wall Brown | |
| Rock Stonecrop | Carline Thistle | Small Copper | |
| Slender Parsley Piert | Mountain Pansy |
Visiting Roundton Hill: The reserve is open year round, 24 hours a day and there is no charge for entry.
Site criss-crossed by paths, some narrow, steep & uneven; sorry there is no disabled access to this reserve.
Well-behaved dog owners are welcome - remember, you dog doesn't know that it is a nature reserve, so please help us retain this privilege by keeping him on a lead and clearing up any mess.
Directions & transport: Roundton Hill is signposted (Brown Duck signs) from the town of Churchstoke. Approaching from Welshpool, as you enter Churchstoke, turn left over the bridge, then first left signposted towards Old Churchstoke. Follow the road for 1 mile, turn right, follow the road for another mile, then turn right and follow this lane until you come to the reserve entrance gate. The reserve car park is approximately 80m beyond the ford.
The nearest bus stop is in Old Churchstoke, approximately 600m from the reserve. There are two kissing gates off the road running parallel to the reserve on the northern side.
The nearest rail station is in Welshpool.
Additional information
| Grid reference: | SO293946 |
| Postcode: | SY15 6EL |
| Size: | 44 hectares |
| Designation: | SSSI, NNR |
| Type: | grassland, woodland, scrub |
