Stiperstones
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| Stiperstones | |
|---|---|
 Manstone Rock |
|
| Elevation | 536 m (1759 ft) |
| Location | Shropshire,  England |
| Prominence | 357 m |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 137 |
| OS grid reference | SO367986 |
| Listing | Marilyn |
The Stiperstones is a hill in the county of Shropshire, England. At 536 metres above sea level it is the second highest hill in the county, beaten only by Brown Clee Hill (540 m). Its five-mile (8 km) summit ridge is crowned by several rugged outcrops of rock.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
The Stiperstones is noted for its tors of quartzite.[1] The principal ones are named as follows, from north-east to south-west:
- Shepherd's Rock (grid reference SO373998)
- Devil's Chair (SO368991)
- Manstone Rock (SO367986)
- Cranberry Rock (SO365981)
- Nipstone Rock (SO365969)
- The Rock (SO351963)
Manstone Rock is the highest of these at 536 metres, and is topped with a trig point. The Devil's Chair is the largest and best known.
The ridge is a good place to view the upland landscape of the Shropshire Hills, and also the North Shropshire plain.
The small village of Stiperstones lies just under the ridge to the north-west; it has a pub called the "Stiperstones Inn". Nearby are the villages of Snailbeach, Minsterley, Ratlinghope and Pontesbury.
[edit] Wildlife and conservation
The Stiperstones is a National Nature Reserve and in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is a haven for wildlife, with birds that are normally associated with upland areas present, including Red Grouse, Eurasian Curlew, Peregrine Falcon and Ring Ouzel. Recently, a project called Back to Purple has commenced, to clear some of the plantation of wooded areas, restoring the land to heather-based heath, and enhancing the views of the Stiperstones from the surrounding peaks and valleys.[2]
[edit] Cultural references
The area around the Stiperstones is rich in myths and folklore relating to the rocks of the Devil's Chair. According to one legend, the ghost of Wild Eric, a Saxon earl who defied the Normans, rides the hills whenever England is threatened by invasion. The Stiperstones feature in the literary works of Mary Webb and children's author Malcolm Saville.
