Roundton Hill Nature Reserve

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.

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.