Take a walk around the remains of a lost mining village on the edge of the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve. Wildlife watching and walking opportunities in this area are plentiful and you can be sure of a warm welcome at the Bog Visitor Centre. Their home-made cake is the stuff of legends!
The site is served by a large car park. Free parking is available all year round (disabled parking available outside the visitor centre).
Shropshire Hills Shuttle Buses run between May and September from Church Stretton - find out times and dates here.
To find the best way of getting to (or near to) the site by public transport please follow this link
Please visit the Bog Visitor Centre website for up to date information on opening times.
Wander around the relics of the mine and try to picture the scene in the 18th century with men busily digging and working the site. In the 1870s, the Stiperstones was one of Britain’s great lead sources, its ore prized for roofs, pipes, paints, and bullets. At The Bog Mine and Visitor Centre, you can wander trails past relics of this industry—an old miners’ institute, the Somme tunnel, and the powder house where explosives once lay in wait.
Mining began here in the 1730s, continuing for nearly two centuries. Though fortunes rose and fell, the veins kept drawing miners back. Lead gave way to barytes in the early 1900s, carried by an aerial ropeway built by German prisoners of war. By 1922, the mines fell silent, leaving behind stories etched in stone. Interpretation boards now guide visitors through this remarkable chapter of Shropshire’s past.
The old mining reservoir now shimmers with dragonflies and shelters newts, while spoil heaps provide rare habitat for invertebrates. Volunteers have helped clear the scrub to keep these open spaces alive. It’s also one of Shropshire’s most important sites for the elusive grayling butterfly—masters of camouflage, basking quietly on the sunlit heaps.
There are a range of circular walks from the centre, leaflets are available at the Visitor Centre or the routes can be downloaded by clicking the links below.
Walking with Offa 13: The Bog & Stiperstones
The Nipstone Wanderer
Flenny Bank Walk
Mucklewick Walk
Discover Shropshire Circular Walk 2 - Stiperstones
For information about accessibility at the centre view a full access guide.
The curiously named Bog Visitor Centre is no ordinary stop. Once the old schoolhouse, it now stands as one of the last surviving buildings of The Bog Mining Village, which disappeared in 1972. Today, it’s the gateway to the Stiperstones uplands in the heart of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, sharing stories of mining, wildlife, and the ongoing work to restore this remarkable landscape.
Step inside and you step back in time. Gas lamps glow as reminders of another age, and the building’s character is part of the charm. A dedicated team of local volunteers keep the centre alive, welcoming visitors with knowledge, tea, homemade cakes, and crafts made nearby.
Thanks to a Heritage Lottery grant, the centre now offers fresh interpretation of the mine remains, alongside a striking mural of the Stiperstones painted by a local artist. It’s history, hospitality, and community spirit, all under one roof.
For information about joining the volunteer team and helping to welcome visitors to the centre
