Habitat type: Dry acid grassland, purple moor grass and rush pasture
Size of reserve: 91 hectares / 224 acres
OS map number: 109
Grid reference: SX 164 770 (entrance)
Best time to visit: All year
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Directions
The reserve is situated north of the A30 near to Jamaica Inn.
Access
No vehicular access. Visitors must walk approximately 1 mile (1.5 km) along a rough track from the A30. Roadside parking at Bolventor Church; it is possible to avoid walking alongside the A30 by gaining access across Common Land. Please contact the Trust for details. On the reserve there are no footpaths and the ground is uneven and can be very wet.
Characteristic wildlife of this reserve
The grasshopper warbler is a local summer visitor and is usually heard but not seen, as its olive-brown streaked plumage disguises it well amid the more tussocky grassland. Its song resembles the sound of a fishing reel unravelling.
Bogbean is present in the still, shallow margins of wet hollows and deep anaerobic muds where both the three-lobed leaves and flowers project above the water's surface. From April to July, flower spikes appear. The exquisite flowers are star-shaped, the five petals pink outside, white within and conspicuously fringed with stout white hairs.
Found in the wetter areas, cross-leaved heath has grey-green leaves arranged in whorls of four that are fringed with long hairs. The clusters of drooping rose-pink flowers, which appear from June to September, are held on compact umbel-like heads.
Other information
The reserve was purchased in 2001 with grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, County Environmental Trust and Natural England.
Brown Willy and Rough Tor dominate the panoramic views. Brown Willy is the highest point in Cornwall and is situated on a private farm. Rough Tor is open to the public and there is a car park at the foot of the tor.
