Top Wildlife Photography Spots in Shropshire
Location: England and Wales This AONB offers stunning villages, breathtaking craggy outcrops, and unspoiled woodland; making it the ideal place to see wildlife in its natural environment.
Red Grouse and Ring Ouzel (on passage) can be found in moorland areas while steep valleys may host Stonechat and Whinchat species.
1. Know Your Camera
An expensive camera can be an enormously valuable investment; therefore, mastering its settings and use can help enhance your photographs. Be it DSLR, mirrorless or point-and-shoot models – understanding these fundamental settings will only serve to further increase their effectiveness and help create better photos!
Wood Lane Nature Reserve was constructed on an abandoned sand and gravel quarry, providing large pools, islands, and wetland areas that now attract wildfowl, waders, and passerines.
Stiperstones Ridge in Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty provides both geological interest and breathtaking panoramic views, making it one of the best spots to spot Pine Marten.
2. Be Prepared
As soon as wildlife photography in Shropshire becomes your focus, weather conditions can rapidly alter. To be ready for whatever comes your way, always pack a waterproof camera cover and tripod, as well as checking the forecast before heading out.
Shropshire, as both a National Landscape and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, features varied habitats including woodlands, low intensity farmland and upland heathland. Home to red kite, hen harrier, merlin and stonechat as well as wildflowers and birds of prey such as raven, buzzard dipper and ring ouzel, it boasts some remarkable wildlife including red kite, hen harrier merlin stonechat red kite raven buzzard dipper and stonechat as well.
Fenns, Wem and Cramer’s mosses provide home to insect-eating plants such as great sundew and oblong-leaved sundew that attract small insects with their sticky leaves. Provocation may cause stress for these creatures and disrupt their natural behavior as well as interfering with important activities like mating and raising young. Please avoid disrupting them in any way that might provoke stress-inducing encounters – this may interfere with mating activities and the raising of young.
3. Know the Weather
The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is home to a diverse landscape rich with life. From woodlands to low intensity farmland, there’s an abundance of habitats waiting to be discovered here.
From the Boyne Arms in Burwarton, a circular trail leads through hillside sheep pastures and woodland with views across the surrounding countryside. Additionally, this route takes you to Abdon Burf- an Iron Age hilltop fort- making for an exciting journey!
Established recently on former sand and gravel workings, this reserve now provides an array of pools and wetland habitats, attracting wildfowl and waders alike. One of the best places in Europe to observe breeding sand martins. Perfect for birdwatchers thanks to several small hides as well as well-positioned paths which enable access to its highlights.
4. Know the Area
Shropshire lies close to both Wales and Cheshire and features wild upland moorland, expansive woodland and low-intensity farming. Additionally, Shropshire contains some of England’s last areas of open heathland as well as being home to various bird habitats.
County Durham offers a wealth of historic and natural attractions, from fortified castles to the remnants of Wroxeter Roman City (once Britain’s fourth-largest). Stokesay Castle in particular stands out, boasting its grand hall and perfectly preserved medieval architecture.
County Durham is famed for its beautiful countryside, with hills covered in heather providing stunning vistas. A walk around Caer Caradoc’s remains of an Iron Age hill fort can offer great opportunities to witness this natural spectacle, as well as seeing Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Egyptian Geese on their migration routes. Wood Lane Nature Reserve was recently established on former industrial land nearby and has quickly become a haven for wildlife.
5. Know the Time of Day
Lighting is everything when taking wildlife photographs; it can alter how animals appear, making them larger or smaller, creating shadows around their face, and even casting long shadows across their back. To achieve optimal results, try taking photos around dawn or dusk when the light is softest and most vibrant.
Shropshire’s rugged mountains, undulating moorland and ancient woodlands provide the ideal setting to experience nature at its best. Take photos of red kites soaring overhead or photograph one of its charming market towns – Shropshire has something to offer everyone!
Shropshire’s small but dense county contains both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as 18 historic market towns. Get out your map, rent an automobile and go village-hopping through Shropshire to uncover its most picturesque spots!
6. Know the Light
Shropshire boasts beautiful scenery that ranges from rugged outcrops, grass-topped hills, and dense woodland. Home to historic market towns as well as ancient troglodyte dwellings – there’s something here for everyone in Shropshire!
Clun Forest: Venture through this picturesque forest of rare trees, walled gardens and children’s attractions for an adventure you won’t forget! Deer and foxes make this their home too!
Church Stretton: Church Stretton is an historic market town situated below Long Mynd and offering various attractions such as a medieval castle and historic buildings, making it an excellent location to photograph both people and architecture.
Beginning January 6th 2024, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery will host the renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition from Natural History Museum on loan. Showcasing amazing animal behavior and species beauty, it aims to inspire future environmental advocates. For more information please visit their website here.
7. Know the Wildlife
Southern Shropshire hills provide an ideal place for bird watchers looking for wildfowl, although their numbers have been affected by sheep grazing. Red Grouse and Ring Ouzel can often be found on upland plateaus; Stonechat and Whinchats may be found among woodland vegetation.
Pheasants and hares are among the more frequently seen wildlife in Shropshire, while buzzards often soar overhead. Shropshire also features numerous meres and lowland peat bogs where kingfishers may be spotted.
Shropshire Ornithological Society manages Venus Pool, a large shallow pool with gravel islands, which attracts waterfowl, waders, including snipe and curlew in winter months. There are three public hides as well as two members-only hides at this reserve.
8. Know the Birds
Shropshire boasts an abundance of birds, making it the ideal location for birding enthusiasts. Popular birding spots in Shropshire include The Wrekin Hill near Telford for challenging climbs with spectacular views while Clun Forest provides excellent opportunities to capture images of deer, foxes, and badgers.
Other notable destinations include Stokesay Castle, an extraordinary fortified medieval manor house. Its lush garden is particularly lovely in spring. If you prefer modern history over ancient, consider visiting Wroxeter Roman City instead – an impressive reconstructed town and museum.
Stiperstones offers stunning scenery for photography. Its rolling hills and vibrant flowers make the area truly beautiful. Additionally, Bury Ditches Hill Fort in south Shropshire offers great composition opportunities – it is great place for practicing wide-angle telephotos and panoramas as well as its famed Sand Martin Colony!
9. Know the Habitat
Shropshire boasts an abundance of woodlands, low intensity farmland and upland heathlands – as well as numerous important wildlife sites – making it an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
One of the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve’s great wildlife spectacles is its rugged quartzite ridge – one of England’s last remaining troglodyte dwellings and offering incredible views towards Wales. The spectacular Stiperstones offer fantastic opportunities for viewing skylark and red kite, among other species. It also houses one of only three remaining troglodyte dwellings still occupied in England!
The Long Mynd is an incredible upland mass with wooded escarpments and flower-rich grasslands owned by the National Trust and providing an ideal habitat for birding and photography. Birders may spot Red Grouse or Ring Ouzel (on passage), while its steep valleys support an array of woodland birds such as Grey Wagtail or Dipper.
10. Know the Location
Shropshire, located near Wales in England, boasts an extraordinary landscape characterized by rolling hills, rocky outcrops and tranquil forests. Additionally, historic market towns such as Ludlow and Shrewsbury make this county truly remarkable.
Corvedale Valley with its dramatic craggy peaks and tranquil stream provides an idyllic environment to explore, while Wood Lane Nature Reserve, built on old industrial land, provides wetland habitat with large pools which attract wildfowl and waders alike.
The High Rock is another iconic landmark that provides stunning views and offers photographers a range of composition options, while Wroxeter Roman City serves as a fascinating testament to an ancient civilisation.
