About the reserve

One of the largest mid-altitude heathlands remaining in County Durham, Hedleyhope Fell is a mosaic of heather, bilberry, acid grassland, rush pasture, bracken beds, patches of gorse and scattered trees.

Common lizard and slow worm make their home at the Fell as well as twenty butterfly species, including green hairstreak.

Heathland plant life flourishes, including bell heather, cross-leaved heath, crowberry, bilberry, cotton grass and several rarer plants such as petty whin, stags-horn club moss and adder’s tongue fern.

The heather provides an impressive display of colour in late summer and autumn.

Bird life includes lapwing, skylark and curlew and the woodland on site supports stonechat and tree sparrow. Several species of owl can also be seen on the reserve.

Hedleyhope Fell is a large nature reserve and is well served with car parks and footpaths. The Fell is a common and is grazed by the common holder’s livestock year round.