Valley of Stones NNR
The Valley of Stones NNR derives its name from the impressive 'train' of boulders tumbling down the slope and floor of the dry chalk valley.
County: Dorset
Main habitats: Lowland Grassland
Area: 99 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map
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The stones were formed at the end of the last ice age as the tightly cemented sandstone that capped the chalk hillstops gradually fragmented and slumped downhill, under freeze/thaw conditions.
There is evidence that the site was used as an ancient 'quarry', stones being taken from the area for use at local megalithic sites.
The fine chalk grassland slopes are rich in butterflies, and wild flowers such as autumn gentian, clustered bellflower and Adonis blue. The stones support many lichens, some of which are extremely rare.
The grassland is managed using grazing animals, in particular cattle and sheep. The gorse is managed on rotation on the heath grassland which is situated to the south east of the site.
Location and access
The reserve is 10 km to the south west of Dorchester, 1 km to the south east of the village of Littlebredy. By car, access to the reserve is via minor roads from the A35 and B3157. The nearest car park is 1 km to the east of the reserve near the National Trust's Hardy Monument.
The nearest train station is in Upwey (7 km to the east) served by Wessex Trains on the line from Dorchester to Weymouth.
First Group provides bus services from Upwey along both the A35 (via Dorchester) and B3157 (via Weymouth).
The site is near the route of the Jubilee Trail the Macmillan Way and close to the South West Coastal Path National Trail. It is also on National Route 2 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network.
Facilities
The nearest toilet and refreshment facilities are in local towns and villages.
There is an interpretation panel at the site, and a footpath across the reserve leading from Littlebredy Farm to Bishop's Road - a minor road to Abbotsbury.
