Nature reserves in North Wales

North Wales is an area of outstanding natural beauty, full of rolling hills, green spaces and beautiful scenery.

It’s a hive of wildlife with birds, animals and plant life thriving in the countryside and by the coast.

If you’re a keen twitcher, or you love to observe wildlife and want to be guaranteed some good sightings then there are plenty of places for you to have your fill. Here’s some of our favourites:

Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife

This is the place to come if you want to see Ospreys. The Glaslyn Osprey project was set up in 2013 to continue the work of protecting breeding Ospreys.

Head to the visitor centre,  and a team of experts will tell you more about the Ospreys; their environment, breeding and more about the Ospreys they have on site.

You can also use the telescopes provided to get a really good look at the birds.

RSPB Conwy

If you are a keen birdwatcher, this RSPB reserve is for you. It’s situated on wetland, carved out of the Estuary bank.

Here you’ll see birds like Black Tail Godwits, Lapwings, Sedge Warblers and Water Rails. There’s some lovely walks around the estuary area. You’ll find a cafe on site too selling pretty good cake and tea to warm you up.

If you’re visiting in the autumn and winter you also might be able to witness one of the Starling murmurations, which are spectacular displays of flight. If you want to visit for that, pick a clear calm day and head to the RSPB for around dusk.

If you’re an orchid fan, then visit in June when you’ll find five different species present at the reserve.

Ceunant Llennyrch National Nature Reserve

This woodland reserve is located near the village of Maentwrog. Here you’ll find expansive woodland and deep inside, a steep gorge where you’ll discover the Afon Prysor waterfall.

The reserve runs from Trawsfynydd Lake down to the River Dwyryd, so there’s plenty of river wildlife to spot including Otters, the Wood Mouse and the Bank Vole. You’ll also find Woodpeckers, Redstarts and European Pied Flycatchers if you look carefully.

There’s a mass of different flowers and plants here too – near the humidity of the waterfall, you’ll find Bilberry, Wood Anemones and Wood Sorrel. There’s lots of lichen here too if that’s your thing. It’s an incredibly beautiful and tranquil place to visit.

Morfa Bychan and Greenacres

If coastal wild and plant life is more your thing then the sand dunes at Morfa Bychan are bound to appeal.

Home to the Reed Bunting and Yellow Iris in spring, you might also be lucky enough to catch an adder slithering through the dunes.

In summer there’s common lizards, Meadowsweet and Whitethroat. If you’re a plant lover, you’ll be excited to know that the habitat also contains rare plant species; Variegated horsetail and Sharp Rush. Kids are going to want to see the lizards though!

If you want to get into nature this year, come and stay with us at our hotel near Porthmadog  which is well placed for all of these sites. Once you’ve finished wandering around a reserve, come and warm up with a delicious hot meal, and a really good night’s sleep in our comfortable beds.