Guide to the National Nature Reserves, Local Nature Reserves and other top wildlife sites in Wales
Click a button below to arrange sites in the order best suited to your needs
Reserve |
Region of |
County |
Nearest |
Primary |
Other |
| Abercorris NWWT Nature Reserve | North | Gwynedd | Machynlleth | Plants | Birds, Mammals |
| Afon Lleiniog LNR | North | Anglesey | Llangoed | Plants | Bats, Birds |
| All Wales Coast Path | All | All coastal | All coastal | All | All |
| Allt Rhyd y Groes NNR | Southwest | Carmarthenshire | Llandovery | Plants | Birds |
| Allt y Benglog NNR | North | Gwynedd | Dolgellau | Plants | Birds |
| Anglesey Fens NNR | North | Anglesey | Pentraeth | Plants | Birds, Insects |
| Bardsey Island NNR | North | Gwynedd | Aberdaron | Birds | Plants, Lichens |
| Berwyn/Y Berwyn NNR | East | Powys | Bala | Birds | Plants, Lichens |
| Bryn Pydew NWWT | North | Conwy | Llandudno | Plants | Insects |
| Cadair Idris NNR | North | Gwynedd | Dolgellau | Geology | Plants |
| Cae Blaen Dyffryn Plantlife Reserve | Southwest | Carmarthenshire | Lampeter | Plants | Insects |
| Carmel Woods NNR | Southwest | Carmarthenshire | Llandeilo | Plants | Bats, Birds, Insects |
| Cemlyn Bay NWWT | North | Anglesey | Cemlyn | Birds | Plants, Insects, Marine |
| Ceunant Cynfal NNR | North | Gwynedd | Llan Ffestiniog | Bats | Trees, Lichens, Mosses, Ferns, Birds |
| Ceunant Llennyrch NNR | North | Gwynedd | Gellilydan | Bats | Trees, Lichens, Mosses, Ferns, Birds |
| Claerwen NNR | East | Powys | Rhyader | Birds | Plants, Lichens |
| Coed Cymerau NNR | North | Gwynedd | Blaenau Ffestiniog | Bats | Trees, Lichens, Mosses, Ferns, Birds |
| Coed Dalgarrog NNR | North | Conwy | Llanrwst | Plants | Birds, Fungi, Insects |
| Coed Ganllwyd NNR | North | Gwynedd | Maentwrog | Bats | Trees, Lichens, Mosses, Ferns, Birds |
| Coed Gorswen NNR | North | Conwy | Conwy | Plants | Insects, Birds |
| Coed Llyn Mair NNR | North | Gwynedd | Maentwrog | Bats | Trees, Lichens, Mosses, Ferns, Birds |
| Coed Rheidol NNR | Southwest | Ceredigion | Aberystwyth | Plants | Birds, Fungi |
| Coed Tremadog NNR | North | Gwynedd | Tremadog | Bats | Trees, Lichens, Mosses, Ferns, Birds |
| Coed y Cerrig NNR | East | Monmouthshire | Abergavenny | Plants | Birds, Insects |
| Coed y Rhygen NNR | North | Gwynedd | Trawsfynydd | Bats | Trees, Lichens, Mosses, Ferns, Birds |
| Coedmor NNR | Southwest | Ceredigion | Cardigan | Lichens | Plants, Birds |
| Coedydd Aber NNR | North | Gwynedd | Bangor | Plants | Geology, Birds, Fungi |
| Conwy RSPB Reserve | North | Conwy | Deganwy | Birds | Plants, Insects |
| Cors Bodelio NNR | North | Anglesey | Pentreath | Plants | Insects, Birds |
| Cors Caron NNR | Southwest | Ceredigion | Tregaron | Birds | Insects, Plants |
| Cors Dyfi MWT Reserve | East | Powys | Machynlleth | Birds | Insects, Plants |
| Cors Erddreiniog NNR | North | Anglesey | Benllech | Plants | Insects, Birds |
| Cors Geirch NNR | North | Gwynedd | Nefyn | Plants | Insects |
| Cors Goch Llanllwch NNR | Southwest | Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen | Plants | Insects, Birds |
| Cors Goch NNR | North | Anglesey | Pentraeth | Plants | Insects, Birds |
| Cors y Llyn NNR | East | Powys | Newbridge on Wye | Plants | Insects, Birds |
| Craig Cerrig Glesisiad a Fan Frynych NNR | East | Powys | Brecon | Plants | Lichens, Mosses, Birds, Geology |
| Craig y Cilau NNR | East | Powys | Crickhowell | Bats | Plants, Insects, Geology |
| Crymlyn Bog and Pant y Sais NNR | Southwest | Swansea | Swansea | Plants | Insects, Birds |
| Cwm Cadlan NNR | East | Rhondda Cynon Taff | Hirwaun | Plants | Geology |
| Cwm Clydach NNR | East | Monmouthshire | Brynmawr | Plants | Fungi, Birds |
| Cwm Glas Crafnant NNR | North | Conwy | Betws y Coed | Plants | Geology |
| Cwm Idwal NNR | North | Gwynedd | Bethesda | Geology | Plants |
| Dan yr Ogof NNR | East | Powys | Ystradgynlais | Geology | |
| Dinefwr NNR | Southwest | Carmarthenshire | Llandeilo | Fungi | Insects, Birds |
| Dyfi NNR | Southwest | Ceredigion | Borth | Plants | Birds, Insects |
| Fenn's Whixhall & Bettisfield Mosses NNR | North | Wrexham and Shropshire | Whitchurch | Birds | Insects, Animals |
| Fiddlers Elbow NNR | East | Monmouthshire | Monmouth | Plants | Animals |
| Glaslyn RSPB Osprey Project | North | Gwynedd | Porthmadog | Birds | |
| Gower Coast NNR | Southwest | Swansea | Swansea | Geology | Birds, Plants |
| Grassholm Island NNR | Southwest | Pembrokeshire | Haverfordwest | Birds | Whales, Dolphins, Seals |
| Great Orme/Maes y Facrell - Pen y Gogarth NNR | North | Conwy | Llandudno | Plants | Birds, Insects |
| Hafod Elwy NNR | North | Denbighshire | Betws y Coed | Birds | Plants |
| Hafod Garregog NNR | North | Gwynedd | Porthmadog | Plants | Birds |
| Kenfig Pool and Dunes NNR | East | Bridgend | Kenfig | Plants | Birds, Insects, Fungi |
| Lady Park Wood NNR | East | Monmouthshire | Monmouth | Plants | Bats |
| Lake Vyrnwy RSPB Reserve | East | Powys | Welshpool | Birds | Plants, Insects |
| Llangloffan Fen NNR | Southwest | Pembrokeshire | Fishguard | Birds | Insects, Plants |
| Llangloffan Fen WTSWW | Southwest | Pembrokeshire | Fishguard | Plants | Insects, Birds |
| Llyn Crafnant Circuit (Walk) - Forestry Commission | North | Gwynedd | Betws y Coed | Plants | Woodland, Scenery |
| Llyn Eiddwen NNR | Southwest | Ceredigion | Aberaeron | Plants | Birds, Insects |
| Mariandyrys LNR | North | Anglesey | Llangoed | Plants | Birds, Insects, Fungi |
| Meirionydd Oak Woodlands NNRS | North | Gwynedd | Porthmadog | Bats | Trees, Lichens, Mosses, Ferns, Birds |
| Merthyr Mawr NNR | East | Bridgend | Bridgend | Plants | Fungi, Insects |
| Morfa Dyffryn NNR | North | Gwynedd | Barmouth | Plants | Birds, Insects |
| Morfa Harlech NNR | North | Gwynedd | Harlech | Plants | Birds, Insects |
| Nant Irfon NNR | East | Powys | Llanwrtyd Wells | Plants | Birds |
| Nant Porth NWWT Reserve | North | Gwynedd | Bangor | Plants | Trees, Birds |
| Newborough Warren NNR | North | Anglesey | Newborough | Plants | Insects, Fungi, Mammals |
| Newport Wetlands NNR | East | Newport | Newport, Gwent | Birds | Insects, Plants |
| Ogof Ffynnon Ddu NNR | East | Powys | Ystradgynlais | Geology | Plants, Birds |
| Oxwich NNR | Southwest | Gower | Swansea | Plants | Insects, Birds |
| Pengelli Forest NNR | Southwest | Pembrokeshire | Cardigan | Birds | Bats, Plants, Insects |
| Penhow Woodlands NNR | East | Newport | Newport | Plants | Birds, Insects |
| Priory Grove Woods Woodland Trust Reserve | East | Monmouthshire | Monmouth | Plants | Birds, Animals |
| Ramsey Island NNR | Southwest | Pembrokeshire | St. David's | Birds | |
| Rhinog NNR | North | Gwynedd | Dolgellau | Birds | Plants |
| Rhos Goch | East | Powys | Builth Wells | Plants | Insects |
| Rhos Llawr Cwrt NNR | Southwest | Ceredigion | New Quay | Insects | Plants |
| Roundton Hill NNR | East | Powys | Newtown | Plants | Fungi |
| Skomer NNR | Southwest | Pembrokeshire | Haverfordwest | Birds | Mammals, Plants |
| Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa NNR | North | Gwynedd | Llanberis | Plants | Geology, Birds |
| South Stack Cliffs RSPB Reserve | North | Anglesey | Holyhead | Birds | Plants, Geology |
| Spinnies Aberogwen | North | Gwynedd | Bangor | Birds | Plants |
| Stackpole NNR | Southwest | Pembrokeshire | Pembroke | Bats | Birds, Plants |
| Stanner Rocks NNR | East | Powys | Kington | Plants | Geology |
| Teifi Marshes WTSWW | Southwest | Pembrokeshire | Cardigan | Birds | Plants, Mammals |
| Ty Canol NNR | Southwest | Pembrokeshire | Fishguard | Lichens | Fungi, Birds |
| Valley Wetlands RSPB Reserve | North | Anglesey | Holyhead | Birds | Plants, Insects |
| Waun Las NNR | Southwest | Carmarthenshire | Carmarthen | Fungi | Plants |
| Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre | Southwest | Carmarthenshire | Llanelli | Birds | Plants, Insects |
| Whiteford NNR | Southwest | Gower | Gowerton | Plants | Birds, Insects |
| Ynys-hir RSPB Reserve | Southwest | Ceredigion | Machynlleth | Birds | Plants, Insects |
What you will find on this Website
Wales is a wonderful place to see wildlife, and this is demonstrated by the number of special sites that are set aside for the protection of our plants, animals, birds, insects and reptiles. In fact Wales has more nature reserves per head of population than both England and Scotland. Wales has five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), three National Parks, well over 70 National Nature Reserves and literally hundreds more Local Nature Reserves and Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves each protecting unique habitats and the wildlife that depends on them for their survival. The AONBs are Anglesey, the Clwydian Range, Gower, Llŷn, and the Wye Valley. The National Parks are Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast, and the Brecon Beacons. A broad overview of habitats, scenery and general wildlife interest in Wales is contained in the regional descriptions to be found at the top of the dropdown menus for the North, Southwest and East of Wales.
Thinking of North Wales immediately conjours up images of mountains and the dramatic scenery that accompanies them: the rushing rivers, the valleys and the moorlands and mires which lie within and between the ranges of Snowdonia, the Clwydians and the gentler Berwyns. But let's not forget the lovely coastline with its fabulous sandy beaches and sand dune systems; and, set back from the coast, the fens, raised bogs, woodlands and limestone pavements. Each of these unique habitats is a support system for numerous plants, insects and animals.
Southwest Wales, equally well known as a holiday destination by the thousands of people who flock there each year, also has a hidden side: the lovely rivers protected in their own right because of the precious wildlife that lives in them, the beautiful bluebell woods that are also home to many rare and interesting fungi species in the autumn, the ancient meadows that support numerous wild orchids and other unusual plants, and of course the islands that lie off the coast and are home to internationally important colonies of nesting sea birds and many other unique wildlife species.
East Wales, perhaps less known than the other parts of Wales as a holiday destination, still has more than its fair share of interesting places in which to see wildlife in habitats that are threatened and endangered in many other parts of Britain. This is where you will find the Montgomery Canal, the Brecon Beacons and the Wye Valley. It also has one of Wales's best known coastal nature reserves - Kenfig - home to numerous wild orchids including the rare Fen Orchid. This area is also home to an increasingly rare habitat, lowland acid grassland. A good example of this is Roundton Hill National Nature Reserve, and there is a management programme running in East Wales to restore some of the numerous fragments of this precious environment to a good ecological state. The terrain is characterised by thin soils lying on rock which are home to special plants referred to as 'spring ephemerals' - plants that germinate, grow, flower and set seed in the space of around eight weeks or until the soils dry out in the increasing heat of early summer.
This website is a guide to these special places. It provides not only detailed descriptions of the wildlife to be found in Wales's protected habitats, but also location maps accompanied by clear written directions of how to find each nature reserve. It also describes the facilities available at each site and the accessibility, or otherwise, of the terrain for each of the reserves.
Finding your way around the Nature Reserves of Wales
The nature reserves are listed on a main index page (this page), and in dropdown menus accessible from every nature reserve page, enabling you to move quickly from one site to another. The main index table of reserves can be sorted in four ways: alphabetically by reserve name, by region and county, by nearest town, and by species interest - birds, bats, wildflowers, fungi, butterflies and so on. There are regional maps for North, Southwest and East Wales showing the location of the nature reserves, with direct links from each location to the appropriate dedicated reserve page.
For those interested in the conservation designations of the wild places of Wales there is a page listing the special designations accorded to the sites in Wales together with a description of what each designation - Special Area of Conservation(SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Ramsar Site etc - means in terms of national, European or international importance.


