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Life Story
Compact yet diverse, our precious living landscape bristles with life all year round. And you don’t have to go far to appreciate the colours and sounds of our wilder inhabitants.
Lonely outcrops, dense forest, and more woodland walks than you can shake a stick at. A journey through our landscape is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to see our fabulous wildlife. And with our abundance of plants, birds, animals and marine life, you’re sure to spot some familiar favourites, and perhaps a few surprises.
Conwy town’s Bodlondeb Woods is a peaceful woodland with magnificent views of the estuary from its open areas. It’s bursting with a variety of tree species including oak, ash and cherry, and other inhabitants including foxes, squirrels and sparrow hawks.
Pwllycrochan Woods, which spans Colwyn Bay’s hillside, has mostly native deciduous trees with other species including sweet chestnut and firs. There are plenty of other wooded places to visit, too. Each one with its own unique mix of inhabitants.
A short drive (or hike) to higher ground takes you to the moody landscapes of Pensychnant with its beautiful wild ponies, and rare dragonflies on the small hilltop lake.
The Great Orme’s profusion of wildlife includes rare butterflies and plant life, a herd of free roaming Kashmir goats and great colonies of sea birds, from kittiwakes to cormorants. Keep your eyes peeled from the sea cliffs. It’s not unusual to spot the odd seal, porpoise or bottlenose dolphin in the coastal waters of the Irish Sea.
More than 200 species of bird have been identified at Conwy’s RSPB Reserve on the water and banks of the estuary. Many exciting varieties can be seen here throughout the year. With footpaths, observatories, guided walks and special trails for youngsters, it’s perfect for seasoned birders and first-timers.
Farmland makes up a great deal of Conwy’s countryside. And there are plenty of marked footpaths to follow through green and pleasant rolling hills. Look out for rarities like the barn owl or species such as otter and water vole near rivers and streams.
From nature reserves to remote and untamed wilderness, Conwy’s varied habitats are beautiful and bountiful all year round. An explosion of new life in the spring, the blossoms and birdsong of summer, the golden red browns of autumn and sparse winter landscapes. Get your walking boots on and see for yourself!
Great and small
Discover the varied species of plants, animals and birds at The Great Orme Country Park. The visitor centre at the summit has information on what to look out for, and tells the story of this unique landscape. Find out more at www.conwy.gov.uk/countryside.
A flying visit
Conwy Estuary’s RSPB Nature Reserve is a great place to see local birds and wildlife and there’s a year round calendar of events. Visit www.rspb.org.uk to find out more.
Did you know?
Alice Liddell (Alice in Wonderland) stayed with her family on Llandudno's West Shore.
The 'new' Llandudno was designed as a complete model town in the mid 19th century. It was originally a copper mining settlement.
The Summit Complex was once owned by boxing champion Randolph Turpin. Before that it was a telegraph station, signalling the approach of ships to Liverpool.
