Coed Rheidol National Nature Reserve

LOCATION

DEVIL'S BRIDGE, CEREDIGION

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Our View

It’s hard to beat a springtime visit to the woodlands of Coed Rheidol, near Devil’s Bridge, particularly in May when the bluebells are in flower. The reserve’s woodland is also good for other spring wildflowers, such as lesser celandines, primroses, common violets, wood anemones, and, in the wet flushes, golden saxifrage. Later in the summer yellow pimpernel, common cow-wheat, Welsh poppy, heather and bilberry take over, while there are impressive autumn displays of fungi. Nearly 80 species of birds have been recorded in the woodland. Breeding birds include bullfinches, pied flycatchers, redstarts, tree pipits, and various warblers. Birds of prey you can expect to see in the area include red kites, buzzards and the occasional goshawk. The Rheidol and Ystwyth rivers have stocks of resident wild brown trout, sea trout and salmon, which go to sea each year to return in spring and summer to spawn. You might even see the shy otter.

Coed Rheidol National Nature Reserve
Devil's Bridge

Features

About the area

Discover Ceredigion

The name ‘Ceredigion’ takes a bit of explanation. The town of Cardigan gives its name to the surrounding bay, but the county now uses the Welsh word for Cardiganshire – Ceredigion, pronounced with a ‘dig’. Cardigan Bay itself is a large inlet of the Irish Sea and stretches from Bardsey Island to Strumble Head. With many beaches and a unique marine life, it’s the place to come to spot bottlenose dolphins, porpoises and Atlantic grey seals. The area is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), designated under European law to protect its species and habitats. The Ceredigion coastal path is also a major attraction.

Much of the surrounding land is fertile farmland, dotted with towns and seaside resorts such as Fishguard, New Quay, Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Borth, Aberdyfi, Barmouth and Porthmadog. It’s also a section of coast that major rivers flow into, including the Afon Glaslyn, Teifi, Rheidol, Dyfi, Aeron, Dysynni and Mawddach. Historically, the area supported a strong maritime industry. Cardigan was a major hub, once having more than 300 ships registered in its port, seven times as many as Cardiff. Due to being something of a backwater, in many ways this area remains charmingly unspoilt. The nearby heather-clad Preseli Hills are an additional delight.

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