Morfa Harlech National Nature Reserve

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Overview

The Morfa Harlech NNR is one of the major sand dune systems which extend along the Meironydd coastline from the Mawddach Estuary to Black Rock Sands. In spring and early summer Morfa Harlech is brightened by dazzling displays of wildflowers, including numerous wild orchids such as pyramidal, early marsh, common spotted, heath spotted, marsh helleborine and northern marsh. Other wildflowers include yellow flag iris, thrift, common centaury, lady’s bedstraw, tormentil, common restharrow, wild pansy, bird’s-foot trefoil and many others. The dune slacks are also excellent places in which to see fungi in autumn, such as bird’s-nest, several waxcaps and puffballs. Morfa Harlech is also great place to see a wide diversity of insects, particularly butterflies such as the silver-studded blue, small copper, peacock, marsh fritillary and gatekeeper. Breeding birds include whitethroat, skylark, wheatear and sedge warbler. Lapwings nest on the saltmarsh and other rare bird species include choughs and hen harriers in the reedswamp at nearby Morfa Dyffryn. Waders using the beach and estuary include sanderlings, ringed plovers and turnstones.

Location

Llanfihangel-y-traethau

About the area

The county of Gwynedd is home to most of the Snowdonia National Park – including the wettest spot in Britain, an arête running up to Snowdon’s summit that receives an average annual rainfall of 4,473mm. With its mighty peaks, rivers and strong Welsh heritage (it has the highest proportion of Welsh-speakers in all of Wales), it’s always been an extremely popular place to visit and live.