Castle Woods, nature reserve near Llandeilo

50 Mins from our holiday cottages
30 Miles from our holiday cottages

Castle Woods nature reserve, Dinefwr, near Llandeilo, Ceredigion
SA19 6RT

Castle Woods, nature reserve near Llandeilo

It can be accessed from the National trust car park at Dinefwr, £3 per day from where there are signed walking trails.

Details from The Wildlife Trust of South & South West Wale (see website) as follows:-

Description: Lowland mixed deciduous woodland, castle and quarry on the Llandeilo series of Ordovician rock which is of national importance.

Castle Woods is comprised of two areas of ancient semi-natural woodland with veteran trees on the steep south and west-facing slope that overlooks the River Tywi. Pendunculate Oak is interspersed with Ash, Beech and Sycamore, with 45% of the Elm having been lost to disease. The understory is comprised of Holly, Hazel, Elder, and Spindle.

The woodland floor is carpeted with Bluebell (4-6), Dog’s Mercury (2-4), Primrose (2-5) and Wood Anemone (3-5), Toothwort (3-5) can be found on the roots of the Wych Elm. The woodland is rich in mosses and lichens, including the large Lungwort.

The breeding bird assemblage includes Great Spotted, Lesser Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Redstart, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher. Resident birds of prey include Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Tawny Owl. The floodplain grassland below the wood holds numbers of roosting wildfowl including Goosander, Mallard, Pochard, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck with Pintail, Whooper Swan and Wigeon, in winter.

Butterflies are well represented, including Comma (3-5 + 7-9), Silver-washed Fritillary (6-8) and Speckled Wood (4-10) and mammals include Fallow Deer and Badger.

Location and Access Notes: 2 km west of Llandeilo, adjacent to Dinefwr Park. Visitors can park next to the fire station off the A40 and walk down into the woods and roadside parking is also available at Towy Bridge.

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