Cwm Clydach

Address: RSPB Cwm Clydach, Lone Rd, Clydach, Swansea SA6 5SU

Grid ref: SN684026

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Cwm Clydach is a nature reserve on the outskirts of Clydach, near Swansea. This broadleaved woodland is easily accessible and home to breeding wood warblers, grey wagtails, dippers and spotted flycatchers. In winter, buzzards, red kites and ravens rule the cold and steely skies.

Plan your visit

Car park and trails open.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free

Children: Free

Facilities

Car park
Pushchair friendly
Picnic area
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Swansea is the nearest railway station.

By bus

Hourly service from Swansea to Craig Cefn Parc bus stops at the reserve entrance.

By road

Car park situated in the village of Craig Cefn Parc, close to the New Inn public house on the B4291.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

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Contact Cwm Clydach

RSPB Cwm Clydach, Lone Rd, Clydach, Swansea SA6 5SU
cwm.clydach@rspb.org.uk
029 2035 3000

What will you see?

Our star species

Buzzard

Buzzards can be seen circling overhead throughout the year.

Dipper

Look along the rocky stream for dippers' weird and wonderful behaviour.

Grey wagtail

Grey wagtails can be seen along the Lower Clydach River as they hunt insects.

Common raven

You can see ravens' plummeting display flights from late winter, through the spring.

Red kite

Red kites are very nearly unmistakable - check the long, forked tail and graceful, lazy, gliding flight.

Early migrants like chiffchaffs arrive and are followed later in April by willow warblers, spotted flycatchers and redstarts. Resident species too are nest-building and a visit in early morning produces a superb dawn chorus of song.

Dippers and grey wagtails can be seen feeding along the river and all the summer migrants have arrived and are busy rearing young. Redstarts and wood warblers can be seen as well as bullfinches and garden warblers whilst butterflies bask in sunny clearings.

Siskins and lesser redpolls can be seen feeding on the seeds of riverside alders. Colourful fungi like fly agarics and chantarelles dot the ground.

Look out for buzzards, red kites and ravens over the valley. Redwings and fieldfares can be seen feeding on hawthorn berries and mixed flocks of tits, treecreepers and nuthatches move through in search of food.

About Cwm Clydach

Habitat

Cwm Clydach is a woodland haven on the edge of the city, with fast-flowing rivers. It is home to breeding pied flycatchers, redstarts, dippers and buzzards. The Lower Clydach River flows through the centre of the reserve.

Conservation

The reserve is prone to erosion from the fast flowing river, and land slippage due to the steep banks and loose nature of the substrate and so the woodland is dynamic and changes quickly and naturally over time, opening up new habitats and niches. The natural structure and topography of the woodland along the river on steep banks and the speed of change means that the woodland is a good home for scrubby woodland birds like bullfinches, blackcaps and garden warblers, and butterflies wander the sunny glades and river edges like the silver washed fritillary.

We organise regular work parties to carry out various habitat management and estate work on the reserve. We want volunteer help in the areas of habitat management and reserve maintenance. All tasks are vital for conservation of the site and for retaining good access to, and around the reserve.

Site information

Cwm Clydach reserve is a small narrow linear reserve of about 50 hectares, following the river Clydach as it wends its way up the valley. It is not part of any designated site, but is a green haven for walkers and those seeking tranquility near the town of Clydach.

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