Gors Maen Llwyd Nature Reserve
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
spring and summerAbout the reserve
In spring, head out through the heather and onto the moor at dawn and you could experience a natural wonder that has been taking place here for millennia: the bubbling call of male black grouse lekking. Then, as the sun rises over the Clwydian Range to the east, the distinctive, peaty moorland aroma fills the air along with the calls of curlew, skylark and cuckoo heralding the new day. Gradually, as the panoramic views are revealed from the dark of night, the serene sensation of being alone in a huge, wild landscape unfolds.
Gors Maen Llwyd, bordering Llyn Brenig, is one of the Wildlife Trust’s largest nature reserves and comprises upland heath, blanket bog and wetland filled with sphagnum moss, bogbean and cranberry. In summer, sand martins nest in large colonies along the edge of the reservoir, their constant coming and going providing the backdrop to any summertime stroll. ‘Gors Maen Llwyd’ means ‘bog of grey stone’ – a stone brought here and deposited by the retreating ice sheets of the last ice age – but there’s nothing at all grey about this reserve!
Heather cuts
This area of upland has been ‘managed’ by people for thousands of years. Ancient Britons removed forest to provide more grazing whilst, in the early 1900s, the moor was maintained for grouse shooting. (Now protected from shooting, both black and red grouse breed at the site.) The Wildlife Trust is trying to manage the landscape in a more natural way by keeping areas of varying habitats. Small areas of heather are cut on rotation – in wavy shapes to better blend into the landscape – to keep the age structure diverse, whilst sheep graze the site during spring and summer to keep the heather in good condition. Conifer encroachment from surrounding plantations is kept in check.
Directions
Gors Maen Llwyd lies at the northern end of Llyn Brenig, 7 miles South West of Denbigh and 4 miles North of Cerrigydrudion. Both car parks are accessible from the B4501: one immediately from the road (SH 970 580) and one down a short track, near the bird hide (SH 983 574). You can also access the reserve by parking at Dŵr Cymru’s Llyn Brenig Visitor Centre and walking around the lake shore in either direction – this will take about an hour, depending on your pace.
Species
Habitat
Contact us
Ospreys at Llyn Brenig
North Wales Wildlife Trust’s main role in the Brenig Osprey Project is to help visitors understand the local wildlife, including these magnificent birds. Why not come and see them up close for yourself? There is a live feed to the nest in the Dwr Cymru visitor centre and with a telescope, you can see the pair from a safe distance from April to the end of August at our Osprey Lookout – just ask at the visitor centre for directions to our setup (an easy 5-minute walk away). There is also a pre-bookable photography hide, more details on when this will open will be available soon.