Bryn Pydew Nature Reserve

Bryn Pydew

©NWWT

A close up of a bright blue butterfly, with thick black outline to the back wings, and thin black lines radiating out from it's body on each wing. It's antennae are black with small pale blue bands nearer the head. The background is a bright green mottled colour, of out of focus vegetation.

Silver studded blue © Guy Edwardes2020VISION

Brown argus

Brown argus © Amy Lewis

Snowdrops

Snowdrops © Bob Coyle

Bryn Pydew Nature Reserve

The combination of woodland, wildflowers and butterflies means that this limestone-based reserve is buzzing with life – a real summer treat!

Location

Penrhyn Bay
Conwy
LL31 9JT

OS Map Reference

SH818798
OS Explorer Map OL17
A static map of Bryn Pydew Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
5 hectares
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Entry fee

No
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Parking information

Lay-by parking and entrance to the reserve is approximately a mile further on from Bryn Pydew Road
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Grazing animals

No
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Walking trails

Paths through woodland, steep in places

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Access

The limestone outcrops and pavements are great places to explore. However, they are full of holes and can be slippery when wet – be very careful not to twist an ankle.

Dogs

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When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

Spring and summer

About the reserve

On a busy summer’s day, the hustle and bustle of life at Bryn Pydew re-creates the industrial toil of the site’s former function as a limestone quarry. Limestone pavements punctuated with lush green ferns taper down into grassland filled with flowers (including plenty of orchids) and gorse scrub, which then gives way to ash and yew woodland.  This variety of habitats in such a small geographical area supports a wealth of plant life, which in turn ensures that the site is home to a huge variety of invertebrates: over 20 species of butterfly and 500+ species of moth have been recorded here. On warm, dark nights in mid-summer, you might be lucky enough to see the green glimmering of glow-worms, whose larvae feed on the abundant snails!

Non-native nasties
The areas of open limestone pavement are kept clear of non-native species like cotoneaster and evergreen oak. Left unchecked, they would damage the pavement itself and come to dominate the plant assemblage. The grassland is cut and cleared in autumn to mimic the action of grazing animals, keeping it in good condition for the following year’s wildflowers.

Did you know?
Limestone pavement is formed by a combination of chemical weathering and erosion.  As special geological features, they have their own terminology: clints are the blocks of limestone that form the pavement; pits and hollows called karren cover their surface. Grykes are the deep cracks that separate the clints – they can be well over a meter in depth.

Directions
The site lies in the hills between Llandudno, Rhos-on-Sea and Llandudno Junction.  Approaching Llandudno on the A470, turn Right for Esgyrn at the first roundabout and take successive Right turns onto Esgyryn Road, Pydew Road and Bryn Pydew Road. The lay-by parking and entrance to the reserve is approximately a mile further on (SH 818 798)

Contact us

Luke Jones
Contact number: 01248 351541
Bryn Pydew

©NWWT

Reserve guide and map

Download
A small boy carrying a stick, walking through a woodland with large old trees and bluebells carpeting the floor. Behind him is a young girl running up to him, and a woman bending down to look at the flowers.

Family walking though bluebells © Tom Marshall

Volunteer sawing

Katrina Martin / 2020VISION

Volunteering

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