Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve

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Overview

Cwm Idwal was the first National Nature Reserve to be created in Wales in 1954, and is one of the finest places to see how glacial processes have shaped the Snowdonia landscape. The slopes of the magnificent amphitheatre (or cwm) are home to rare arctic-alpine plants at the southern extremities of their range in Britain. These include purple saxifrage, starry saxifrage, moss campion, Welsh poppy, globe flower and the rare Snowdon lily. On the screes parsley fern grows, while on the ridges tough plants like dwarf willow and stiff sedge survive in the harsh, exposed conditions. A variety of butterflies and moths, including the marsh fritillary and the netted carpet moth, are found, and Cwm Idwal and Snowdonia also has its own beetle – the Snowdon or rainbow leaf beetle. Upland birds in spring include wheatear and ring ouzel, while the raven, chough and peregrine falcon frequent the crags throughout the year. Mammals include brown hare, fallow deer, badgers, foxes, and the elusive pine marten and polecat, and there are several well-established herds of feral goats.

Location

Pont Pen-y-benglog

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.