Cwm Clydach

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Address
RSPB Cwm Clydach, Lone Rd, Clydach, Swansea SA6 5SU
Grid ref
SN684026

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

Opening times

Open at all times.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free
Children
Free

Facilities

  • No visitor centre
  • Car park
  • Toilets off-site
  • Accessible toilets off-site
  • Pushchair friendly
  • No Refreshments
  • Nature trails
  • Shop off-site

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.

Get directions from Google Maps
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

What will the weather be like?

5 degrees, Partly cloudy (day)

Contact Cwm Clydach

What will you see?

Our star species

Seasonal highlights

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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