Near Newbridge-on-Wye, Powys, Mid Wales
Cors y Llyn National Nature Reserve
Mixed-habitat reserve
Place photograph
7.4
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
Free
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.4A short boardwalk walk through bog, fen and meadow, with a striking stand of century-old pines that remain only a few feet tall.
Cors y Llyn packs a distinctive wetland landscape into a manageable circuit: glacially formed basins, wildflower meadow, swampy woodland and a curious dwarf-pine stand. It is an unusually rewarding short nature walk, especially when the flowers and butterflies are active.
Peaceful · Wild · Secluded
Find your way
Open mapNear Newbridge-on-Wye, Powys, Mid Wales
Opening map…
The experience
The short circular trail is the main event: follow the waymarked route beside the meadow, then cross the boardwalk through wet woodland and past the dwarf pines. Allow around 45 minutes; take waterproof footwear in wetter seasons and pause to look for the reserve’s seasonal flowers and butterflies.
Things to do
Walk the Cors y Llyn circular trail
Follow the waymarked, level circuit alongside the meadow and along boardwalks through wetland woodland. The route returns to the car park on a gentle incline.
45 minutes
Look for the dwarf pines
Find the distinctive Scandinavian-style pines in the reserve: despite being over 100 years old, some are only a few feet tall.
Scan the meadow for seasonal flowers and butterflies
In spring and summer, look for orchids and Dyer’s greenweed, and watch for butterflies visiting the wildflower meadow.
Notice the bog plants
The reserve’s bog and fen support acid-loving plants, including bog-mosses, ling, cranberry, cross-leaved heath and insectivorous round-leaved sundew.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 45 minutes
Quick escape: the boardwalk circuit
- 01
Start at the reserve car park and follow the waymarked trail beside the wildflower meadow.
- 02
Continue along the boardwalk through the wet woodland and look for the dwarf pines.
- 03
Complete the circular route, returning to the car park on a gentle incline.
Half day · About 1–2 hours
Make a little longer of it: trail and reserve fields
- 01
Walk the waymarked 45-minute circuit, taking time at the meadow and boardwalk.
- 02
If conditions and reserve guidance allow, explore the fields within the reserve.
- 03
Keep to paths where a hay crop is growing or livestock may be present; bring your own refreshments, as on-site cafés or shops are not confirmed.
Verified history
Cors y Llyn means “bog of the lake”. Its two central basins were carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age and initially filled with meltwater. Over thousands of years, vegetation, stones and earth accumulated, forming the present-day mix of bog, fen and other habitats.
Hidden details
A forest that stayed small — Some of the reserve’s pines are over a century old but only a few feet tall, making the dwarf-pine stand an easily missed contrast with an ordinary woodland.
Plants adapted to bog conditions — Look closely for round-leaved sundew, an insectivorous plant, among the acid-loving bog plants described for the reserve.
When to go
April · May · June · July · August · No specific time of day is established by the supplied sources; check current access information before travelling.
Spring and summer bring the reserve’s wildflower meadow into bloom, including orchids and Dyer’s greenweed, with butterflies attracted to the flowers. Winter and wetter months can make the boardwalk and paths damp.
Water can seep up through the boardwalk between autumn and early spring. Waterproof shoes or boots are recommended in those seasons; AllTrails also reports muddy sections in winter or after heavy rain.
The route
- surface
- Level mesh-covered paths and boardwalks, with a gentle incline back to the car park; can be wet.
- distance
- 0.7 miles / 1.1 kilometres
- duration
- 45 minutes
- difficulty
- Accessible, according to Natural Resources Wales
- waymarking
- Waymarked from start to finish
- route shape
- Circular
- start point
- Reserve car park
- parking start
- Free parking at the reserve, according to Natural Resources Wales.
- Wildflower meadow
- Boardwalk through wetland and swampy woodland
- Century-old, stunted pines
What to look for
- 01
The Scandinavian-style dwarf Scots pines, which are over 100 years old but only a few feet tall
- 02
orchids and Dyer’s greenweed in the meadow
- 03
and bog plants such as round-leaved sundew, cranberry and cross-leaved heath.
The story
Glacial landforms and the gradual development of a former lake into bog and fen.
Best time to go
Spring and summer, when the wildflower meadow is in bloom and butterflies are active. The trail can be wet in autumn and early spring.
Spring and summer for the wildflower meadow, including orchids and Dyer’s greenweed, and the butterflies they attract. Visit after rain only with suitable footwear: water can seep up through the boardwalk.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Photographers · Families
Practical information
Opening & access
A public nature reserve with a waymarked 0.7-mile (1.1 km) circular trail. Natural Resources Wales describes the route as accessible, level and surfaced with mesh-covered paths and boardwalks; it ends with a gentle incline to the car park. Keep to paths where hay is growing or livestock may be present.
Parking
Free parking at the reserve, according to Natural Resources Wales. Check current access information before travelling.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Food & drink
No café or shop is confirmed at the reserve; bring what you need and check nearby options before visiting.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Check current reserve guidance and on-site signage before visiting.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
Natural Resources Wales describes the 0.7-mile circular trail as accessible, with level mesh-covered paths and boardwalks, wheelchair passing places and seats. There is a gentle incline on the return to the car park. Check current conditions before visiting.
Check before visiting
Cost
Free
Water
Bog, fen and wetland basins; swimming and fishing are not permitted, according to the supplied source row.
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Cors y Llyn National Nature Reserve
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances