Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍂 Seasonal
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome
Places › Wales › South East Wales › Rhondda Cynon Taf Getting here
51.63604, -3.42935
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 📍 Open access throughout summer — no booking required 🌤️ Visiting this summer
☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 📍 Open access throughout summer — no booking required £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Goldfinch +62 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Goldfinch +62 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Japanese Knotweed, Wall Cotoneaster, Himalayan Balsam +103 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Japanese Knotweed, Wall Cotoneaster, Himalayan Balsam +103 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Scathophaga stercoraria, Simulium, Formica lemani +24 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Scathophaga stercoraria, Simulium, Formica lemani +24 more · last seen 2026
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
Named cycling route nearby: Rhondda Fach Trail
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 3 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Penrhys Pilgrimage Walking route ▾
Pontypridd Circular Walking route ▾
Named route Ref Pontypridd Circular Local walking route
Show on map Cychoedd-a-Dolenni Loops & Links Walking route ▾
66 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Rhondda Fach Trail Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 881 National Cycle Network
Show on map Cynon Trail Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 478 National Cycle Network
Show on map Proposed NCN 882 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 882 National Cycle Network
Show on map Rhondda Fawr Community Route Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 882 National Cycle Network
Show on map National Cycle Network Route 47 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 47 National Cycle Network
Show on map National Cycle Network Route 4 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 4 National Cycle Network
Show on map Photos South side of Soar Chapel, Pontygwaith
‹ ›
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
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Bookable tours Wildlife to spot
26,177 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 26,177 records · National Biodiversity Network Robin · Blackbird · Chaffinch · Wren · Willow Warbler +39
Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis2025 Skylark Alauda arvensis2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Dipper Cinclus cinclus Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis2025 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba2025 Crossbill Loxia curvirostra2025 Lesser Redpoll Acanthis flammea cabaret2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Magpie Pica pica House Martin Delichon urbicum2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Whitethroat Curruca communis2025 Tawny Owl Strix aluco2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Raven Corvus corax2025 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2024 Cuckoo Cuculus canorus2024 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2024 Common Lizard
Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara 🐝 Insects 13 species
winter summer
2026 ▾
Simulium · Formica lemani · Rhagium bifasciatum · Leistus oopterus · Yellow Meadow Ant +8
Simulium Simulium Formica lemani Formica lemani Rhagium bifasciatum Rhagium bifasciatum Leistus oopterus Leistus oopterus Yellow Meadow Ant Lasius flavus Carabus granulatus Carabus granulatus2025 🌿 Plants 8 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Japanese Knotweed · Wall Cotoneaster · Himalayan Balsam · White Stonecrop · Small-leaved Cotoneaster +3
Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica Wall Cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis2024 Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera2024 White Stonecrop Sedum album2024 Small-leaved Cotoneaster Cotoneaster microphyllus2024 Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 26,177 records · National Biodiversity Network Robin · Blackbird · Chaffinch · Wren · Willow Warbler +39
Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Coal Tit Periparus ater2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 House Sparrow Passer domesticus2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis2025 Skylark Alauda arvensis2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Dipper Cinclus cinclus Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis2025 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea2025 Nuthatch Sitta europaea2025 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba2025 Crossbill Loxia curvirostra2025 Lesser Redpoll Acanthis flammea cabaret2025 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2025 Magpie Pica pica House Martin Delichon urbicum2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Whitethroat Curruca communis2025 Tawny Owl Strix aluco2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Raven Corvus corax2025 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2024 Cuckoo Cuculus canorus2024 Canada Goose Branta canadensis2024 Common Lizard
Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara 🐝 Insects 13 species
winter summer
2026 ▾
Simulium · Formica lemani · Rhagium bifasciatum · Leistus oopterus · Yellow Meadow Ant +8
Simulium Simulium Formica lemani Formica lemani Rhagium bifasciatum Rhagium bifasciatum Leistus oopterus Leistus oopterus Yellow Meadow Ant Lasius flavus Carabus granulatus Carabus granulatus2025 🌿 Plants 8 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Japanese Knotweed · Wall Cotoneaster · Himalayan Balsam · White Stonecrop · Small-leaved Cotoneaster +3
Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica Wall Cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis2024 Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera2024 White Stonecrop Sedum album2024 Small-leaved Cotoneaster Cotoneaster microphyllus2024 Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Hairy Shieldbug
Hairy Shieldbug
Dolycoris baccarum2025
Dolycoris baccarum2025
Cuckoo-Spit Insect Philaenus spumarius2025
Cuckoo-Spit Insect Philaenus spumarius2025
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria2025
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria2025
Eupeodes Eupeodes2025
Eupeodes Eupeodes2025
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus2025
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus2025
Volucella inanis Volucella inanis2024
Volucella inanis Volucella inanis2024
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula2024
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula2024 Himalayan Cotoneaster
Himalayan Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster simonsii2024
Cotoneaster simonsii2024
Montbretia Crocosmia aurea x pottsii = C. x crocosmiiflora2024
Montbretia Crocosmia aurea x pottsii = C. x crocosmiiflora2024
Himalayan Honeysuckle Leycesteria formosa2024
Himalayan Honeysuckle Leycesteria formosa2024 