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Hay Castle

0 ha

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Dogs welcome0 ha

Getting here

52.07390, -3.12614

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
⛺Camping available here — summer nights at this site are worth planning around

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
⛺Camping available here — summer nights at this site are worth planning around

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

CaféCampsiteParking· PaidToilets

Best for

7 activities

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 — Robin, Blackbird, Woodpigeon +74 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Robin, Blackbird, Woodpigeon +74 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Wall-rue, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Hazel +94 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Wall-rue, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Hazel +94 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Banded Demoiselle, Harlequin Ladybird, White-legged Damselfly +90 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Banded Demoiselle, Harlequin Ladybird, White-legged Damselfly +90 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Strong match

Plants — Hazel, Garlic Mustard, Elder +10 more foraging species

Varies

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby · 11 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Offa's Dyke PathWalking route285 km

Named routeRef ODPLength 285 kmNational walking route

Wye Valley WalkWalking route218 km

Named routeRef WVWLength 218 kmRegional walking route

Herefordshire TrailWalking route246.5 km

Named routeLength 246.5 kmRegional walking route

Wyeford Roadpublic footpath · 66 m

Public pathpublic footpathLength 66 mSurface asphaltPath type: residential

🚴

Cycling

21 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

National Cycle Network Route 42Cycling route

Named routeRef 42National Cycle Network

EuroVelo 2 - Capitals Route - part United Kingdom 2Cycling route

Named routeRef EV2International cycle route

Lôn Las Cymru (South)Cycling route

Named routeRef 8National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route138 m

Named routeRef 8Length 138 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route680 m

Named routeRef 42Length 680 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route144 m

Named routeRef 42Length 144 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

4,258 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

4,258 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds40 species

summer

2026

Robin · Dunnock · Jackdaw · Goldcrest · House Sparrow +35

RobinErithacus rubecula2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Great TitParus major2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes2025
MagpiePica pica2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
DipperCinclus cinclus2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
SwiftApus apus2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025

🦌

Mammals8 species

winterspringautumn

2026

Otter · Mole · Weasel · Red Fox · Polecat +3

OtterLutra lutra
MoleTalpa europaea
WeaselMustela nivalis
Red FoxVulpes vulpes
PolecatMustela putorius2025
BadgerMeles meles2025
Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius2025
Field VoleMicrotus agrestis2025

🦎

Reptiles1 species

summer

2025

Slow-worm

Slow-wormAnguis fragilis

🐸

Amphibians2 species

winterspringsummer

2026

Common Frog · Common Toad

Common FrogRana temporaria2025
Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects53 species

springsummer

2026

Harlequin Ladybird · 7-spot Ladybird · Tree Bumblebee · Green Shieldbug · Marmalade Hoverfly +48

Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2025
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2025
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2025
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2025
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2025
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2025
Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens2025
Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis2025
Apion frumentariumApion frumentarium
Meliscaeva auricollisMeliscaeva auricollis
SyrphusSyrphus2025
Tiphia femorataTiphia femorata2025
Green Furrow BeeLasioglossum morio2025
Ectemnius continuusEctemnius continuus2025
Strawberry Seed BeetleHarpalus rufipes2025
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii2025
White/Buff-tailed Bumblebee workersBombus lucorum/terrestris2025
White-zoned Furrow BeeLasioglossum leucozonium2025
Tortoise BugEurygaster testudinaria2025
Ant Damsel BugHimacerus (Aptus) mirmicoides2025
Scaeva pyrastriScaeva pyrastri2025
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2025
Heterotoma planicornisHeterotoma planicornis2025
Lagria hirtaLagria hirta2025
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2025
Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum2025
Cicadella viridisCicadella viridis2025
Pithanus maerkeliiPithanus maerkelii2025
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2025
Tree WaspDolichovespula sylvestris2025
Yellow May DunHeptagenia sulphurea2025
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum2025
5-spot LadybirdCoccinella quinquepunctata2025
Garden ChaferPhyllopertha horticola2025
Cantharis rusticaCantharis rustica2025
Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2025
Oedemera luridaOedemera lurida2025
Bishop's MitreAelia acuminata2025
Malachite BeetleMalachius bipustulatus2025
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2025
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2025
Tenthredo arcuata/brevicornis/notha/schaefferiTenthredo arcuata/brevicornis/notha/schaefferi2025
HydropsycheHydropsyche2025
White-legged DamselflyPlatycnemis pennipes2025
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2025
NomadaNomada2025
Common Leaf WeevilPhyllobius pyri2025
EristalisEristalis2025
Red-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa serraticornis2025

🌿

Plants33 species

winter

2026

Wall-rue · Honeysuckle · Petty Spurge · Maidenhair Spleenwort · Reflexed Stonecrop +28

Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Petty SpurgeEuphorbia peplus
Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes
Reflexed StonecropPetrosedum rupestre
SnowdropGalanthus nivalis
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis
Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
ElderSambucus nigra
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum
DaisyBellis perennis
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
HazelCorylus avellana
Summer SnowflakeLeucojum aestivum
Winter HeliotropePetasites pyrenaicus
LungwortPulmonaria officinalis
Stinking IrisIris foetidissima
TutsanHypericum androsaemum
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis
HollyIlex aquifolium
Early CrocusCrocus tommasinianus
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata
Marsh WoundwortStachys palustris2025
Great BurnetSanguisorba officinalis2025
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2025
Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

4,258 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds40 species

summer

2026

Robin · Dunnock · Jackdaw · Goldcrest · House Sparrow +35

RobinErithacus rubecula2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
Great TitParus major2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
House MartinDelichon urbicum2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes2025
MagpiePica pica2025
GoosanderMergus merganser2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
DipperCinclus cinclus2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
SwiftApus apus2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025

🦌

Mammals8 species

winterspringautumn

2026

Otter · Mole · Weasel · Red Fox · Polecat +3

OtterLutra lutra
MoleTalpa europaea
WeaselMustela nivalis
Red FoxVulpes vulpes
PolecatMustela putorius2025
BadgerMeles meles2025
Hazel DormouseMuscardinus avellanarius2025
Field VoleMicrotus agrestis2025

🦎

Reptiles1 species

summer

2025

Slow-worm

Slow-wormAnguis fragilis

🐸

Amphibians2 species

winterspringsummer

2026

Common Frog · Common Toad

Common FrogRana temporaria2025
Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects53 species

springsummer

2026

Harlequin Ladybird · 7-spot Ladybird · Tree Bumblebee · Green Shieldbug · Marmalade Hoverfly +48

Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Tree BumblebeeBombus hypnorum2025
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2025
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2025
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2025
Red-tailed BumblebeeBombus lapidarius2025
Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum2025
Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens2025
Swollen-thighed BeetleOedemera nobilis2025
Apion frumentariumApion frumentarium
Meliscaeva auricollisMeliscaeva auricollis
SyrphusSyrphus2025
Tiphia femorataTiphia femorata2025
Green Furrow BeeLasioglossum morio2025
Ectemnius continuusEctemnius continuus2025
Strawberry Seed BeetleHarpalus rufipes2025
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii2025
White/Buff-tailed Bumblebee workersBombus lucorum/terrestris2025
White-zoned Furrow BeeLasioglossum leucozonium2025
Tortoise BugEurygaster testudinaria2025
Ant Damsel BugHimacerus (Aptus) mirmicoides2025
Scaeva pyrastriScaeva pyrastri2025
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2025
Heterotoma planicornisHeterotoma planicornis2025
Lagria hirtaLagria hirta2025
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2025
Common Flower BugAnthocoris nemorum2025
Cicadella viridisCicadella viridis2025
Pithanus maerkeliiPithanus maerkelii2025
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2025
Tree WaspDolichovespula sylvestris2025
Yellow May DunHeptagenia sulphurea2025
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum2025
5-spot LadybirdCoccinella quinquepunctata2025
Garden ChaferPhyllopertha horticola2025
Cantharis rusticaCantharis rustica2025
Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2025
Oedemera luridaOedemera lurida2025
Bishop's MitreAelia acuminata2025
Malachite BeetleMalachius bipustulatus2025
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2025
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius2025
Tenthredo arcuata/brevicornis/notha/schaefferiTenthredo arcuata/brevicornis/notha/schaefferi2025
HydropsycheHydropsyche2025
White-legged DamselflyPlatycnemis pennipes2025
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2025
NomadaNomada2025
Common Leaf WeevilPhyllobius pyri2025
EristalisEristalis2025
Red-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa serraticornis2025

🌿

Plants33 species

winter

2026

Wall-rue · Honeysuckle · Petty Spurge · Maidenhair Spleenwort · Reflexed Stonecrop +28

Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Petty SpurgeEuphorbia peplus
Maidenhair SpleenwortAsplenium trichomanes
Reflexed StonecropPetrosedum rupestre
SnowdropGalanthus nivalis
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
Ivy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralis
Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
ElderSambucus nigra
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Lords-and-LadiesArum maculatum
DaisyBellis perennis
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
HazelCorylus avellana
Summer SnowflakeLeucojum aestivum
Winter HeliotropePetasites pyrenaicus
LungwortPulmonaria officinalis
Stinking IrisIris foetidissima
TutsanHypericum androsaemum
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis
HollyIlex aquifolium
Early CrocusCrocus tommasinianus
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata
Marsh WoundwortStachys palustris2025
Great BurnetSanguisorba officinalis2025
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2025
Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 AJD · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Hay Castle

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Useful places within 5 km

🌱Brook Street Secret Walled GardenUrban park200 m→🌱Castle GardensUrban park300 m→🌱The WarrenUrban park800 m→🌱Site of Hay FestivalUrban park1.1 km→🌱Wern DduUrban park3.9 km→⛪St Mary's ChurchReligious grounds400 m→

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