← Back✦ Historic site

Pillow Mounds

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Dogs welcome

Getting here

52.33643, -3.62061

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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
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

5 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Strong match

Birds — Meadow Pipit, Curlew, Wheatear +42 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Meadow Pipit, Curlew, Wheatear +42 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Keeled Skimmer, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly +133 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Keeled Skimmer, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly +133 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Ivy-leaved Bellflower, Goldenrod, Delicate Earth-moss +42 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Ivy-leaved Bellflower, Goldenrod, Delicate Earth-moss +42 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Wye Valley WalkWalking route218 km

Named routeRef WVWLength 218 kmRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

10 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 81Cycling route

Named routeRef 81National Cycle Network

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

Named routeRef EV2International cycle route

Lôn Las Cymru (Central)Cycling route

Named routeRef 8National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route191 m

Named routeRef 81Length 191 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route16 km

Named routeRef 8Length 16 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route15.2 km

Named routeRef 81Length 15.2 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

🐴

Horse riding

2 public paths nearby

Public paths

Monk's Trodbyway open to all traffic · 9.3 km

Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 9.3 kmPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

1,080 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

1,080 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds17 species

summer

2025

Curlew · Wheatear · Meadow Pipit · Pied Wagtail · Carrion Crow +12

CurlewNumenius arquata2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra2024
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
GoosanderMergus merganser
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
RavenCorvus corax
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
SwiftApus apus2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2024
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2024
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2024

🦌

Mammals2 species

autumn

2025

Water Vole · Otter

Water VoleArvicola amphibius2023
OtterLutra lutra

🐸

Amphibians2 species

springsummer

2025

Common Frog · Frog

Common FrogRana temporaria
FrogRana2024

🐝

Insects57 species

spring

2025

Melanostoma mellinum · Scathophaga stercoraria · Keeled Skimmer · Phylidorea squalens · Large Red Damselfly +52

Melanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinum2024
Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria2024
Keeled SkimmerOrthetrum coerulescens
Phylidorea squalensPhylidorea squalens2024
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2024
Platycheirus clypeatusPlatycheirus clypeatus2024
Tricyphona immaculataTricyphona immaculata2024
Euphylidorea meigeniiEuphylidorea meigenii2024
Parydra coarctataParydra coarctata2024
Marsh Click BeetleActenicerus sjaelandicus2024
Empis verralliEmpis verralli2024
Molophilus aterMolophilus ater2024
Coenosia femoralisCoenosia femoralis2024
Erioconopa trivialisErioconopa trivialis2024
Campsicnemus loripesCampsicnemus loripes2024
Phorbia nuceicornisPhorbia nuceicornis2024
Scathophaga furcataScathophaga furcata2024
Hydrellia albicepsHydrellia albiceps2024
Pedicia rivosaPedicia rivosa2024
Microdon mutabilisMicrodon mutabilis
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus
Orchid BeetleDascillus cervinus
Sympycnus pulicariusSympycnus pulicarius2024
Siphonoperla torrentiumSiphonoperla torrentium2024
Athous haemorrhoidalisAthous haemorrhoidalis2024
Brown Willow BeetleGalerucella lineola2024
Limnobaris dolorosaLimnobaris dolorosa2024
Empis longipesEmpis longipes2024
Dilophus femoratusDilophus femoratus2024
Coccidula rufaCoccidula rufa2024
Yellow-bellied Rush-cutterEutomostethus luteiventris2024
Eupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollae2024
Aplotarsus incanusAplotarsus incanus2024
Campsicnemus curvipesCampsicnemus curvipes2024
Amphinemura sulcicollisAmphinemura sulcicollis2024
Rhamphomyia stigmosaRhamphomyia stigmosa2024
Diastata ornataDiastata ornata2024
Platycheirus europaeusPlatycheirus europaeus2024
Sarcophaga sinuataSarcophaga sinuata2024
Boletina dubiaBoletina dubia2024
Euphylidorea lineolaEuphylidorea lineola2024
Rhamphomyia tibialisRhamphomyia tibialis2024
Tipula vittataTipula vittata2024
Contacyphon padiContacyphon padi2024
Common Leaf WeevilPhyllobius pyri2024
Delia florilegaDelia florilega2024
Rhaphium longicorneRhaphium longicorne2024
Fannia rondaniiFannia rondanii2024
Myrmica ruginodisMyrmica ruginodis2024
Nemoura cinereaNemoura cinerea2024
Clinocera fontinalisClinocera fontinalis2024
Ischnopterapion modestumIschnopterapion modestum2024
Idioptera trimaculataIdioptera trimaculata2024
Tipula varipennisTipula varipennis2024
Flavous Nomad BeeNomada flava2024
Isoperla grammaticaIsoperla grammatica2024

🌿

Plants42 species

summer

2025

Goldenrod · Delicate Earth-moss · Bulbous Rush · Lesser Spearwort · Bog Pondweed +37

GoldenrodSolidago virgaurea2024
Delicate Earth-mossPseudephemerum nitidum
Bulbous RushJuncus bulbosus
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula
Bog PondweedPotamogeton polygonifolius2024
Flag-mossDiscelium nudum
Acid FrillwortFossombronia wondraczekii
Round-leaved SundewDrosera rotundifolia
Common CottongrassEriophorum angustifolium
Bog AsphodelNarthecium ossifragum
Water-pepperPersicaria hydropiper
Marsh PennywortHydrocotyle vulgaris
Marsh LousewortPedicularis palustris
Flea SedgeCarex pulicaris
Overleaf PelliaPellia epiphylla2024
NardiaNardia2024
Floating Sweet-grassGlyceria fluitans2024
Yellow Fringe-mossRacomitrium aciculare2024
Flagellate Feather-mossHyocomium armoricum2024
Alpine Water-mossFontinalis squamosa2024
Round-leaved CrowfootRanunculus omiophyllus2024
Greater Water-mossFontinalis antipyretica2024
Common HaircapPolytrichum commune s.l.2024
Alternate Water-milfoilMyriophyllum alterniflorum2024
Bog MossSphagnum2024
JungermanniaJungermannia2024
Notched RustwortMarsupella emarginata2024
Floating Bur-reedSparganium angustifolium2024
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris2024
LemaneaLemanea2024
Water EarwortScapania undulata2024
Marsh Forklet-mossDichodontium palustre2024
Intermediate Water-StarwortCallitriche brutia subsp. hamulata2024
SedgeCarex2024
Water HorsetailEquisetum fluviatile2024
ShoreweedLittorella uniflora2024
Transparent Fork-mossDichodontium pellucidum2024
Jointed RushJuncus articulatus2024
Soft-rushJuncus effusus2024
Marsh VioletViola palustris2024
Ivy-leaved BellflowerWahlenbergia hederacea2023
Lesser SkullcapScutellaria minor2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

1,080 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds17 species

summer

2025

Curlew · Wheatear · Meadow Pipit · Pied Wagtail · Carrion Crow +12

CurlewNumenius arquata2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra2024
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
GoosanderMergus merganser
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
RavenCorvus corax
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
SwiftApus apus2024
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
Sand MartinRiparia riparia2024
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2024
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos2024

🦌

Mammals2 species

autumn

2025

Water Vole · Otter

Water VoleArvicola amphibius2023
OtterLutra lutra

🐸

Amphibians2 species

springsummer

2025

Common Frog · Frog

Common FrogRana temporaria
FrogRana2024

🐝

Insects57 species

spring

2025

Melanostoma mellinum · Scathophaga stercoraria · Keeled Skimmer · Phylidorea squalens · Large Red Damselfly +52

Melanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinum2024
Scathophaga stercorariaScathophaga stercoraria2024
Keeled SkimmerOrthetrum coerulescens
Phylidorea squalensPhylidorea squalens2024
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2024
Platycheirus clypeatusPlatycheirus clypeatus2024
Tricyphona immaculataTricyphona immaculata2024
Euphylidorea meigeniiEuphylidorea meigenii2024
Parydra coarctataParydra coarctata2024
Marsh Click BeetleActenicerus sjaelandicus2024
Empis verralliEmpis verralli2024
Molophilus aterMolophilus ater2024
Coenosia femoralisCoenosia femoralis2024
Erioconopa trivialisErioconopa trivialis2024
Campsicnemus loripesCampsicnemus loripes2024
Phorbia nuceicornisPhorbia nuceicornis2024
Scathophaga furcataScathophaga furcata2024
Hydrellia albicepsHydrellia albiceps2024
Pedicia rivosaPedicia rivosa2024
Microdon mutabilisMicrodon mutabilis
Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus
Orchid BeetleDascillus cervinus
Sympycnus pulicariusSympycnus pulicarius2024
Siphonoperla torrentiumSiphonoperla torrentium2024
Athous haemorrhoidalisAthous haemorrhoidalis2024
Brown Willow BeetleGalerucella lineola2024
Limnobaris dolorosaLimnobaris dolorosa2024
Empis longipesEmpis longipes2024
Dilophus femoratusDilophus femoratus2024
Coccidula rufaCoccidula rufa2024
Yellow-bellied Rush-cutterEutomostethus luteiventris2024
Eupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollae2024
Aplotarsus incanusAplotarsus incanus2024
Campsicnemus curvipesCampsicnemus curvipes2024
Amphinemura sulcicollisAmphinemura sulcicollis2024
Rhamphomyia stigmosaRhamphomyia stigmosa2024
Diastata ornataDiastata ornata2024
Platycheirus europaeusPlatycheirus europaeus2024
Sarcophaga sinuataSarcophaga sinuata2024
Boletina dubiaBoletina dubia2024
Euphylidorea lineolaEuphylidorea lineola2024
Rhamphomyia tibialisRhamphomyia tibialis2024
Tipula vittataTipula vittata2024
Contacyphon padiContacyphon padi2024
Common Leaf WeevilPhyllobius pyri2024
Delia florilegaDelia florilega2024
Rhaphium longicorneRhaphium longicorne2024
Fannia rondaniiFannia rondanii2024
Myrmica ruginodisMyrmica ruginodis2024
Nemoura cinereaNemoura cinerea2024
Clinocera fontinalisClinocera fontinalis2024
Ischnopterapion modestumIschnopterapion modestum2024
Idioptera trimaculataIdioptera trimaculata2024
Tipula varipennisTipula varipennis2024
Flavous Nomad BeeNomada flava2024
Isoperla grammaticaIsoperla grammatica2024

🌿

Plants42 species

summer

2025

Goldenrod · Delicate Earth-moss · Bulbous Rush · Lesser Spearwort · Bog Pondweed +37

GoldenrodSolidago virgaurea2024
Delicate Earth-mossPseudephemerum nitidum
Bulbous RushJuncus bulbosus
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula
Bog PondweedPotamogeton polygonifolius2024
Flag-mossDiscelium nudum
Acid FrillwortFossombronia wondraczekii
Round-leaved SundewDrosera rotundifolia
Common CottongrassEriophorum angustifolium
Bog AsphodelNarthecium ossifragum
Water-pepperPersicaria hydropiper
Marsh PennywortHydrocotyle vulgaris
Marsh LousewortPedicularis palustris
Flea SedgeCarex pulicaris
Overleaf PelliaPellia epiphylla2024
NardiaNardia2024
Floating Sweet-grassGlyceria fluitans2024
Yellow Fringe-mossRacomitrium aciculare2024
Flagellate Feather-mossHyocomium armoricum2024
Alpine Water-mossFontinalis squamosa2024
Round-leaved CrowfootRanunculus omiophyllus2024
Greater Water-mossFontinalis antipyretica2024
Common HaircapPolytrichum commune s.l.2024
Alternate Water-milfoilMyriophyllum alterniflorum2024
Bog MossSphagnum2024
JungermanniaJungermannia2024
Notched RustwortMarsupella emarginata2024
Floating Bur-reedSparganium angustifolium2024
Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris2024
LemaneaLemanea2024
Water EarwortScapania undulata2024
Marsh Forklet-mossDichodontium palustre2024
Intermediate Water-StarwortCallitriche brutia subsp. hamulata2024
SedgeCarex2024
Water HorsetailEquisetum fluviatile2024
ShoreweedLittorella uniflora2024
Transparent Fork-mossDichodontium pellucidum2024
Jointed RushJuncus articulatus2024
Soft-rushJuncus effusus2024
Marsh VioletViola palustris2024
Ivy-leaved BellflowerWahlenbergia hederacea2023
Lesser SkullcapScutellaria minor2023

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 David Smith · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

The Mountain Road above Afon Elan

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💧Craig Goch ReservoirReservoir2.4 km→✦Esgair Perfedd Roman CampHistoric site3.5 km→💧Craig Goch ReservoirReservoir2.4 km→✦Lluest-pen-rhiwHistoric site3.5 km→

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