Wildlife & Nature
The local area offers a wealth of opportunities for enjoying the natural environment. The rare Red Kite breeds locally and buzzards are frequently seen. Choughs nest on the rugged cliffs particularly around Mwnt. The river Teifi is home to otters and visitors may well be lucky enough to watch the otters fishing and playing in the water. Kingfishers and dippers are abundant. Watch out for badgers in the mornings and evenings and graceful barn owls at dusk.
The superb coastline of West Wales boasts a rich and varied landscape of glorious sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, tiny coves and rocky pools. Flower strewn coastal footpaths afford an environment abounding in natural beauty and wildlife, with spectacular views across Cardigan Bay to the distant Snowdonia Mountains.
The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path and the Marine Heritage Coast of Cardigan Bay are within easy reach. Cardigan Bay has been designated a Special Area of Conservation. The coastal waters are home to an abundance of marine wildlife including bottlenose dolphins, seals, porpoises and seabird colonies. Seals can often be seen from the seashore and you may witness the amazing ballet of leaping dolphins and soak up spectacular sunsets.
Seals
The Grey Seal is among the rarest seal in the world, with almost 40% of the world population being found in the UK and one of their favourite breeding grounds is Cardigan Bay in West Wales. The Atlantic Grey Seal lives off the coast of Ceredigion and its presence is the main reason why the area has been designated a European Special Area of Conservation.
One of the best places to see the seals is at Cardigan Island Farm Park, Gwbert, near Cardigan. A colony of seals lives in the network of caves below the farm park and they can often be seen basking on the rocks. They give birth around September-October time and the fluffy white pups will also venture out onto the rocks below the park. Seals spend a lot of time at sea but do enjoy a sunbathe on the rocky shore.
Other places where the seals can be seen are off Ynys Lochtyn, near Llangrannog, Bird Rock near New Quay, Cwmtudu and Morfa Bychan near Aberaeron. Wildlife boat trips also operate along the coast and know where to find them.
Dolphins
It's estimated that around 130 bottlenose dolphins are resident in Cardigan Bay. Dolphins are highly sociable mammals, living together in groups or "pods" and communicating through high-pitched clicks or whistles.
They hunt together too and if you're patient, you can sometimes catch one of these hunting packs as you watch from the shore. They can be high speed surface chases, with fish being thrown up into the air and acrobatic displays as the dolphins feed and play.
Birds & Bird Watching
The coastline has lots of varied habitats for the birds including the sand-dune systems of Ynys Las to the rugged coastline of Cemaes Head, Other good places for bird watching are, New Quay, Llangranog, Mwnt, Gwbert Cardigan Island and Poppit Sands.
There are so many different species of birds in the area that we recommend you visit this site, so that you can plan your holiday bird watching experience.
http://www.visitcardigan.com
Choughs
The Chough (pronounced 'chuff') is an elegant member of the crow family, a little smaller than a Rook and distinguished by a bright red, slightly decurved bill, red legs and feet. It is very agile in flight, helped by broad wings with the primary feathers separated into 'fingers'.
The chough has always had a special place in Wales’ culture and history and today three quarters of the UK chough population is here in Wales. The chough figured prominently in the religious beliefs of Celtic Britain, and myths tell of King Arthur returning as a chough.
Three-quarters of all the UK’s Choughs nest in Wales, and the RSPB runs a project to protect the important population. As you visit these locations, listen out for the piercing chow call that gives the bird its name
Red Kites
The Red Kite is a bird of prey and is a familiar sight in Wales. Other names for the Red Kite are “Glead” “Cyta” “Swallow Buzzard” “Barcud Coch” and “Boda Chwiw”
There are now about 500 breeding pairs of Red Kites in Wales due to the species protection programmes. Wales is still worth visiting to see the Red Kite. Set against the background of wild and rugged landscapes, of wooded valleys and uplands. The visitor can see the wonderful spectacle of “wild” kites being fed at feeding stations located at Gigrin farm on the outskirts of the town of Rhayader and Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian Forest Centre at Ponterwyd 10 miles east of Aberystwyth. It is at these places, seeing many birds together in graceful flight, that one can really appreciate why they rank as one of Britain’s favourite birds.
Ospreys on the Dyfi
Ospreys have been seen regularly on the Dyfi Estuary for many years during the spring and autumn migration seasons. The Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust put up an artificial nest on our Cors Dyfi/Morfa Dyfi reserve in an attempt to attract ospreys to stay and hopefully breed and start a new colony in Mid-Wales.
A two-storey wildlife observatory has been built at the Cors Dyfi nature reserve near Machynlleth, Powys. The new vantage point - which has three viewing levels - gives visitors the opportunity to experience the Dyfi ecosystem from a new perspective.
The first osprey chick in the Dyfi valley for 400 years hatched in 2011.The site's breeding pair of Ospreys, Monty and Glesni, returned to their nesting ground from Africa in April.The pair bred two chicks, Cerist and Clarach, in 2013.
More information can be found at www.dyfiospreyproject.com
The Welsh Wildlife Centre and Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve near Cilgerran have 265 acres of the best wildlife habitat in Wales. It has nature walks, otter hides and the recently introduced water buffalo in the marshes around the estuary. There is also an award-winning visitor centre.
Nolfan Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Centre. The Centre is situated 10 miles from Aberystwyth on the A44 to Llangurig. The panoramic views down the Melindwr Valley to Bay are stunning. The Centre offers views through the forest onto Llywernog Uchaf lake. Kestrels, buzzards and the rare red kite can all be seen in the vicinity. "Red Kite Country" offers live TV coverage of nesting kites and other birds of prey. Forest Enterprise has created excellent walking trails from the centre. There are four orienteering courses of varying difficulty and a mountain bike zone.
RSPB Ynys Hir reserve. Signposted from Eglwysfach on A487 north of Aberystwyth.The reserve is on the south side of the Dyfi estuary and offers a wide range of habitats: salt and freshwater marsh, reed bed, woodland and open hillside. Sixty-seven species of bird breed here regularly, including pied flycatcher, wood warbler, garden blackcap, treecreeper and three species of woodpecker. There is an extensive network of walks and bird-watching hides.
We are pleased to announce to have been awarded accreditation for our Green initiatives.
*Not available during peak season: Summer break, Christmas, New Year. Easter etc.
We are very excited to have received a Bronze accreditation from Greengage Solutions. With Greengage's support we will be tackling Energy and Water Conservation, Waste Management and Recycling, Rooms and Facilities and our Corporate responsibilities for a better eco-friendly Park Hall.
Outdoor activities - Cardigan Bay Active
December 2019 - The whole family thoroughly enjoyed staying at Park Hall and have made a lot of happy special memories of our time together there. Clare and Andreas are great hosts, discrete but always available. Clare kindly took delivery of our online food and drink orders from Aldis and Tesco and they were in the house for our arrival The house is comfortable and spacious enough to accommodate our group of 20 (age range from 2 to 64 from all 4 corners of the UK and overseas.) Prior to our arrival the house had been beautifully decorated for Xmas and it felt so festive and welcoming . The kitchen was on the small size but very well equipped. However, there is plenty of additional food storage space, with a large pantry which has a freezer and fridge. Once orientated to where everything was we cooked Xmas meal and dinners with comparative ease. Everybody loved the games room. I discovered l do not have any innate pool or darts skills but it was fun learning. The house is big enough to find space if you need quiet time. The grounds are secluded and beautifully maintained . Location close to the sea and lovely coastal walks. All in all would highly recommend to others.
Kay Webber
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Telephone: 01545560996
Email: bookings.parkhall@gmail.com
Address: Park Hall, Cwmtydu, Llwyndafydd, Llandysul, SA44 6LQ
