| Organisation / Company | Access land |
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| Website | Click Here |
The high crag of Craig yr Aderyn, rising from sea level to over 250 metres, is a striking landscape feature on the south side of the Dysynni valley. It is the core of a large anticline where the Ordovician rock outcrops. The site is an important breeding location for Chough and Cormorant, and a roosting site for Chough throughout the year. This site is believed to support the only regular inland breeding colony of Cormorant in Wales - over 60 pairs. The north facing cliffs and slopes support a good range of moss and liverwort species. Unimproved acid grassland to the north and east of the crags provides important feeding areas for Chough, which need short turf and invertebrate-rich soil.
| Organisation / Company | Bala Tourist Information Centre |
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| Website | Click Here |
Caer Gai is the site of a Roman auxiliary fort on a spur above the River Dee, giving good, easily accessible views over the river flood plain and back along Llyn Tegid itself. The fort has a square plan that incorporates the existing farm buildings in the north-west quarter. However, its southern half is open grassland, bordered by a well preserved rampart and ditch that are worth exploring for a richer flora than in the surrounding grassland. There is archaeological evidence of extensive use of the land beyond the rampart, extending down to the present roadway. Buzzard and Raven are likely to be seen circling from the hills behind and wildfowl moving between lake and floodplain below, with Meadow Pipit, Linnet and familiar woodland and garden birds around the fort itself.
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| Website | Click Here |
Craig y Bwlch is in an area of rocky outcrop on the route to Cribin Fawr. The lower lying areas are generally of acid grassland, with Tormentil and Heath Bedstraw, while, as the ground rises around the crags, the vegetation has more the character of heath and bog, with some Heather and Heath Rush. The story of Red Kite recovery in Wales is inspirational for bird lovers. These magnificent and intriguing birds have been steadily increasing their range. However, there are still rather few locations in Gwynedd where the odds of seeing them are higher than ‘possible’. The Craig y Bwlch area is one of these and so is worth checking during spring and summer while in the area. Other birds likely to be seen then include Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Raven and Buzzard.
| Organisation / Company | RSPB |
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| Website | Click Here |
These views are ‘strictly for the birds’, whether the visiting Whooper Swan in winter, or the breeding Osprey in spring and summer. From Ffestiniog, take the A487(T) down the Vale, turning right at Tan y Bwlch onto the B4410. Cross the A4085 at Garreg and look into the adjacent fields for swans or continue to Pont Croesor for the Osprey viewing point. Osprey can normally be seen from the observation point between early spring and mid to late summer. Their success in recent years and attempts to breed further south are very encouraging. Whooper Swan normally return from Icelandic breeding grounds in late autumn and return in early spring. The trip is around 900 kilometres; for many of the birds wintering in the UK, the longest single flight for any swan species.
| Organisation / Company | National Trust |
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Dinas Dinlle is the site of a hill fort on raised ground, which is itself of geological interest for interpreting glaciation in North Wales. The view is dominated by Yr Eifl on the Llŷn Peninsula and Caernarfon Bay, although there are also more distant views inland of Snowdonia. The seaward view offers a chance to see Bottle-nosed Dolphins (best in summer). Harbour Porpoises may be seen in especially calm weather. In winter, numbers of Great Northern Diver may be observed swimming offshore. The mound is largely of glacial deposits, ranging from clays to gravels. Although much of the original hill has eroded away, remaining evidence of the fort is still clear. The nature of the mound makes it very susceptible to erosion. Please stay away from the edge and avoid damaging the soil surface.
| Organisation / Company | Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust |
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| Website | Click Here |
Every chance of excellent close-up views of nesting Osprey. These birds were persecuted to extinction in the UK, only returning to Scotland in the 1950s. Regular breeding in Wales now seems assured. This well equipped facility gives good views from an elevated hide or from plasma screens in a visitor centre. The nesting site has been constructed so as to give the best visibility while ensuring that the birds are undisturbed. It is situated in a young conifer plantation within a Wildlife Trust nature reserve. In 2009, while the male arrived and was tending to the nest in April, a female did not arrive until June, too late to lay eggs. However, Osprey have been reported regularly at Dyfi in recent years, so fingers crossed for the future of these fabulous birds. The facility is open between April and September.
| Organisation / Company | Access land |
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| Website | Click Here |
Foel Benddin is at the southern extent of the Aran ridge, overlooking Dinas Mawddwy and with excellent views along the River Dovey. At 543 metres, it tops all the neighbouring hills to the south except Maesglase, almost to the west. The summit is hard won if approached from the valleys below, but may be included in a walk that is based on Glascwm to the north. The vegetation is mainly acid grassland, sometimes in mosaic with species such as Heather and Bilberry forming upland dry heath, which is not otherwise extensive. Wet heath with Cross-leaved Heath occurs in hollows and extensive areas of bracken on the drier slopes. Birds include Red Kite, Buzzard, Raven, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Wheatear (summer visitor).
| Organisation / Company | Access land |
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| Website | Click Here |
The relatively steep and demanding climb to the top of Garn Boduan is rewarded not only with extensive views but a very rich archaeological site. The viewpoint is too far inland to provide good sea watching, but all directions are of interest, especially towards nearby Nefyn and Porth Dinllaen and to the north-west over Mynydd Nefyn. Vegetation above the forestry area is dry heath, mainly Heather, and acid grassland. Buzzard and Raven are very likely to be seen on the wing. Other birds include Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and Wheatear (summer visitor). Adder and Common Lizard are regularly seen. Butterflies include Small Heath. The summit boasts the remains of one of the largest hill forts in Britain and many early stone buildings, including over 160 dwellings.
| Organisation / Company | Common land |
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The highest point on this site, Foel Gron, provides good views of the surrounding countryside and, to the south, over the northern extent of Cardigan Bay. The site is of geological and botanical interest. Foel Gron is a dome-shaped igneous intrusion (volcanic upwelling), which can be seen exposed in small disused quarries. The vegetation is mostly lowland heath, with Bell Heather dominant on the thinner soils of Foel Gron and Western Gorse, with Heather and Bell Heather, on the deeper soils of Mythyno Common. Areas of Bilberry occur on drier soil around outcrops and small patches of Purple Moor Grass on wet peat. Bracken and Gorse occur on deep soils, especially around the margins. Birds include Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Wheatear (summer visitor). Adder have been reported.
| Organisation / Company | National Trust |
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| Website | Click Here |
This headland at the south-western tip of the Llŷn Peninsula offers excellent views towards both Bardsey and the Gwylan Islands and, further afield, to Cadair Idris and Tywyn in the south of the county. Note that car parking nearby is very limited. The vegetation of the headland is coastal heath and grassland on rather thin soils, dipping down to an inaccessible rocky shoreline. Severe salt-burn occurs periodically. Thrift and Sea Campion provide colour along the path and on walls. Birds include Skylark, Stonechat and Yellowhammer, while views out to sea will often include Gannet, Cormorant, Manx Shearwater and Guillemot. Bottle-nosed Dolphin and Risso’s Dolphin may be seen in Bardsey Sound (best in summer). Butterflies include Dark Green Fritillary and Grayling. Brown Hare may be seen on adjacent fields.
| Organisation / Company | Private land |
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Although only some 23 metres above sea level, Pen-ychain offers good views to East, West and South. Near points on the coast include Glaslyn Estuary, Harlech and Pwllheli, while Tywyn and Abersoch lie further afield. Watching for seabird movements is worthwhile, including for Manx Shearwater, Sandwich Tern and Cormorant. Ringed Plover may be seen in good numbers. Sightings of Harbour Porpoise and Common and Bottle-nosed Dolphin are also possible (best in summer). Remnant heath occurs on the headland, which receives heavy use. Better examples occur a little to the East. A footpath gives access to vegetated shingle inland from the beach. The mixture of dune heathland (mainly Heather with a good deal of Sand Sedge), grassland and patches of scrub is a reflection of the underlying poor soil and past management. A narrow belt of sand dunes occurs seaward of the heath.
| Organisation / Company | Gwynedd Council |
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| Website | Click Here |
Perhaps the most rewarding viewpoint close to the city of Bangor, approached from near the post box at the junction of Love Lane and Upper Garth Road. It gives a wonderful panorama from the wooded southern slopes of Anglesey, past Beaumaris and Puffin Island, over the rich bird feeding grounds of Traeth Lafan and on up into the hills of Snowdonia. Bangor itself lies well below in a small rift valley, with Bangor Mountain, another good viewpoint, beyond. The site is thought to be of a Norman settlement, despite its name. It has a good range of wildlife and the lack of grazing permits a well-developed ground flora in the fringing woodland, perhaps most notably, Bluebells and prolific Greater Wood-rush. Woodland birds include Tawny Owl, Chiff-chaff and Willow Warbler. The semi-improved grassland of the open area supports a good range of fungi.
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