Llangloffan Fen National Nature Reserve, near Fishguard

Welcome

Llangloffan Fen National Nature Reserve is part of the largest floodplain in Pembrokeshire.

A wide range of plants and wildlife are supported by the reserve’s habitats of dense fen and reed swamp, wet woodland and marshy grassland.

This mix of habitats developed after the river that once flowed through the valley was forced to forge a new course around 12,000 years ago after a glacier dumped clay and other materials here.

We look after this wetland habitat by ensuring that the water level is never allowed to drop too low, and we allow cattle and ponies to graze on the fen in summer and autumn to keep the vegetation in check.

The best way to experience this special landscape is to follow the wheelchair-accessible boardwalk over part of the reserve.

Walking trail

The walking trail is waymarked from start to finish.

Look out for the information panel at the start of the trail.

Find out about walking trail grades.

Llanglo­ffan Fen Walk

• Grade: Accessible
• Distance: 1 mile/1.5 kilometres (there and back)
• Time: 1 hour
• Trail information: The Llanglo­ffan Fen Walk follows a boardwalk from the entrance of the reserve and returns along the same route. The boardwalk is suitable for wheelchair users and people with prams or pushchairs. Please stay on the boardwalk as the ground is soft and waterlogged, and flooded ditches may be hidden by dense, floating vegetation.

Discover the fen, swamp and wet woodland on our fully accessible boardwalk.​

What to see on the National Nature Reserve

Llangloffan Fen is a National Nature Reserve.

National Nature Reserves are places with some of the very finest examples of wildlife habitats and geological features.

The landscape and wildlife varies depending on which time of year you visit – here’s what to look out for.

Along the wetter parts of the reserve, the wonderful frothy cream blooms of meadowsweet fill the air in summer with their delicious scent as they push through the reeds and sedges. Also look for:

• huge clumps of greater tussock sedge
• reed canary grass
• common reed
• greater pond sedge

The wet woodland has an ancient feel, its trees cloaked in velvety mosses and silvery lichens. Other plants here include:

• marsh fern
• royal fern
• wavy St John’s-wort
• great fen-sedge (one of only two known locations for it in Pembrokeshire)

Along the river there are:

• demoiselle damselflies, shimmering with iridescent green
• grass-snakes and diamond-patterned adders
• water shrews
• the elusive otter

Birds to look or listen out for include:

• mallard ducks
• moorhens
• water-rails
• snipe
• reed bunting
• grasshopper warblers
• sedge and reed warblers
• birds of prey, attracted by the rich pickings here, including buzzards, kestrels, sparrowhawks and barn owls

National Nature Reserves in Wales

There are over 70 National Nature Reserves in Wales.

Find out more about National Nature Reserves.

Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales

The western part of Llangloffan Fen National Nature Reserve is managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

This part of the reserve has a circular path from a parking area on the B4331 to a bird hide overlooking an area of open water.

For more information go to the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales website.

Visiting safely

We want you to return home safely after your visit here.

You are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of any children and animals with you during your visit.

Please note:

• Stay on the boardwalk: flooded ditches are often hidden by floating and dense vegetation and there is soft waterlogged ground.
• River banks are steep-sided, often undercut and may be overgrown.
• The river has deep pools, and its level may rise quickly after heavy rain.
• If you come across adders or snakes please leave them alone.
• Please keep dogs on leads as cattle or ponies may be grazing in summer and autumn in barbed wire enclosures.

For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.

Changes to visitor facilities

See the top of this webpage for details of any planned closures or other changes to visitor facilities here.

For your safety, always follow instructions from staff and signs including those for trail diversions or closures.

We may divert or close trails whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations and we may need to close other visitor facilities temporarily.

In extreme weather, we may close facilities at short notice due to the risk of injury to visitors and staff.

Organising an event on our land

You may need permission from us to organise an event or to carry out some activities on our land.

Check if you are allowed to use our land.

How to get here

Llangloffan Fen National Nature Reserve is 6½ miles south west of Fishguard.

Postcode

The postcode is SA62 5ER.

Please note that this postcode may not take you to the lay-by near the reserve entrance if you use a sat nav or navigation app.

We suggest you follow the directions below or use the Google map on this page which has a pin on the lay-by's location.

Directions

From Fishguard take the A487 towards St Davids.

Turn sharply left onto the B4331 signposted to Castlemorris.

Go past the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales car park on the left and take the next left at a crossroads, signposted to Hayscastle Cross.

Follow this minor road for ¼ mile and the lay-by parking area and reserve entrance is on the right, just before the road goes over a stone bridge.

What3Words

View this place on the What3Words website.

Ordnance Survey

The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the lay-by is SM 904 319 (Explorer Map OL 35).

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is in Fishguard and Goodwick.

For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.

Parking

Parking is in a lay-by near the reserve entrance.

Contact details

There are no staff at this location.

Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.