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Cwm Ivy, North Gower, Wales
Cwm Ivy, North Gower | © National Trust Images/Corrinne Benbow
Wales

Exploring Cwm Ivy

Grab your binoculars and head out to this new wildlife-rich salt marsh, on a route that takes in two bird hides and plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting. Look out for otters, kingfishers and wading birds.

Total steps: 8

Total steps: 8

Start point

Cwm Ivy car park (SA3 1DJ). Grid ref: SS441933

Step 1

Starting from the car park (privately owned) in Cwm Ivy, turn right onto the road and head down the lane (don't forget to put some money in the honesty box).

Step 2

Walk through the village until you reach the National Trust gate signed 'Cwm Ivy Wood'.

Step 3

Go through the gate and follow the track down the hill. The track bears to the right and on your left is Cwm Ivy Tor.

Step 4

Follow the track as it bears right through a gate and into a plantation. On your left you will pass Burrows Cottage. Continue along the track until you reach the Monterey bird hide on your right. Why not pop in and see what you can spot?

Cwm Ivy bird hide, North Gower, Wales
Cwm Ivy bird hide, North Gower | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Step 5

From here you can continue on towards Whiteford Burrows or you can retrace your steps back up the track towards Cwm Ivy village and the car park.

Step 6

Just before you reach the gate back into the village, take a left and follow a footpath through Cwm Ivy broadleaved woodland (managed by the Wildlife Trust) until you reach Cheriton bird hide.

Close-up of blue and orange kingfisher perched on a branch
Look out for Kingfishers | © National Trust Images/Richard Bradshaw

Step 7

As you leave the bird hide go back along the way you came, and follow the path back through the ancient woodland.

Step 8

When you enter the village, turn left onto the road and head uphill back to the car park.

End point

Cwm Ivy car park (SA3 1DJ). Grid ref: SS441933

Trail map

Exploring Cwm Ivy map
Exploring Cwm Ivy map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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