Wales

North Gower butterfly walk

Walk through Welshmoor, a hidden paradise for wildlife. Over the years, within this protected area, more than 25 different species of butterflies have been seen. It's one of the most reliable locations in Europe to see the very rare marsh fritillary and the more common, but equally stunning, green hairstreak butterfly.

Near to

Whiteford and North Gower

Start point

Welshmoor car park. Grid reference: SS51924

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1 (km: 1.6)

Duration 20 mins to 1 hour

Dog friendly***

*Wet heath habitat with no well-marked paths. Sturdy walking boots recommended. For further details, please see section marked Terrain.
**Wet and boggy terrain unsuitable for wheelchairs. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Please keep dogs on leads. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Butterfly-spotting tips

Weather conditions play a very big part in the chances of seeing butterflies. Sunny warm days with little or no wind are ideal when planning to visit. Timing is important for species such as the marsh fritillary which have very short flying seasons. More information on timing can be found within each step.

This site is a wet heath habitat which can be boggy in places. The vegetation is a mixture of heather, gorse, bramble and bracken which can make the going awkward in places.

There are no well-marked paths, although fairly easy progress can be made by following the desire lines left by grazing livestock.

Conditions underfoot can be quite boggy in places. Sturdy walking boots or wellingtons are recommended.
Total stages: 5
Total stages: 5
Start point
Welshmoor car park. Grid reference: SS51924
Stage 1
Starting at the parking area walk 100m south to the edge of the moor where the trees mark the boundary. Search along the edge of the trees and scrub for passing butterflies.
Sheltered scrub
This part of Welshmoor is often sheltered from the wind that blows predominantly from the south-west. Looking for butterflies here can be rewarding in most months from April to September. Spot them as they follow the edge of the wood and navigate gaps in the scattered scrub along the edge of the moor. Look out for red admiral, peacock, speckled wood, orange-tip, green-veined white and meadow brown butterflies here.
Stage 2
Walk away from the boundary in an east-northeast direction into the moor for roughly 100m. This area is a marsh fritillary hotspot.
Marsh fritillary butterflies
The slightly drier ground at this location can be a very good place to look for marsh fritillaries. On warm, sunny, early spring days the larvae can be found basking in the sun. Look for butterflies on sunny, warm days from the last week in May to the middle of June. Freshly emerged adults can be found basking low in the vegetation or feeding on the nectar of tormentil. The distinctive larval webs can also be spotted on devil's-bit scabious from the middle of August into the autumn.
Stage 3
Next walk in an east-southeast direction for 150m towards the edge of the moor again. Look out for a clearing that runs behind a thin line of trees. This is a green hairstreak hotspot.
Green hairstreak butterflies
The clearing between two lines of trees slightly narrows as you walk along it heading east. This sheltered area produces a micro-climate favoured by butterflies, often feeling a few degrees warmer than elsewhere on Welshmoor. It's one of the most reliable locations to see green hairstreaks. The males often sit on the lower level scrub waiting for females to pass by and are frequently involved in territorial disputes between other males resulting in elaborate spiralling aerial battles. This small enchanting butterfly can be found flying from late April to mid-June.
Green hairstreak butterfly at Welshmoor, North Gower | © National Trust / Mark Hipkin
Stage 4
From the clearing, walk in a north-east direction for 125m until it starts to become quite wet underfoot on approach to a runnel. Marsh thistle, a pollinators best friend, is found here.
Stage 5
Next walk north for 50m to the top of a ridge. This track runs east to west through the moor. Following the track west for 375m will take you back to the parking area.
Narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth
The ridge track is worth exploring widely on both sides, especially towards the bottom of the banks, near the wetter areas. The scrub found here provides shelter for insects and the flowering plants are worth checking. From late May to early June, look in detail at the bumble bees. Occasionally, closer inspection will reveal a bumble bee mimic – the narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth. Lots of luck is needed to see this species, but getting good views for the very first time is a truly unforgettable experience.
Narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth | © National Trust Images/Phil Bruss
End point
Welshmoor car park. Grid reference: SS515924
Trail map
North Gower butterfly walk map, South Wales | © National Trust
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