Wales — Wildlife

Wales is alive with wildness. From its rugged coasts to its deep forests and soaring peaks, this land provides sanctuary for creatures found nowhere else in Britain. Red kites wheel above the hills, a symbol of successful conservation and national pride. Along the cliffs and islands of Pembrokeshire and Anglesey, puffins, guillemots, and gannets gather in their tens of thousands. Offshore, pods of dolphins and families of grey seals thrive in the rich waters of Cardigan Bay.

The wetlands and estuaries teem with waders and wildfowl, while quiet rivers shelter elusive otters and shimmering dragonflies. In ancient oak woodlands, pied flycatchers, redstarts, and wood warblers fill the air with song each spring. From orchids blooming on dune systems to rare alpine plants clinging to Snowdon’s heights, Wales is a botanist’s delight as well as a paradise for birdwatchers and photographers.

For those with a camera, Wales offers endless opportunities for wildlife photography and close encounters with nature. Whether capturing a red squirrel in Anglesey’s forests, a seal pup on a remote Pembrokeshire beach, or a murmuration of starlings over the wetlands, every season brings a new spectacle.

This map gathers together the best wildlife sites across Wales — islands, reserves, coastlines, and uplands — enabling you to discover and experience the rich natural world that thrives here in every corner of the country.