Newborough Warren & Ynys Llanddwyn

At the south-western point of Anglesey, guarding the southern opening of the Menai Strait, Newborough Warren is one of the finest coastal sand dune systems in Britain, with huge expanses of mobile and fixed dunes.
The reserve boasts important geological features – the pre-Cambrian rocks (some of the oldest in the country) of which Ynys Llanddwyn is formed and the pillow lavas that form the approach to that tidal island.

The reserve also includes the Newborough Warren & Ynys Llanddwyn SSSI & Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC.

Grid Ref: SH378650 Area: 1556.43 hectares

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Visiting

There are several walks through the forest to the coast.

There is a good network of footpaths and tracks, though most are of soft sand and are uneven.

There are no steps but the terrain is very undulating due to the nature of wind-blown sand.

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How to get there

There are four main access points to the reserve and four car parks (two managed by CCW and two by the Forestry Commission for Wales).

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There is a good network of footpaths within the reserve, though most are of soft sand and are uneven.

Public Transport
The no. 42 bus service serves Newborough village running every 1 - 2 hours weekdays and every 2 hours on Sundays. Contact Traveline Cymru on 0871 2002233 or visit www.traveline-cymru.org.uk

Facilities

There are accessible toilets in the main FCW beach car park. There are also accessible toilets in Newborough village.

There is an unstaffed museum and information centre housed in the Pilots’ Cottages on Ynys Llanddwyn. However, this is only open during the summer months (July – August) and involves a long walk across soft sand.

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Please note – Ynys Llanddwyn is tidal and is cut off for a few hours each day.

Who looks after it?

CCW and the Forestry Commission for Wales (FCW).

You can contact CCW’s Northern Team via our enquiries helpline, 0845 1306229, e-mail, enquiries@ccw.gov.uk or write to us under the ‘Contact the team’ section on this website.

Wildlife

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In the sand dunes, you will find plants such as butterwort and dune helleborine, as well as other rare and interesting lichens and mosses and orchids.

There is a thriving invertebrate population here, including the medicinal leech.

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