Coed Ty’n y Coed

Part of the Meirionnydd Oakwoods and Bat Sites SAC.

Tree species range from dominant sessile oak to sycamore, beech, cherry and Douglas fir. The oakwood becomes heather moorland with a fringe of younger trees upslope, and dry stone walls add a historical landscape feature to the site. Fantastic views.

Coed Ty’n y Coed is a prominent ancient woodland on a very steep and dry slope overlooking the Mawddach estuary, consisting predominantly of semi-mature to mature sessile oak (a typical “upland oakwood” habitat, the bulk of which is designated as part of the Meirionnydd Oakwoods & Bat Sites SAC). The main woodland block is fairly uniform, however, the wood is slightly more diverse, with some ash and pockets of sycamore and beech, in the extreme south near to the small block of tall and attractive Douglas fir planted in 1930.

The under-storey is typically sparse and the ericaceous ground flora severely suppressed due to the dense oak canopy and a past infestation of Rhododendron, which was cleared in the 1990s. The control of the re-colonisation of rhododendron is still an on-going problem.

The woodland is gradually colonising the slopes above the established oakwood. This ever expanding fringe is more diverse than the lower slopes, being less dominated by oak. Birch, Rowan, Sycamore, and ash are frequent with the occasional Scots pine. Both the shrub layer and the ground layer are more profuse.

Further up slope again, the woodland grades into heather moorland with scattered trees and pockets of younger woodland. The heather is very rank, intermixed with drifts of gorse, bilberry and bracken, and with scattered rowan, oak, birch and conifers from the plantation above. The woodland is bounded by dry-stone walls, some of which are in poor condition but typical of the local historic landscape.

Public access provision is confined to paths in the southern corner, including a new path to a seat and viewpoint with superb views over the estuary and towards the Cader Idris range. A second dedicated seat is provided in proximity to the parking and also offers excellent views.