Cors Goch National Nature Reserve

Cors Goch National Nature Reserve lies a few miles west of Carmarthen, close to the small hamlet of Llanllwch in Carmarthenshire. It is one of only a handful of raised bogs in West Wales and holds a special status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The bog formed over centuries as layers of dead plants slowly built up, later compacting into peat. In places the peat reaches depths of five metres. The reserve’s mix of wet and dry habitats supports a wide range of wildlife. Among its plants are insect-eating sundews, which catch and digest small insects on their sticky leaves. Birds such as buzzards and kestrels hunt over the open areas of the bog. Dragonflies dart above the pools that dot the wetter sections. The reserve’s rare conditions allow species that need acidic, waterlogged ground to thrive. Visitors walk along a network of boardwalks and paths that wind through the reserve. Interpretive signs explain the bog’s formation and the plants and animals found there. The views stretch across open peatland and lowland heath, with distant farmland on the horizon. The quiet atmosphere and the calls of birds make it a place for peaceful observation.