Walking World

Walking world Big Pool Wood, near Gronant, Prestatyn This walk explores the North Wales Wildlife Trust’s Big Pool

With North Wales Wildlife Trust

Wood Nature Reserve and the nearby sand dunes. The reserve is a fine example of wet woodland and reed bed with a board walk to help you explore and three bird hides to get up close to the local wildlife. With picnic tables and a circular walking route, the reserve is well worth a visit in its own right. The walk then takes you off the reserve towards the coast and joins the Wales Coast Path, on the way you may observe natterjack toads, little terns as well as wild flowers, including orchids.

Things you need to know

The total length of the walk is 2.5 miles and will take up to two hours. Big Pool Wood can be boggy but has mainly good paths and a wooden boardwalk, it also has open water, so be careful with children. The Gronant path includes areas on the beach and dunes which can be rough and slippery when wet. Check tide tables to avoid very high tides.

Directions

Big Pool Wood lies 2.5 miles east of Prestatyn. From the A548, follow brown signs to the riding centre – the turn-off is opposite the Bells of St Mary’s pub. Find a safe parking spot on the roadside near to the riding stables (SJ 102 838). What3words ///play.blown.farmed

THE ROUTE

stretch of boardwalk. Further along the boardwalk you will find a natterjack toad conservation area. Sand lizards have also

been introduced to the dunes in this area. Males are bright green in breeding season, but they are tricky to spot – the best chance is early in the morning as they bask in the sun.

6. Take the right-hand path and look for sea holly and

plentiful orchids in June and July. Should you wish to extend your walk, you may turn right on the beach, re-joining the coastal path to eventually reach the RSPB’s Dee Estuary – Point of Ayr Nature Reserve (approximately 1.5 km away).

7. Our route turns left along the beach for about 1 km. Look out for little terns, which have an important breeding colony further along the beach. Take the second boardwalk off the beach and, after approximately 40 metres, turn left on to a

broad grassy track which runs through the dunes, parallel to the sea. The area is alive with butterflies, such as gatekeeper,

small skipper and the bright red six-spot burnet moth.

1. On the bend by the chevron sign, you will find the Big

Pool Wood waymarker post to the left. Follow the badger waymarkers to the nature reserve down the gated track. Take care and keep dogs on the lead near horses.

2. Enter the wood through a small wooden gate and follow the circular path around the lake. Big Pool Wood is a wonderful 8. When you reach the natterjack toad conservation area

on your right, turn right on the boardwalk and retrace your steps through the caravan park and over the level crossing to return to your car.

reed bed and woodland site filled with wildflowers and

birdsong. Visit the bird hides to get closer to the wildlife. Big

Pool Wood is part of the Dee Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA), providing shelter for wintering wildfowl. In winter months, look west out from the reserve across neighbouring fields to see large flocks of curlew feeding. From the hide,

in spring, watch for reed warblers darting to their nests amongst the reeds. In winter, look for teal and mallard in the open water. There has been evidence of otters hunting for frogs, toads and newts amongst the reed bed. Foxes are also frequent visitors here when the reed bed is dry enough to cross. Leave the nature reserve when you return to the gate and retrace your steps to the road. Turn left and follow the Wales Coast Path marker.

3. Pass the riding school field and go left on a narrow lane to

the coastal path towards a level crossing. Look for meadow brown and red admiral butterflies in fields to your right. A

ditch runs parallel to the railway, providing habitat for water vole and otter.

Discover more ‘Wildlife Walks’ across North Wales

J Explore 23 walking routes in six counties J Visit 25 North Wales Wildlife Trust nature reserves J Enjoy gentle strolls and whole-day rambles J Full descriptive text and maps supplied

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4. Take care crossing the railway here. The path passes a

Dee Estuary SPA conservation site for birds. It is an important feeding location for waders such as curlew, oystercatcher, redshank and black-tailed godwit.

5. At the caravan park, follow signs straight ahead to the Wales Coast Path. At the Gronant Sand Dunes Local Nature Reserve board look for carline thistle and evening primrose. In summer,

A WORD OF CAUTION

Walking in the outdoors can be a strenuous activity and it is up to you to ensure that you are fit and healthy enough to undertake the route described and to approach the venture with caution and care. You should wear appropriate footwear and suitable clothing, take along food and drink plus carry the relevant map and a compass and be able to use it. The details given here are believed to be correct at the time of going to press. However, neither North Wales Magazine nor the author can accept responsibility for inaccuracies encountered.