A walk on the wild side
Dolphins
The Trefeddian Hotel sits on the coast of Cardigan Bay where Britain’s biggest resident population of dolphins live and it is claimed to be the best place in Europe for dolphin watching. You can see bottlenose dolphins all year round but summer months are the best time to have to chance to spot these graceful creatures. Their smaller cousins, harbour porpoises, can be seen around most of the Welsh coast and if you’re really lucky, the odd orca or humpback whale might just swim by. No matter how many times you see a dolphin – and in Cardigan Bay, it’s a daily summer spectacle – you never get bored.
Red Kites
Bwlch Nant yr Arian, near Aberystwyth, is a well-known location for viewing red kites, particularly during their daily feeding time. Bwlch Nant yr Arian has been a red kite feeding station since the 1990s, playing a role in the species' conservation in Wales. The red kites are fed by the lake every day at 2 pm in winter and 3 pm in summer. Up to 150 red kites can be seen gathering up to 2 hours before feeding and then circling and swooping down to pick up meat scraps at feeding time.
Ospreys
The Dyfi Osprey Project is located at the Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve just outside Machynlleth. Ospreys were once extinct in the UK as a breeding species but in response to increasing sightings in Spring & Autumn, an osprey nest platform was erected in 2007. In 2009 the Dyfi Osprey Project opened for the first time and in 2011 the first male was joined by a young female and they witnessed the first osprey egg & chick on the Dyfi for centuries. Ospreys have returned to breed on the Dyfi every year since. The 360 Observatory and is the centerpiece of the reserve and new Dyfi Wildlife Centre Visitor opened in Spring 2021. At just 190m from the Osprey nest it provides superb viewing opportunities and is a wonderful place just to soak up the 360° panoramic views of the Dyfi Valley.
Alpacas
Alpaca Adventures is based in Bryncrug, a 10-minute drive from the Trefeddian hotel. You can choose from two unforgettable experiences. The Alpaca Meet & Greet Experience where you can enjoy meeting, feeding, and learning all about the amazing alpacas in a relaxed and fun setting. The second option is the Alpaca Walking Experience where you will spend time meeting the herd, one to one time with your alpaca plus walk your alpaca around the lovely hillside paddocks and enjoy feeding them after. It’s a perfect way to unwind and enjoy some quality time with these gentle creatures. Both experiences must be booked online and you can see what to expect and guidelines to read before arriving on their website.
Butterflies
The Magic of Life Butterfly Centre is located in the stunning Rheidol Valley, 10 miles from Aberystwyth. The centre displays a vast collection of fascinating insects, including beetles, spiders, and stick insects, as well as the stunning marine fish tank. But the real highlight is our butterfly section, where you'll be surrounded by a diverse array of species from all over the tropics. You can even feed and hold the butterflies, making for an unforgettable experience. They have some of the largest and most colourful butterflies in the world with up up to 70 different species. They also have giant caterpillars and display many rare and exotic plants that thrive in the lush tropical conditions. The centre is also home to many different types of insects, including praying mantids, giant stick insects, and beautiful moths.