Newborough Warren NNR

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About Newborough Warren NNR

Newborough Warren National Nature Reserve on the south-west coast of Anglesey protects one of the finest dune systems in Wales, stretching from the Menai Strait to the open coast at Llanddwyn Island. It combines mobile dunes, dune slacks, coastal forest and salt marsh, with the tidal island of Ynys Llanddwyn at its heart.

The story of Newborough Warren NNR

Newborough was once a thriving medieval town, but in the 14th century a great storm blew sand over the settlement, burying much of it and creating the vast dune system seen today; the remains of St Dwynwen's church on Llanddwyn Island survive from that era. The dunes were notified as an SSSI and the area was declared a National Nature Reserve in 1955, now managed by Natural Resources Wales. In the 1940s and 1950s extensive Corsican pine was planted to stabilise the dunes, creating Newborough Forest, which has since been recognised as valuable coastal woodland for red squirrels despite partly shading the original dune habitat. Ynys Llanddwyn, associated with St Dwynwen, the 5th-century Welsh patron saint of lovers, is a scheduled ancient monument with two historic pilot's cottages and a cross.

Visiting with care

Park at Newborough Beach car park and walk through the forest to the beach and Llanddwyn Island, checking tide times to avoid being cut off on the island. The forest tracks are popular for cycling and walking, and the open dunes are fragile, so keep to marked paths.

Interesting facts

• Newborough Warren was buried by a great sandstorm in the 14th century that destroyed the medieval town and created the dune system.
• Ynys Llanddwyn is associated with St Dwynwen, the 5th-century Welsh patron saint of lovers.
• Newborough Forest is an important refuge for red squirrels, one of the few strongholds of the species in Wales.
• The reserve was declared a National Nature Reserve in 1955 and is managed by Natural Resources Wales.