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To celebrate Wales Nature week 5-13th July, here's a selection of ideas to get closer to nature whilst on the path. Nature, wildlife, flora and fauna, biodiversity, flowers, birds, bees, insects and little beetles. Whatever we call it, walking the path is the perfect way to experience nature at its best.
 Connecting with nature doesn’t mean you have to be a specialist in trees, beetles, insects or plants to enjoy nature - just get out there and take a few minutes to notice the little things around you.
Our little things are:
• Watching the shimmering sea on a hot day at Clarach in Ceredigion
• Hearing hungry squawking seabirds at Trefor Stacks on the Llyn
• Seeing the little black beetles on our way to Nefyn
• Watching pretty little pink flowers dancing in the wind sea at Porth y Post beach on Anglesey.
However, if you’re interested in using technology to learn more about nature, then read on!
Sand dunes - you've probably come across a few of them on your walks on the path. They're ideal places to shelter and rest on a walk or an amazing leg workout - you decide!
These wildlife hotspots are great for spotting nature at it's best, like marsh orchid and dune pansy along with skylarks, butterflies, rare mining bees and other endangered insects. Find a sand dune near you
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 Whilst it’s great to leave the modern technology behind, there’s some technology that can heighten your experience by identifying birds and plants that you hear and see on the path.
iNaturalist – identifying and recording plants and animals as part of their citizen science programme. Visit iNaturalist website
Merlin – A useful app for identifying bird calls particularly when you can hear them but not always have clear sight of them. Visit Merlin website
CoastSnap – Help monitor the impacts of climate change on the Welsh coastline by taking part in citizen science. Take a snap of the coastline at any of our fixed phone cradles and upload to our friends in the Welsh Coastal Monitoring Centre. Find a CoastSnap cradle near you
Find out more about nature based smart phone apps blog by Our Dee Estuary
This summer look out for remarkable seabirds like the gannet with it’s gleaming white plumage and jet back tipped wings or the terns at the Cemlyn Wildlife Nature Reserve on Ynys Mon (Anglesey). This is Wales’ largest Sandwich tern colony with hundreds of common and Arctic terns making the reserve their home.
TOP TIP: North Wales Wildlife Trust offer guided walks to this special place. See their Events page for details
Image: Gannet (Richard Shucksmith)
The path winds its way past some of the most Wales’ incredible wildlife hotspots the perfect opportunity to step away for a few hours into nature.
Protect wildlife at these special places by following the Countryside Code - useful tips to make the most of your visit in the great outdoors responsibly. Dog owners must heed to local signs and use a short lead where prompted. Discover a nature reserve near you
 Here's some suggestions:
Newport Wetlands, Newport – Tucked between Newport city and Severn estuary, it’s a great site for watching birds like avocet, bitterns and marsh harriers via an accessible 7 km network of re-surfaced paths.
Oxwich National Nature Reserve, Swansea – Set up against the backdrop of a sweeping golden beach, sand dunes, the two circular walking trails are a great way to spot the wild orchids, butterflies and birds and bats that make this reserve their home.
Morfa Harlech, near Harlech – the path goes through this nature reserve, one of Wales’ most important actively growing sand dune systems. During the summer, a variety of flowering plants can be see like dune pansy and butterflies like the dark green fritillary.
Image: Morfa Harlech National Nature Reserve
These walks are great for experiencing the Welsh coastline, starting and finishing in the same place. Find a circular walk near you
Get more inspiring views and new perspectives without having to double back. Take your time and discover something new about your local area like the sand dunes at Kenfig Nature reserve, or colourful wildflowers on the Little Orme.
Image: Sea thrift flowers (Smanatha Byran)
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We’ve created 7 walks with a difference, where you can use the Wales Coast Path app to bring the path to life. Go to Family Walks with a Difference
Download the app and some features are designed to work exclusively with information boards at 7 designated spots on the path - using augmented reality and 3D films to bring nature alive on your phone. More information about the app
Watch the silver studded blue butterfly come to life on the Great Orme and learn about leatherback turtles making rare appearances off the UK west coast during the summer months.
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Wales Nature Week, 5 to 13 July, is a celebration of wildlife and habitats with a focus on enjoying, valuing and helping nature in Wales.
This year’s events include nature festivals for all ages, guided walks and wildlife workshops hosted by Local Nature Partnerships and other nature-friendly organisations. Many of the events are free to attend and are a great opportunity to celebrate nature and be part of a community.
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We welcome any feedback on these newsletters, good or bad. Tell us where we can improve them for you! Contact us
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Events See what’s happening on the path with our online events calendar.
Have you got an event on or near the Wales Coast Path? Submit a Suggest an Event form to us and we’ll promote it on on our website (subject to approval).
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If so, we have a business newsletter with useful information on how you can make the most of the path for your business. You'll receive info on the available resources to help you and your customers.
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