One of the things we love most about being right on the Llandudno promenade is that one of Wales’s most spectacular natural landscapes is practically on our doorstep. The Great Orme, the limestone headland that towers above the town, is not just a dramatic backdrop to your sea view. It is a living, breathing nature reserve teeming with wildlife, and summer is absolutely the best time to explore it.
Whether you are a keen birdwatcher, a casual nature lover, or simply someone who fancies a walk with a bit more to look at than the average stroll, the Great Orme will not disappoint. Here is a guide to what you might spot when you head up there this summer.
The Famous Kashmiri Goats
If you visit the Great Orme and come back without having seen a goat, something has gone rather wrong. The headland is home to a free-roaming herd of Kashmiri goats, descendants of a pair gifted to King George IV in the early nineteenth century and later given to the town of Llandudno. There are now well over 200 of them, and they wander the cliffs and paths entirely at their own pace, with very little concern for passing visitors.
They are a genuinely extraordinary sight. Shaggy, sure-footed and utterly unflappable, they treat the limestone cliffs as their own personal playground. In summer you will often see the younger kids that were born in spring, still a little wobbly but already following the herd across some impressively steep ground. Keep your snacks to yourself, though. These goats are bold.
Seabirds on the Cliffs
The Great Orme’s cliffs are home to a thriving seabird colony, and summer is when things really get busy up there. The breeding season is in full swing through June and July, so if you get yourself to a good vantage point along the cliff paths, you will have a wonderful time watching the comings and goings.
Some of the species you are most likely to spot include:
- Razorbills, with their distinctive thick black bills and smart black and white plumage, nesting in the cliff crevices
- Guillemots, standing upright on the narrow ledges in large, noisy groups
- Kittiwakes, small and delicate-looking gulls with a very distinctive call that sounds just like their name
- Fulmars, which glide effortlessly along the cliff faces on stiff, straight wings
- Herring gulls, plentiful and loud and wonderfully characteristic of any British seaside
The RSPB has in the past described the Great Orme as one of the most important seabird sites in North Wales, and it is easy to see why when you are standing on the headland watching the birds wheel and dive below you.
Butterflies and Wildflowers
Away from the cliffs, the grassland on top of the Great Orme is a genuinely special habitat. The thin, calcium-rich soil over the limestone supports a remarkable variety of wildflowers, many of which are at their finest in early summer. Bloody cranesbill, wild thyme, rock rose and the locally important hoary rock-rose all flower here, and the Great Orme is actually one of only two places in the world where the Spotted Rock-rose grows naturally.
Where there are wildflowers, there are butterflies, and the Great Orme has them in abundance. Keep an eye out for:
- The Silver-studded Blue, a small and beautiful butterfly that is closely associated with heathland and limestone grassland and has a stronghold on the Great Orme
- The Grayling, a masterful camouflager that rests on bare rock or path surfaces and is almost invisible until it moves
- Common Blues, Small Coppers and various species of Skipper, all of which enjoy the warm, sheltered slopes
If butterflies are your thing, mid June through to August is the sweet spot. Take it slowly and look carefully at the flower-rich areas and you will be rewarded.
What to Look for Out at Sea
The views from the Great Orme extend across Llandudno Bay and out into the wider Irish Sea, and if you spend a little time scanning the water, particularly from the headland or the Marine Drive, there is every chance of spotting something memorable.
Grey seals are resident in these waters and are sometimes seen bobbing in the bay or hauled out on rocky outcrops. Dolphins are not uncommon either. Common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins both pass through the waters off the North Wales coast, particularly in summer when they follow fish shoals. Porpoises are spotted fairly regularly too, and if you are very fortunate you might even catch a glimpse of a passing minke whale.
A good pair of binoculars and a little patience go a long way here. Find a comfortable spot on the headland, look out to sea, and just watch. The rewards can be quite extraordinary.
Peregrine Falcons
The Great Orme has a resident pair of peregrine falcons, and summer is an excellent time to see them, particularly in the morning when they tend to be most active. Peregrines are the fastest birds on the planet, capable of stooping on prey at speeds of over 200 miles per hour, and watching one hunt is one of those wildlife experiences that genuinely takes your breath away.
Look for them on the higher cliff faces, either perched upright on a ledge or circling high above the headland. They are noticeably larger and more powerful looking than the kestrels and jackdaws that also frequent the cliffs, and once you have seen one in flight there is really no mistaking it.
Choughs
The red-billed chough is one of the most striking and charismatic birds in the British Isles, and North Wales is one of its strongholds. With its glossy black plumage, bright red curved bill and equally vivid red legs, it is unmistakable, and its loud, ringing call carries clearly across the clifftops.
Choughs are members of the crow family and they are acrobatic, playful fliers, tumbling and wheeling on the thermals with what looks very much like pure enjoyment. If you spot a group of black birds on the cliff edges that seem to be having considerably more fun than the average jackdaw, there is a good chance you are looking at choughs.
A Few Tips Before You Head Up
To make the most of your wildlife walk on the Great Orme, it is worth keeping a few things in mind:
Go early: Wildlife is generally most active in the morning. An early start from the hotel, with a good breakfast inside you, will give you the best chance of seeing the most.
Take binoculars: Many of the best sightings, seabirds on the cliffs, peregrines overhead, seals and dolphins offshore, are much better with a pair of binoculars to hand.
Wear layers: Even on a warm summer day the headland can be breezy, and the weather on the Orme has a habit of changing quickly. A light waterproof takes up very little space in a bag.
Stick to the paths: The wildflower grassland is fragile and the cliff edges are not to be underestimated. The marked paths take you to all the best spots safely.
Give the goats space: They are wild animals and, whilst generally good-natured, they should not be fed or crowded. Enjoy them from a sensible distance.
The Perfect Base for Exploring
From the Kensington Hotel you can walk to the bottom of the Great Orme tramway in a matter of minutes, or set off on foot along the Marine Drive for a more gradual approach to the headland. Either way, you are extraordinarily well placed to make the most of everything the Great Orme has to offer.
If a morning on the headland watching peregrine falcons and Kashmiri goats sounds like a rather good start to a summer’s day, we would love to have you stay with us. Come and see what is on your doorstep.
To book your stay, get in touch with us on 01492 876784 or drop us a line at reception@kensingtonhotel.wales. We look forward to welcoming you.