Great Orme

The Great Orme is a limestone headland adjacent to the North Wales town of Llandudno. It is 2 miles long, 1 mile wide and rises to 207 metres above sea level. The headland has been designated a Special Area of Conservation, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Heritage Coast, and is managed as a Country Park and Local Nature Reserve by Conwy Countryside Service. The copper mines discovered below ground date back 4,000 years to the Bronze Age and are now thought to be the largest prehistoric mines in the World.

The Great Orme is accessible at all times. Parking is available at the summit (pay and display), or you can park lower down free of charge. There is a toll of £2 (at the time of writing) to drive right around the Great Orme.

In the summer there is a large seabird breeding colony, with Razorbill, Guillemot, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Cormorant and Shag, which can be seen from the Marine Drive toll road. Other birds on the Great Orme include Chough, Peregrine and Stonechat - present all year - and Wheatear in the summer. There are also many Stonechat, Skylark and meadow Pipits in the summer.

Because it juts out into the sea, many migrants appear during the spring and autumn. These include Winchat, Redstart, many Warbler species, Wheatears, Redpoll, and Siskin. Many rarities have also been recorded here.

From a photography point of view, the Great Orme is very variable. I have spent whole days on the Orme without any success and on other days I've had birds virtually queuing for photographs (although I've wasted many opportunities there through lack of experience). Much of the Great Orme is without cover, so it can be tricky to get close to birds. I have often laid low behind the low limestone rocks and waited for birds to approach. There are bushes and ferns close to the cemetery, which can apparently contain many species during migration periods.

I don't feel I know the Great Orme particularly well yet. I understand there are areas that attract particular species at certain times of the year, so it's just a matter of getting to know these in order to create the best opportunities.

Take the A55 then the A470 sign-posted Llandudno and follow the signposts into Llandudno. There are two routes to the great Orme, the first being to head for the promenade and drive along the promenade towards the Great Orme (which is clearly visible) until you reach the Great Orme toll. This road goes right around the Orme and plenty of free parking is available at various spots.

The other route is directly to the summit. Stay on the A470 Conway Road heading for the town centre until you reach the one-way section. Take the right hand lane, which bears right, and then turn immediately left onto Mostyn Street. Follow this road to the roundabout and go straight across onto Upper Mostyn Street. At the end of Upper Mostyn Street you turn right (actually one-way so don't go too far) and then immediately left into Hill Terrace, which winds left onto Ty Gwyn Road. Across the traffic lights, up the hill, and then bear right onto Wyddfyd Road. This fairly steep road leads to the summit.

My images from the Great Orme


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