Pant y Sais National Nature Reserve, near Swansea

What's here

Walking trail

Welcome

Pant y Sais National Nature Reserve shares many similarities with the nearby – but much larger – Crymlyn Bog to the west.

The reed and sedge beds are home to a range of wetland plants, birds and insects.

The best way to experience the reserve is to follow the boardwalk into the heart of the fen.

Running alongside Pant y Sais is the Tennant Canal.

Along with a variety of birds and dragonflies, the banks of the canal are also home to the fen raft spider – Britain’s largest spider.

Walking trail

The walking trail is waymarked from start to finish.

Look out for the information panel at the start of the trail.

Find out about walking trail grades.

Pant y Sais Walk

Grade: Accessible
Distance: ½ mile/0.6 kilometres
Time: 15 minutes
Trail information: The trail starts from a pedestrian entrance behind some railings on the B4290 – please take care crossing the road. It follows an accessible circular boardwalk with passing places and benches. Please stick to the boardwalk when out on the fen as there is dangerous wet ground.

Other walking route

You can follow the Tennant Canal towpath along the length of Pant y Sais Fen, and beyond the reserve in either direction as far as Swansea or Neath.

Wales Coast Path

The Wales Coast Path passes the edge of the reserve.

You can join it underneath the bridge over the canal.

Find out more about the Wales Coast Path.

What to see at the National Nature Reserve

The best time of year to visit Pant y Sais is during the summer, when the reserve is alive with the sound of bird song.

Reed warblers and sedge warblers breed here, along with Cetti’s warbler, grasshopper warbler, reed bunting and water rail.

Scarcer visitors, normally associated with the East Anglian fens, include bittern, marsh harrier and bearded tit.

Summer is also a good time to see the various wetland plants. Amongst the reed and sedges, special wetland flowers include yellow iris, marsh cinquefoil and greater spearwort.

Look out for the big clumps of royal fern – a Pant y Sais speciality.

Britain’s largest and rarest spider, the fen raft spider, lives here but you are much more likely to spot butterflies and dragonflies during your visit.

National Nature Reserves in Wales

There are over 70 National Nature Reserves in Wales.

National Nature Reserves are places with some of the very finest examples of wildlife habitats and geological features.

Find out more about National Nature Reserves.

Accessible facilities

The boardwalk is accessible to wheelchairs.

The Tennant Canal towpath is not accessible to wheelchairs.

How to get here

Location

Pant y Sais is located in Jersey Marine village adjacent to the B4290.

It is in the county of Neath Port Talbot.

Ordnance Survey map

Pant y Sais National Nature Reserve is on Ordnance Survey (OS) map 165.

The OS grid reference is SS 712 940.

Directions

Follow signs from the A483 to Jersey Marine village and the B4290.

Take the B4290 into the village and, immediately after going over the canal bridge, turn left onto School Road (Heol yr Ysgol). There is limited parking on this residential road, please park considerately.

Walk back to the B4290 and walk up the pavement towards the bus stop and the entrance to the boardwalk is behind some railings.

You can also get to the reserve via the Tennant Canal towpath. You can join the towpath from the bridge on the B4290 near the entrance to Jersey Marine village.

Public transport

There is a bus stop opposite the entrance to the reserve boardwalk which has a regular service from Swansea and Neath.

For details of public transport visit the Traveline Cymru website.

Closures and diversions

Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations.
We may have to close a site in extreme weather, such as high winds or snow and ice, due to the risk of injury to visitors or staff.
Please always follow any instructions on site and any temporary diversion signs.