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Set in a 450 acre mosaic of lakes, pool and lagoons created on the scenic Burry Inlet, Llanelli Wetland Centre is home to many hundreds of wild and resident species. Explore the site by bicycle or, in the warmer months, take a jungle explorer-style tour by canoe. Water vole city and our Millennium discovery centre are also unmissable attractions.
National Wetland Centre Wales - A great day out
Stretching over 450 acres on the Burry Inlet, this magnificent mosaic of lakes, pools and lagoons is home to countless wild species as diverse as dragonflies and little egrets. Plus over 600 of some of the world’s most spectacular ducks, geese, swans and flamingos, many so tame they feed from the hand.
The centre
The visitor centre is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the National Wetland Centre Wales. Families can have hours of fun in the indoor, interactive millennium discovery centre or take a trip up to the top of the tower for a 360 degree view of the site and the Loughor Estuary.
Or visitors can simply relax in the comfort of the estuary café, enjoying delicious home cooked food, panoramic views and amazing wildlife and find the perfect gift in the WWT shop.
The grounds
A safe home for a collection of over 600 of the worlds most spectacular birds and many of the species that you'll see are rare or endangered. WWT are involved in breeding and conservation programmes to protect these species and their natural habitats.
Here you can feed Hawaiian geese (nenes), feast your eyes on a sea of pink Caribbean flamingos or visit one of our wonderful hides to see a multitude of wildlife native to these shores.
The reserve
Covering 66 hectares in total, the reserve encompasses saltmarsh, freshwater lagoons and the millennium wetlands, a complex of pools, grassy banks and reedbeds. Surfaced paths wind through the reedbeds, taking visitors to hides such as the Welsh Water hide, donated by Welsh Water, and the impressive heron's wing hide.
It is a great place to see a wide range of waterbirds including pintail, shoveler, oystercatcher, shelduck, teal, black and bar-tailed godwits, curlew and snipe, as well as an increasing population of little egrets.Breeding birds on site include redshank, lapwing, reed warbler and reed bunting.
Water voles are abundant throughout the site and otters are occasionally seen, although the tell tale signs that they have been around are often present. The saltmarsh has international protection including a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Ramsar site and a Special Protection Area.
The canoe safari
During the summer holidays visitors can explore previously inaccessible watery expanses on our canoe safari. Pick up a paddle and step into a canoe for a wonderful wetland adventure. Suitable for children aged 5 and over. Children under 18 must be accompanied by and adult. Sorry but our canoes are not suitable for solo canoeists.
Canoe safari open daily 12.00 noon - 4.00pm from Saturday 24 July toTuesday 31 August. Last canoe out must be returned by 4.30pm.
The use of the canoe safari is included in the admission price/membership.
No previous experience required; suitable for complete novices or the more experienced canoeist. Full instruction given. Canoeing does require some degree of physical effort and visitors paddle thier own canoe, i.e. they are not accompanied by staff.
The canoe safari is considered a safe water environment; it is an enclosed, inland waterway and there are no tides or currents to contend with. The maximum water depth is no more than three feet. Buoyancy aids are provided and must be worn at all times. Full safety cover provided.
We use traditional Canadian canoes which can accommodate two adults. A child can also be accommodated, sitting on a canvas hammock seat suspended in the middle of the canoe. Sometimes, two very small children can be accommodated in this way; this is entirely at the discretion of the canoe safari supervisors and their decision is final.
Adverse weather
If the weather is windy the canoe safari may be closed for safety reasons. Even though it may not appear windy up at the centre, the location of the canoe safari means it is exposed to the wind, especially south westerly.
Toilets
There are toilet facilities at the canoe safari.
The bike trail
The centre has a fleet of 25 bikes, including one toddler trailer and a Trek tandem, which visitors can hop aboard to explore the paths weaving through the millennium wetlands. The bike trail will reopen for the season on Good Friday, 2 April. Open daily throughout local school holidays and on weekends during term time between Easter and October. Opening times: 12.00 noon - 4.00pm; last bike must be returned by 4.30pm.
Suitable footwear must be worn, e.g. trainers. No flipflops or open toed sandals allowed. All cyclists must wear a helmet. We can provide these or you can bring your own. Unfortunately only our own bikes can be used on the bike trails. Bike hire is included in the normal admission price.
Contact details:
WWT National Wetland Centre Wales
Llwynhendy, Llanelli
Carmarthenshire
SA14 9SH
T: 01554 741087
F: 01554 744101
E: info.llanelli@wwt.org.uk
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Houses the interactive Millennium Discovery Centre, great gift shop and delicious home cooked food in the Estuary Cafe with its panoramic views.
Home to terrapins, exotic Black-necked Swans, beautiful Red-breasted Geese and much more.
Populated with WWT?s iconic Hawaiian Geese, the extremely vocal Coscoroba Swans from South America and the characterful Magpie Geese.
This award winning hide offers views over a deep lake teeming with a wonderful variety of wetland birds.
Children can have endless fun crawling through the tunnels.
The first hide to be built at the centre offering superb bird watching on the salt marsh and Burry Inlet.
A stunning approach to this hide through a willow tunnel.
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