Work to replace boardwalk starting 12 November

Isle of Anglesey County Council has secured funding to replace the existing wooden boardwalk with a new structure.

The replacement boardwalk will be made from sustainably sourced recycled plastic ensuring considerably greater longevity than the timber that was used and enjoyed by so many over the last 20 years.

Unfortunately, this does mean that sections of the boardwalk will need to be closed to the public during the construction period. The first of these closures is scheduled for Tuesday, 12 November.

This will provide time for tree safety management works and final survey work, before starting to remove the existing boardwalk.

We appreciate this will inconvenience many who regularly enjoy a walk on the site, but installing the new 1,000 metre boardwalk will take time. Works are scheduled to be completed by April 2025.

Things to be aware of

• The section of boardwalk leading from the St Cyngar’s Church car park will be closed during the removal of the existing boardwalk.
• The section of boardwalk from Station Car Park to Llyn Pwmp and up to the B5109 (Cildwrn Road) will remain open during the initial phase of this project.
• The site can still be accessed via the Lôn Las Cefni cycle route which remains open, and Coed Smyrna area will also remain accessible from the cycle route.
• Maps outlining the plans and alternative routes will be published on our website and social media channels; together with regular updates as the construction of the new boardwalk progresses.
• The ongoing works to install the new boardwalk will not affect the weekly Park Run event which is held in the Dingle Local Nature Reserve.

The project will be delivered thanks to funding provided by the UK government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, Welsh Government and Isle of Anglesey County Council.

Original page information

The Dingle is easily accessible from Llangefni, and the Lôn Las Cefni cycle path passes through it. The reserve makes for pleasant walking, via its footpaths, trails and boardwalks. There are a number of interesting wooden sculptures at various points in the woodland.

The Dingle is a good place to see woodland birds, as well as some that favour riverine habitats. The kinds of woodland birds that can be seen include great spotted woodpecker, bullfinch, great tit, robin, and wren. Nearer the river, you may spot the more elusive kingfisher, or a dipper, bobbing on a boulder in the river before dashing into the water to catch aquatic insect larvae. Moorhen and mallard nest on the river, and heron, cormorant, and grey wagtail are frequently encountered. The river supports populations of brown trout, eel, and salmon, and one of their principal predators, the otter, often scouts the area in search of prey.

The reserve is a haven for bats, and species such as lesser horseshoe, whiskered, brown long-eared and Natterer’s bats have been recorded. Typical woodland plants include bluebell, lesser celandine and wood anemone, with yellow flag iris, marsh marigold, and meadowsweet occurring in the wetter areas. The woodland’s dominant tree species include oak, ash, Scot’s pine, beech and sweet chestnut. There are also over 200 different species of fungi, some of which are nationally rare in Wales.

The Dingle is a steep sided gorge formed by glacial meltwater during the last ice age hence one of its Welsh names Nant y Dilyw - Valley of the Deluge.

The Dingle Local Nature Reserve is a 10 hectare (25 acre) wooded valley rich in wildlife and history. It is bisected by the river Cefni, which comes from the Welsh word "cafn" meaning trough or hollow.

The Dingle is a steep sided gorge formed by glacial meltwater during the last ice age hence one of its Welsh names Nant y Dilyw - Valley of the Deluge.

Another name for the Dingle is Nant y Pandy - Brook of the Fulling Mill. This refers to the old wool processing plant situated upstream.

Much of the reserve is ancient woodland which led to it being known as the Dingle as early as the 1830s. Dingle literally means steep wooded valley.

The reserve is home to a variety of wildlife including kingfishers, moorhens, woodpeckers, foxes, bats and dragonflies. Much of the ancient woodland is a carpet of bluebells and wood anemones in the spring.

It has been enhanced through community involvement, working in partnership and by grant aid. These enhancements include a wooden boardwalk that winds its way along the Cefni, three new bridges, sculptures, sculpted benches and picnic tables.

The Dingle is managed by the Isle of Anglesey County Council's Countryside Service. For more information please see the council website.