Beautiful Lake Bala is 40 minutes from Pen-y-Dyffryn Hotel.
There is a wide range of wildlife in the Bala & Penllyn area, such as otters, badgers, foxes, squirrels and many types of birds including Red Kites and Buzzards. A short drive away you can see Ospreys and visit RSPB nature reserves. There are many conservation areas such as National Nature Reserves and Bala Lake is a Ramsar wetlands site of international importance. The Berwyn National Nature Reserve (NNR) lies to the east and north-east of Bala – it is an important breeding ground for many upland birds, including: Merlin, Hen Harrier, Peregrine falcon and Red kite.
Bala Lake has 14 species of fish, including the Gwyniad (Coregonus lavaretus), a species of whitefish which is unique to Bala Lake. Around the lake and some rivers, are otters. The lake is also the home of the glutinous snail – Myxas glutinosa. This is the only location in mainland UK where this snail is found. Bala Lake is managed by the Snowdonia National Park Authority (SNPA) as a recreational resource. The Authority also conserves the lake and its special biodiversity. For more detailed information about Bala Lake or the wildlife visit the Warden’s Office on the Lake Foreshore (Bala).
The RSPB Glaslyn Osprey viewpoint, at Pont Croesor, has been in use since 2004 – high power telescopes and remote TV monitors allow a close up view of the Ospreys. The RSPB provides a visitor centre at Lake Vyrnwy and an observation point at Penmaenpool in the Mawddach Valley. The RSPB manages reserves at Coed Garth Gell and Arthog Bog, both in the Mawddach Valley. At Llechwedd Slate Caverns there are Choughs and viewing by RSPB remote TV monitirs; nearby it is also possible to see Kestrels, Red Kites and Buzzards.
