Moorlakes Wood

Wood, Forest in Glamorgan

Wales

Moorlakes Wood

Swansea Airport on Fairwood Common A small airport for lighter aircraft. — Swansea Airport on Fairwood Common Credit: Nigel Davies

Moorlakes Wood is a picturesque forest located in Glamorgan, Wales. Situated amidst stunning natural surroundings, this wood is a haven for nature enthusiasts and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Covering an area of approximately 100 acres, Moorlakes Wood is known for its diverse range of flora and fauna. The wood is home to a variety of tree species, including oak, beech, and ash, which create a dense canopy overhead. The forest floor is adorned with vibrant wildflowers, ferns, and moss, creating a beautiful and tranquil atmosphere.

The wood is crisscrossed with a network of well-maintained walking trails, offering visitors the opportunity to explore its stunning beauty. The trails vary in difficulty, catering to both casual walkers and more experienced hikers. Along the way, visitors may stumble upon small streams and ponds, adding to the enchanting charm of the wood.

Moorlakes Wood is also a haven for wildlife. Birdwatchers will delight in the variety of bird species that call the wood home, including woodpeckers, owls, and various songbirds. Additionally, the forest provides habitats for small mammals such as squirrels, rabbits, and foxes.

Visitors to Moorlakes Wood can also engage in recreational activities such as picnicking, photography, and nature study. The wood offers a peaceful and serene environment, making it an ideal place for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Overall, Moorlakes Wood in Glamorgan is a natural gem, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature. Whether it be exploring the walking trails, observing the wildlife, or simply enjoying a picnic, this wood provides an unforgettable experience for all who visit.

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Moorlakes Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.595619/-4.0725853 or Grid Reference SS5690. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Swansea Airport on Fairwood Common

A small airport for lighter aircraft.

Nigel Davies

Runway 04 at Swansea Airport

View to the North East coming into land

Chris Cole

Ilston Community: Gelli-Hir Wood

A nature reserve managed by Glamorgan Wildlife Trust and others. A permissive footpath near the entrance, looking south.

Martin Bodman

Ilston Community: Fairwood Common

Looking west-south-west towards Cartersford Bridge on the B4271

Martin Bodman

St. Illtyds Church, Ilston

Jennifer Luther Thomas

Triangulation pillar on Fairwood Common

Swansea Airport in the background.

Jennifer Luther Thomas

On Fairwood Common

Junction of Hen Parc Lane with A4118. The entrance to Swansea Airport is visible across the road on the left. The main airport buildings are ahead behind the trees.

Jennifer Luther Thomas

Notice outside Ilston Church

David Luther Thomas

Ford at entrance to former Ilston Quarry

The quarry is now a National Trust nature reserve. This photo is taken from near the stile into the reserve. Unfortunately the water is too deep to cross without waterproof footwear and there's nowhere to park if you wanted to drive across.

Nigel Davies

Pasture land in eastern Gower

Hams Wood is in the distance, right.

Jonathan Billinger

Gower moorland

View north from north of Kittle near Swansea Airport.

Jonathan Billinger

Edge of moorland

Looking north from the Kittle Road.

Jonathan Billinger

Kittle Road

Looking west towards the A4118 and Ilston.

Jonathan Billinger

Inside the Motte

This ancient and overgrown Motte lies on the southern edge of this square. It was difficult to photograph in the strong low sunlight on Boxing Day afternoon but the low boundary walls can be seen over the other side - the walls formed an almost perfect circle - even now after so many years. The over-exposed sunlit saplings in the foreground add to the magic of this hidden gem.

Dave Gray

Looking south towards the Motte

Finding the Motte which is marked on the OS map is quite difficult. But the stream and steep banks around its northern flank form a natural barrier around the bluff.

Dave Gray

Nature trail boardwalk

The approach to the Motte is naturally guarded by streams and boggy ground. In the recent past a permissive footpath has been established to allow walkers to enjoy this unspoilt corner of Bishopston Valley. This photograph shows how nature works to reclaim the ground.

Dave Gray

Ilston church

Hunkered down in Ilston cwm and reached across a narrow footbridge this chunky little church is essentially a Victorian reconstruction of the original mediaeval version. Apart from its delightful setting the church has an unexpected claim to fame in that it acted as the meeting place for the earliest Baptist congregation, under the leadership of one John Miles/Myles a parliamentarian who took over the living from the royalist incumbent in 1649. "From 1649 until 1660 the Ilston Baptists met in the parish church St Illtyd, of which Miles was rector or minister, though they always referred to the place as their ‘Meeting House’, not their ‘church’ or ‘chapel’. Baptist services and meetings were open only to members. Indeed, Miles was insistent that non-baptised sympathisers should not be allowed to attend. But Miles would also have held more general services for all the parishioners of Ilston, the majority of whom remained non-Baptists. The church had been built by the local de Breos family in the thirteenth century, probably on the site of an earlier Christian cell. It was drastically ‘restored’ inside and out in the mid nineteenth century, and many of the features familiar to Miles and his Baptists have been destroyed or altered beyond recognition." At the Restoration Miles was ejected, the Baptist movement was forced underground and in 1663 he emigrated to America along with many more of his co-religionists, and died there in 1684. The full story, from which the above quotation is abstracted, can be read here Link

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

Ilston church tower

St. Illtyd's church probably derives from a 6th century monastic cell. The present church was originally built during the 13th century incorporating the 6th century cell in the base of a massive embattled tower with a transverse saddle-back roof. There was the inevitable Victorian restoration and further work was carried out at the millennium. St Illtud/Illtyd converted from a military career to a life of asceticism. He achieved great fame as a teacher and is also credited with improving agricultural methods in Wales.

Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff

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Moorlakes Wood is located at Grid Ref: SS5690 (Lat: 51.595619, Lng: -4.0725853)

Unitary Authority: Swansea

Police Authority: South Wales