About the reserve

Wildlflowers such as betony, harebell, wood bitter-vetch and broad-leaved helleborine thrive on the sunny east-facing slopes with the old railway tunnel providing a home to several species of hibernating bat.

A walk along this reserve offers some stunning views of the surrounding countryside and the whistle of the red kite is often heard overhead.  Other birdlife includes chaffinch, brambling, goldfinch and linnet.

Rhayader and the surrounding district is an important area for some of Europe's rarest bat species.  Sadly, our UK bat population has declined considerably during the past century and it is now more important than ever that sites such as Rhayader Tunnel are protected to provide suitable foraging and roosting sites for them to survive.

Bats do not build nests.  The old railway tunnel is a good place for them to roost and they love to eat flying insects.  The high banks and valley floor are covered in scrub and developing woodland, which is ideal hunting ground for insect eaters.