Cors Caron is a vast bog - also known as Tregaron Bog - lying in the wide basin of the river Teifi between Tregaron and Ponrhydfendigaid. Its spectacular habitat has great importance for nature conservation, in Welsh, UK and international terms, because of the wide range and variety of wildlife it supports. Cors Caron was declared a National Nature Reserve in 1955, and in 1993, in response to world concern about the loss of this type of habitat, it was placed on the list of wetland sites of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. It is managed by the Countryside Council for Wales.
The vegetation of the bog is a patchwork of moss, herb, dwarf shrub and small trees. Insects are abundant, and provide a valuable source of food for other animals. Mammals found on the reserve include otter, water vole, water shrew, and polecat. Reptiles and amphibians also thrive: adders, slow worms, frogs, toads and common lizards are fairly abundant. Cors Caron is probably best known for its birds. Over 40 species breed here, including curlew, snipe, redshank, and sedge and grasshopper warbler. The open water areas attract whooper swans in winter. Buzzard, red kite, and sparrowhawk regularly hunt over the bog, and are joined by hen harriers in the winter
Access to the bog is provided by an easy walk along the old Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway line, closed in 1962. The walk runs from a car park on the B4343 north of Tregaron, to another car park at Ystrad Meurig. There is a new disabled trail on boardwalks, taking users further into the bog. A permit is required for the more demanding riverside walk, which is accessed from the old railway by boardwalks, between which it runs through the heart of the reserve beside the river Teifi, with the help of several footbridges.
The panorama is taken from the southernmost bridge of the riverside walk. It starts looking north along the Teifi river to the next footbridge. As you turn right a lake comes into view, with the upper Teifi valley and Cambrian Mountains beyond. After the other end of the bridge you are looking down the Teifi valley towards Tregaron.
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