My Rides

Goldcliff Lagoons

Exploring the Gwent Levels: Part 3

Surrounded by wet grassland and reedbeds, these three man-made lagoons are often called a "birders paradise". Sitting quietly behind the seawall and protected from predetors, this site is a significant pit-stop for an array of migratory birds.

OVERVIEW

Goldcliff Lagoons

Date: May 18, 2025
Distance: 64.4 mi. / 103.64 km
Elevation: +2,018 ft / -1,985 ft
Duration: 6 hrs, 40 mins.

Exploring is at the core of my cycling adventures and researching about where I'm going is usually a top priority as I prepare for an adventure. However, I must admit that I just set off with little knowledge of Goldcliff Lagoons.

Naturally too, I should have made more of an effort to photograph the wildlife, but I simply wasn't prepared, so I'm leaving that for my next trip. I've never thought of myself as a "birder", but visiting places with bespoke bird blinds (as with Magor Marsh), I found myself wishing I had a long-lense camera or binoculars, at the very least.

The other aspect I found surprsing was the ease with which to reach these locations, which is another motivation for making this "cycling project". Not only is it exceptionally flat cycling along quiet country lanes, but it's an incredibly short distance from Newport.

I hope you, dear reader, will take the time to not only explore my reports, but get out on your bicycle and go see these magical places for yourself. Plan a day, take the family, take a picnic, I'm sure you'll be just as surprised as I was.

Exploring the Historic Wetlands of the Severn Estuary in South Wales

This is the third installment of my Gwent Levels Cycling Project which continues as a "work-in-progress". (You can view the first two installments from the links below.)

	St. Brides & the West Usk Lighthouse - Completed!
	Magor Marsh & Summerleaze - Completed!
	Goldcliff Lagoons and Seawall- Completed!
	Black Rock Picnic Site
	Parc Tredelerch
	Newport Wetlands Nature Reserve

Once I finish writing these six individual reports and editing the hundreds of photos, I plan to complile everything into a generalised overview. I will then reference these longer reports to further assist future cyclists. (I'm still formulating the details of this concept.) Plus, I'm also building a special area in my Routes to Ride setion to host these individual routes.

Importantly, I want to highlight that I will be utilizing as much of the National Cycling Network as possible... with all of the final routes — starting from and returning to Newport (with on exception being Caldicot). I will then assess what additional photographs (if any?) need to be taken to supplement the route(s).

The map above shows the relatively short route from the Newport Train Station to the Goldcliff Lagoons.

Having now explained all of my grand ideas, it's finally time to get this report started!

Oakdale to Goldcliff

As I mentioned at the start, I set off with little knowledge of the Goldcliff Lagoons and as it turned out, I didn't really know where they were! I had passed this sign for years as I cycled through Goldcliff and I just assumed this was the place (image below).

I had to take the panniers off the bike and stand it on it's rear wheel to get through the gate, but that wasn't much of a problem.

The real issue was that this was not the entrance to the lagoons? This was just a public access point to the seawall.

I wouldn't imagine the cows don't see too many cyclists peddling though their paddock.

But it was a pretty little ride. I didn't go up on the seawall. I just followed the tractor path to the next gate and made my way out.

I had to remove my panniers again and stand the bike up to exit the paddock, but that's all part of the experience. I had all day to explore and the weather was fantastic.

Looking back you get a good view of the seawall itself. The ride wasn't much more than 1/4 of mile and now I know what's out here.

You can see the loop I cycled in the map above. What I find interesting is that the seawall itself actually runs along Chapel Pill (a tidal creek). The path I followed is provided to assist hikers circumnavigate the creek. You can also see that I was relatively close to the lagoons; close but no cigar.

If I were to come here again, I'd probably use this entrance (image below). Not only is it more direct, but it also avoids the two kissing gates.

Goldcliff Lagoons

Once outside the last gate, I turned east along Goldcliff Road and cycled roughly .5 mile to the next entrance. The sign for the lagoons is not along the road itself, however, there were several cars parked across from an unmarked dirt lane, so I thought I'd give it a try.

At first, I thought I was heading up someone's driveway, but then the road turned and went over a small reen. This looked promising.

And then after another few hundred feet... voila! Here we have it. I cannot imagine why there isn't a more prominent sign along Goldcliff Road, but there ya go.

Thankfully too, there were no kissing gates. A few folks were also exploring, but it was pretty quiet for the most part.

I always stop to talk with the locals...

I was quite surprised by the size of the first bird-hide. There are several large windows facing out over the ponds where perhaps 10-12 people could easily view the wildlife... and it is wheelchair-accessable as well. Very impressive.

There are several large informative posters along the wall, detailing the birds and what to look for at different times of the year. A bullentin board with announcements for the local groups that gather here... It's quite remarkable. (I should have taken some photos!)

A birder's paradise

Just south of Goldcliff village along the mud flats of the Severn Estuary lay three man-made saline lagoons. Created in the late 1990s, the site encompasses nearly 69 acres (approx. 28 hectares) and was built in mitigation for the construction of the Cardiff Barrage. These shallow lagoons are surrounded by several distinct habitats, including wet grassland, hedgerows, reedbeds, and reens which serve as a vital breeding ground and pit-stop for a wide array of migratory birds.

Common Crane

Teal

Oystercatcher

Images Courtesy Living Levels

Safely enclosed by a anti-predator electric fence, the entire perimeter of the lagoons is protected for the six species of shorebirds which nest here annually, including avocet, lapwing, little ringed plover, ringed plover, oystercatcher and redshank (amoung others).

[ Click here to view a complete list! ]

Images Courtesy Living Levels

This important habitat also hosts over 400 species of invertibrates, including several nationally rare species such as the great silver water beetle and shrill carder bee. Water voles are also oftne found feeding and swimming within the reens.

Great Silver Water Beetle

Shrill Carder Bee

Photo credits Hectonichus and Ivar Leidus respectively.

The three small bodies of water are named; Monk’s Lagoon, Prior’s Lagoon, and Bec’s Lagoon which also include three hides and 4 screens for viewing the water fowl and wading birds.

Photo credit: RSPB

Of particular interest, are the avocets which have a distinctive black and white pattern along with a thin up-curved beak. Until the 1940's, avocets had become extinct as a breeding bird in the UK. Yet today, Goldcliff Lagoons is the only location in South Wales where avocet breed. They now symbolise the bird protection movement throughout the UK where they are a protected species and it is an offence to disturb them.

[ Read more about the Avocet! ]

References:

Wikipedia - Goldcliff
The Living Levels
The Living Levels - Goldcliff Lagoons
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds - RSPB
Gwent Ornithological Society
Friends of Goldcliff Lagoons
The Wildlife Occulus - Goldcliff Lagoons Reserve Guide
Birding Places - Goldcliff Lagoons
Wikipedia - Cardiff Bay Barrage

I stumbled around the hide some, taking a few photos. There were a few birds out on the water, but without a proper lense, it was pointless to try and photograph them.

We had a very dry summer and the water levels were surprisingly low. I'm also curious how folks photogrpah the birds through the electric fence?

I made my way back down to the path and continued around lagoons. As I said earlier, I didn't know much about this place, so I was just wandering to an extent.

The second blind was just a couple hundred yards further along and at first I was optimistic that it would stand over the barrier fence. However, the land behind it must be lower, because it too sat directly behind the barrier fence.

I completely understand the purpose of the fence, I just don't know how folks photograph through it? It has a pretty tight mesh.

Anyway, I wandered on. The landscape was lovely. There was a light breeze coming off the estuary and the air smelled exceptionally fresh.

Farming is still active in the area, but it must have been busier in the past. I find these old gates and barns (in the far distance) charming.

The grass was soft and rather unusual to cycle over. Had it been wet, it would have been nearly impossible. Still, I was glad to have wider tyres.

It isn't a terribly large area... when standing on the high ridge (which also surrounds the lagoons) the 69 acres is quite easy to look across.

The third hide I came across wasn't covered and I couldn't tell if it was being disassembled or under repair? I kinda like this one though. I could envision returning here with my tarp and day-camping gear as a possible "coffee outside" adventure?

I continued along the path, nearing the southern edge of the lagoons by the seawall. The buttercups were everywhere and added a bit of sparkle to the grasses.

I'm usually good at reading information boards, even taking photos of them to recount the details, but I missed this one for some unknown reason. (I hate that too.)

Perhaps I was excited to climb up on the seawall? I was certainly overwhelmed by the views.

I'll definitely return... looking over the mudflats of the estuary at low tide makes me want to spend a day simply watching the tides.

Home to the most extensive intertidal wildlife habitats in the UK

The Severn Estuary is the natural water boundary between South West England and South Wales. The estuary is formed as the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain, empties into the Bristol Channel.

At it's widest point between Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare, the estuary measures approximately 8 miles wide (13 km). It narrows significantly to roughly 2 miles wide at the Second Severn Bridge between Aust and Beachley.

The estuary itself is characterised by its sheer scale and energy, boasting one of the highest tidal ranges in the world — second only to Canada's Bay of Fundy. Reaching up to 49 feet (15 meters), this massive tidal shift creates a dynamic and ever-changing landscape of deep, turbulent channels along with vast, exposed mudflats.

Additionally, the estuary experiences a tidal bore. Known as the Severn Bore, this tidal surge occurs nearly 130 times a year. However, during high tides, specifically at new and full moons, these surges can reach a heights of between two and five feet as the estuary narrows into the River Severn.

The extreme tidal range results in the estuary having one of the most extensive intertidal wildlife habitats in the UK. These shifting mudflats, sandflats, rocky platforms and small islands form a unique environment for plant and animal communities sustaining extreme physical conditions.

Photo credit: Ruth Sharville, CC BY-SA 2.0

Because of these unique conditions, the Severn Estuary is recognised as a wetland area of international importance and is designated as a Ramsar Site, a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EC Directive on the conservation of Wild Birds, and recognised as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive.

The Gwent Levels which lie along the northern shores of this massive estuary are of particular note for this feature. First engineered by the Romans,nearly 2,000 years ago, a formidable seawall stretches for approximately 22 miles (roughly 35 kilometres), from Blackrock (in the northeast) to the Rhymney River (southwest, near Cardiff).

Behind this ancient man-made structure sits a vast coastal landscape comprised of fertile pastures divided by a network of historical drainage ditches—known locally as "reens". For centuries, the turbulent relationship between the Severn Estuary and the Gwent Levels been protected by the seawall and shaped local agriculture for the surrounding communities.

Today, this flat expanse continues to stand as a constant defense against the tidal waters and the low-lying land and as a living testament to thousands of years of coastal management and natural resilience. The Levels are also listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the rich biodiversity including a vast array of rare aquatic plants, mammals, and tens of thousands of migratory birds that feed along the estuary's rich, exposed mudflats.

Photo credit: Stuart Daglish

For centuries, the Severn Estuary has been a crucial artery for maritime trade, connecting the major ports of Bristol, Cardiff, and Newport to the wider world. Today, the river's horizon is visually dominated by two iconic bridges linking the English and Welsh shores and passing over this dynamic environment with little notice. The estuary, however, remains a focal point of natural wonder and engineering ambition, continually sparking discussions around renewable tidal energy while serving as a rugged, beautiful cornerstone of the British coastline. This unique landscape remains one of the most distinctive and culturally significant borders in all the UK.

References:

Wikipedia - Severn Estuary
Severn Estuary Partnership
The Living Levels
The Newport Wetlands
Canal & River Trust - River Severn Navigation

Far across the water lies the town of Portishead in the county of Somerset, England.

In the image below, I've walked out along the seawall, turned and looked back across the lagoons. In the far distance you can make out the hills of the southern valleys, roughly five miles north (as a crow flies).

The third and final bird hide was locked, but I wandered around the side and climbed the short hill to snap a few photos. I think this would be the best location for photographing the wildlife... especially at this time of day with the sun behind me. Of course, if you look closely, there is not a bird in sight. Perhaps the birders know something I don't?

There is a gentle breeze at my back, coming from across the estuary... fresh and salty. I don't think I could be more relaxed. I could stay out here longer, but I guess I've seen it all. It's time to make my way back.

The path is fenced off just past the bird hide. However, I could continue around the lagoons if I got back up on the seawall, but I decide against it... not wanting to wrestle the bike through any kissing gates I might encounter.

The working farms and homes out here are what we called back in the states "real showplaces". I would guess they've been in the same family for generations.

Bumble bees and beetles buzz in the late afternoon sun as I make my way back through the tall summer grass.

I stop to take a few more snaps before reaching the main gate and entrance. I say to myself that I will stay longer on my next visit.

Back on the road, I decide to take in one more stop before heading home. I turn east again and cycle another half-mile to the shorefront simply called "Seawall".

At one time there was a small family-run cafe down here which was a popular destination for cyclists along the levels. Unfortunately, it's long gone now. I took the photo shown above nearly 10 years ago.

I laid my bike in the grass by a plaque at the end of the lane and read that the seawall was rebuilt in 1974... over 50 years ago!

Climbing the stairs I say to myself; "It still looks great".

I drift down the seawalll path. A few scattered seagulls squawk overhead, but otherwise, I am completely alone along this stunning waterfront.

Time to head home.

SUMMARY

Goldcliff Lagoons

The ride to Goldclif Lagoons was relatively short, however, I extended my day significantly by visiting Seawall and then Marshfield. The days were long and I just felt like wandering a bit on my bike. The Gwent Levels are quite flat and the roads are mostly quiet and on a summer day such as this... it lends itself to cycling without destination.

The temperature was perfect at a very mild 21°c (70°f). There was hardly a cloud in the sky most all day. Honestly, cycling doesn't get much better than this. I hope you've enjoyed reading about my little adventure and I'll soon have the fourth installment to this series: "Black Rock Picnic Site", so I Hope you'll return. Until next time...

Seeya down the road... Cheers! - cm

Note: The map shown above covers my entire day of cycling from Oakdale to Goldcliff Lagoons, Seawall, Marshfeld and back.

I've always admired cycling through this beautiful costal landscape, but I've only recently come to understand its importance and historical significance. This report is part of a series of in-depth explorations where I seek to showcase these unique places and hopefully, encourage you, dear reader, to visit them for yourself.

I wish to thank the Living Levels Landscape Partnership for their dedication and hard work to enhance and maintain this unique coastal landscape. For more information on the Gwent Levels, please visit their highly informative website: Living Levels.

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