Cors Caron is said to be one of the finest raised bog systems in the whole of Britain.

The bog covers a huge area of around 816 acres. It's 6km in length and it's home to a wide range of wildlife and plants.

The Red Kite is a common site in the area today, not only over the bog but also over the nearby houses of Tregaron. From October - March, at 2pm GMT, there are kite feeding sessions at Pont Einon overlooking the bog, on the outskirts of the town.

In October 2005, work started on a state-of-the-art bird hide overlooking the lake and is due to be ready by February 2006.

The hide will provide a great viewing point for birdwatchers. Among the birdlife which can be seen here are Buzzards, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Hen Harrier. There have also been rare sightings of Montagu's Harrier.

The wetlands attract a variety of wildowl such as the Teal, Curlew, Redshank and Water Rail. Snipe, Red Grouse, Tree Pippit, Grasshopper Warbler and Whinchat can be seen more in the drier areas and the Common Redstart and Willow Warbler nest in the willow scrub.

The bog itself was formed 12,000 years ago when the last of the Ice Age glaciers melted away, leaving behind a large, shallow lake. Over time, the lake filled with sediments and vegetation, forming peat and later, acid peat.

For centuries, local people would go and cut this peat from the bog to burn on the hearth. But there was mounting international concern that peat land habitats like Tregaron were being destroyed so in 1955, Cors Caron was declared a National Nature Reserve.

In 1993, Cors Caron was placed on a list of wetland sites of international importance under the terms of the Ramser Convention. The bog is now managed by the Countryside Council for Wales.

Opening Times Access at all times. No fee. Location Cors Caron, Tregaron, Ceredigion, SY25 6AN Directions Off the B4343, two miles north of Tregaron. Telephone 01974 298480 Email : p.culyer@ccw.gov.uk

There's more information about the wildlife of Cors Caron at the Red Kite Centre in the nearby town of Tregaron. From 3 April 2004 - 30 September 2004, the centre's open 10.30am - 4.30pm, seven days a week. During the winter months, opening hours are 10.30am - 4.00pm on a Saturday and Sunday. Located in an old school building, the centre also has information and artefacts about the history of Tregaron.