The Lily Lake

This is the Lily Lake. There are a number of botanical survivors from the days when the area was a cultivated garden, being particularly attractive in spring when the banks around the summer house are covered with daffodils and narcissi. Margaret Davies used to come here to paint and we believe that the diffused French style light reminded her of Monet’s water lilies, of which the sisters purchased three in the early 1900’s.

If you have time, it can be worth sitting a while on the steps of the summer house, and allowing the residents - whom you have no doubt disturbed whilst walking around the pond - settle down again. Coot are here all year. Moorhen, mallard, and various other ducks appear from time-to-time, casting an eye towards ‘Quacker’s Hall’, their en-suite residence (The second fake timber framed building on the Gregynog Estate!). Little grebe occasionally breed here, but their shy nature means that they are more often noted by their rippling trill than by a sighting. Newts also come to the pond to breed, and all three British species are known on the estate, including the great crested, palmate and smooth newt. A three-foot long eel, as thick as a fore-arm, was once picked out of the Lake too!

From here you can stroll along the garden paths back to Gregynog Hall, or the more adventurous can head out over the Warren to take in extensive views.