Cilgerran is a village in north Pembrokeshire on the upper Teifi Gorge, dominated by the dramatic ruins of a thirteenth-century castle above a rocky bend in the river. The steep-sided Teifi Gorge is thickly wooded with oak, ash and sycamore, producing a strong June flow from the canopy pollen and early nectar. The castle grounds carry mature elder, bramble and ivy. The Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve immediately to the east — a wetland reserve of reed-bed, alder carr and wet grassland managed by the Wildlife Trust — provides pollen and nectar across a long season. The coracle-fishing traditions of the lower Teifi are associated closely with Cilgerran. Pembrokeshire BKA covers this northern corner of the county.
Collectors attend swarms in the oak and sycamore canopy of the Teifi Gorge path below the castle, in the elder and bramble on the castle mound and ruins, along the alder carr and willow margins of the Teifi Marshes, in the walled gardens and outbuildings of the riverside cottages, and in hedge banks on the farm lanes above the gorge rim.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
SA44 5LQ· approx. 15 km
SA62 5QL· approx. 30 km
SA31 2JG· approx. 32 km
Association data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Gorse on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path begins flowering in earnest by March. Blackthorn and hawthorn follow on the sheltered hedges; sycamore and horse chestnut in Tenby, Haverfordwest, St Davids and Fishguard carry May. Lime and bramble fill midsummer in the towns. The Preseli hills contribute bell and ling heather in a quietly reliable August flow. Coastal sea-lavender, sea-thrift and dune plants along Freshwater West and Newgale add seasoning; ivy on stone-built cottage walls closes the year.
More on beekeeping in PembrokeshireReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
