š Sea Lions, Tigers, and Red Squirrels: A Day at the Welsh Mountain Zoo
For my recent birthday, The Lady of the Manor granted me a brief, official leave of absence from log-hauling and grass-mowing. Naturally, we used the temporary freedom to escape our own woods for a day and head up to Colwyn Bay to visit the Welsh Mountain Zoo in someone else's woods!!
We wanted to drop in for a few reasonsāand it turned out to be a brilliant day out.
The Final Sea Lion Farewell
It was our last chance to say goodbye to the zoo's sea lions. The zoo has made the noble decision that their current enclosure no longer meets modern welfare standards for these massive marine mammals, so they are being relocated to a larger facility with much better aquatic facilities.
In a clever bit of zoo real estate management, the resident Humboldt penguinsĀ will soon be moving into the vacated sea lion pool, which, lets face it, they've been eyeing up for some timeāgiving them a serious upgrade in swimming space.
Sumatran Tigers (Out in the Wild)
Normally when we visit off-season, the resident Sumatran tigers are sensibly tucked away indoors, out of the autumnal North Wales weather. This time, luck was entirely on our side.
We happened to pass by just as a couple enjoying the zooās "Keeper for a Day"Ā package were getting ready to feed the tigers. Under the strict supervision of a professional keeperāand strictly from the safe side of the double fencingāthe feeding session coaxed both tigers outside. Seeing these massive, powerful cats up close in the open air was an incredible birthday treat.
Up-Close Encounters & Snow Leopard Plans
One of the best things about the Welsh Mountain Zoo compared to massive sites like Chester is how intimate it feels. You can get remarkably close to the animalsāalmost within touching distance for favourites like the Red PandasĀ (Carolineās absolute favourite) and the curious Asian Short-Clawed Otters.
We would have loved to catch a glimpse of the Snow LeopardsĀ too, but as elusive big cats do, they were lying low. They tend to be far more active early in the morning or late in the afternoon, so we missed them on this pass. Weāve already built that timing into our plan for the next visit.
Ring-Tailed Lemurs, & Native Conservation
A brilliant new addition since our last visit is the indoor/outdoor enclosure for the Ring-Tailed Lemurs, developed as part of the Papilio ForestĀ project.
Beyond the lemurs, chimpanzees, brown bears, vultures, and tropical butterflies, the zoo has a fascinating focus on endangered species from Margay catsĀ to Przewalskiās Horses.
As woodland stewards ourselves, we always spend plenty of time at the Red Squirrel enclosure. We love their ongoing work with the Red Squirrel Breeding and Reintroduction Programme, breeding native red squirrels on-site to safely reinforce endangered wild populations across Wales (including Anglesey and the Clwydian Range).
Animal Encounters & Keeper Talks
If watching from behind the fence isn't enough, the zoo runs dedicated Animal Encounters where you can get hands-on experience feeding sea lions, penguins, primates, or even meerkats. They also run daily educational keeper talks, so you can learn about the conservation efforts happening right here on the hillside while watching the animals at feeding time.
Practical Info for Your Visit
If youāre taking a break with us at Emlynās Coppice, the Welsh Mountain Zoo makes an easy, highly recommended day trip:
Location & Distance:Ā Perched high above Colwyn Bay with breath-taking views over the Carneddau mountains and the Conwy Estuary, itās a scenic 25-minute drive (around 18 miles)Ā straight down the A55 from our valley in Gwespyr.
Food Options:Ā Grab a coffee at the Penguin CafĆ©Ā (overlooking the pool), sit down for lunch at the Safari Restaurant, or bring a picnic to enjoy on the grassy slopes.
Booking:Ā Tickets can be booked directly online via the official Welsh Mountain Zoo website, where you can also check daily talk schedules and opening times.
The Perfect Base to Return To
After a day spent navigating the zoo's hillside paths, there is nothing quite like retreating to your own quiet corner of the trees.
You can head back to site, pour a drink, and unwind:
Pour a glass of wine on the deck at Ayr, before stepping into your private wood-fired hot tub tucked into the foliage.
Stretch out in total peace at Offa, complete with luxury underfloor heating, a cosy log burner, and zero television noise.
Elevate your post-walk hydrotherapy at Orme, featuring its own exclusive Finnish wood-fired sauna alongside the hot tub.
Things are constantly changing and improving at the zoo, making it well worth a second or third visit. Just be warned: after seeing the tigers, coming back to site and having BellaĀ (our tuxedo cat and Head of Guest Relations) glaring at you from a deck chair feels like a severe drop in the big-cat hierarchy.
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