The Featherbed Nature Reserve occupies the Western Head — the western promontory that forms one half of The Heads — and is accessible only by ferry from the Knysna Quays. It is a private nature reserve and the only way in is via a guided tour that includes the ferry crossing, a 4x4 ride to the cliff top, a guided walk, and lunch.
The reserve protects fynbos vegetation on the cliffside and gives access to a lookout point directly above the channel between the two Heads — a more dramatic vantage point than you can get from the Eastern Head. The endangered Knysna seahorse is found in the lagoon just below, and blue duiker are commonly seen on the walk. The combination of the boat crossing, the cliff-top views, and the fynbos ecology makes this one of the better-value guided experiences on the Garden Route, though it is not cheap.