Cronk y Bing ASSI

One of MWT's nature reserves which is an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI)! Cronk y Bing ASSI is part of the widest strip of yellow dune on the Island forming part of the western-most extremity of the Ayres.

Cronk y Bing is excellent for birdwatching, including sea-watching and migration-watching (year round). It is home to beach-nesting birds including Schedule 1 specially protected Ringed Plover and red-listed Oystercatcher. As the site is important for breeding birds, over-wintering birds and birds resting and feeding on migration, no dogs are allowed on the site year-round. It is also home to one of the largest high tide bird roosts on the Island, used by hundreds of waders, gulls and other seabirds (at almost all stages of the tide). To date MWT staff and our volunteers have recorded over 120 different species of bird on this internationally important site, including 36 of the Island's 48 red-listed species of conservation concern.

Location

Off the A10 Coast Road, turn off at Lhen Bridge

What 3 Words ///Whoops.Foot.Commute

Andreas

Know before you go

Size

7 hectares

Parking information

A small parking area with a rough, rutted surface is adjacent to the reserve. This is not owned by MWT.

Walking trails

The Raad Ny Foillan (coastal footpath) is a permissive path that runs along the shore section of the reserve. No dogs are allowed on MWT land and foreshore at this section and please note that there is no bridge across the Lhen river, which must be waded (and may be chest-high depending on the tide and river flow). There is a more sensible inland detour along the Coast Road.

Access

Please note that vehicles and dogs are not permitted on the beach or dunes at Cronk y Bing.

Terrain can be difficult around the reserve and is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchair users.

Fishing:

Please note that fishing or bait digging is not permitted on any MWT nature reserve, which at Cronk y Bing includes a large part of the foreshore down to the high-tide mark. As Cronk y Bing (including the beach down to the lowest astronomical tide) is an Area of Special Scientific Interest, no fishing is legally permitted on the beach under Section 27(3b) of the Wildlife Act 1990 unless you have applied to the landowner of the foreshore and this landowner has submitted a Notification Form to DEFA and thereafter received consent (see also Section 27(5b) of the Wildlife Act), this is because DEFA have determined that fishing is "an operation likely to damage the special features of the site". If you would like to fish below the high-tide mark, please contact the DOI.

Dogs

No dogs permitted

No dogs permitted throughout the year.

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

June to September (flora), year round (birdlife)

About the reserve

Cronk y Bing forms part of a much larger sand dune system extending to the Point of Ayre and is an ASSI. Marram grass (known locally as 'bent') dominates with a range of other plants including pyramidal orchid, sea bindweed, restharrow, common stork's-bill, harebell, sheep's-bit, wild carrot and burnet rose. The adjacent shoreline is a favoured breeding ground for oystercatcher and ringed plover. During the autumn and winter divers, sea ducks and a wide variety of gulls and waders are often seen, including the Island's largest roost for Common Gull. Off the coast, the waters are part of the West Coast Marine Nature Reserve were seals and diving gannets may also be seen.

Management: Other than managing recreational access to protect birds, limited management is required on this site.