Glen Auldyn

MWT’s newest and largest nature reserve!

MWT have purchased this expansive site thanks to a generous donation from Aviva, marking our charity’s transition from nature conservation towards both nature conservation and nature’s recovery.

In partnership with other charities, we will protect and enhance existing habitats of international importance at Glen Auldyn, whilst re-creating lost temperate rainforest within the bracken-clad valley itself.

Location

Glen Auldyn Road

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OS Map Reference

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View on What3Words

A static map of Glen Auldyn

Know before you go

Size
455 hectares
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Parking information

The reserve has no car parking – please do not park in the Glen Auldyn valley. The nearest public car park is at Milntown Estate (SC438942).
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Grazing animals

Please be advised that upland sheep graze the whole site and that the site is used for lambing.
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Access

Accessible year-round via existing greenlanes and public rights of way.

Please note that all Manx greenlanes have a maximum speed limit of 20mph (32 kmph) and are only accessible to small, lightweight vehicles under 500kg.

The unsurfaced Glen Auldyn Back Road (U14) is a dead-end greenlane that runs from the Glen Auldyn hamlet for 2km up towards the Black Dub. Vehicles have no off-roading access at the Black Dub itself. Please note that this road is closed, by Order of the Department of Infrastructure, to all traffic during TT and does not connect to any other footpath of greenlane.

The unsurfaced Millennium Way crosses the site along the Sky Hill Road greenlane (D10) which runs from the foot of Skyhill to the Mountain Box.

The unsurfaced Rollick Road (U77) comes up from the Ginger Hall, meeting the Millennium Way at Park ne Earkan.

The unsurfaced Narradale Road (D11) also comes up from the Ginger Hall to meet the Millennium Way near Slieau Managh.

Public Right of Way 59 joins the Narradale Road from Ballamanaugh and Ohio Plantation. No vehicles or horses are permitted on this footpath.

Once we have undertaken safety audits and ecological survey work, we hope to open up the whole reserve to public ramblage (regrettably without dogs, which are free to use all greenlanes and public rights of way).

For more information on green lanes, please see:

https://www.gov.im/categories/travel-traffic-and-motoring/greenlanes-unsurfaced-carriageways/

 

Dogs

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Welcome along footpaths and greenlanes only. All dogs must be on a short lead (no more than 3m in length) throughout the year owing to the presence of red-listed ground nesting and over-wintering birds and upland sheep and lambs.

When to visit

Opening times

24/7

Best time to visit

Dawn during spring for the dawn chorus, or after prolonged rain to enjoy the many waterfalls

About the reserve

An extensive and beautiful area of upland moorland and bracken-clad valley at the headwaters of the Glen Auldyn River. In time, this landscape will become the Island’s largest native temperate rainforest, which would have been the dominant landcover for the Manx uplands for thousands of years before Neolithic farming gradually cleared our native forests to make way for open fields.

Management: 

During 2025, 2026 and 2027 sheep grazing will continue at Glen Auldyn as in the past, whilst we undertake detailed ecological survey work and gain planning permission to undertake tree planting, from 2027 on areas of bracken and similar low-quality habitat.

Once the new trees are established, we will reintroduce grazing across the reserve to create and maintain a rich mosaic of wildlife-rich habitats, including woodland pasture.

Contact us

David Bellamy
Contact number: 01624844432
Contact email: enquiries@mwt.im

Environmental designation

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

2025 Biosphere Photographers in Residence, Adam Morgan and Ciara Kaneen, visited MWT Glen Auldyn Nature Reserve early in 2025 and produced this beautiful film. Thank you to Visit Isle of Man who fund the Photographers in Residence role.

MWT Glen Auldyn Nature Reserve - 17 minutes of aerial drone footage filmed in 2024 by IOM Drones and Photography