Thorness Bay

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Thorness Bay
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Thorness Bay.jpg
Thorness Bay looking southwest
Isle of Wight UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Isle of Wight
Location Isle of Wight
Grid reference SZ455935
Coordinates 50°44′30″N1°21′21″W / 50.7416°N 1.3557°W / 50.7416; -1.3557
InterestBiological and Geological
Area213 acres (86.2 ha)
Notification 1966
The beach at Thorness Bay Thorness Bay, IW, UK.jpg
The beach at Thorness Bay

Thorness Bay is an 213-acre (86.2-hectare) Site of special scientific interest [1] [2] which is located on the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight, England, in the western arm of the Solent. The site was notified in 1966 for both its biological and geological features. The bay stretches about 2 miles (3.2 km) from Salt Mead Ledge in the west to Gurnard Head Nr. Gurnard Bay to the east.

Contents

The boundaries of Thorness Bay SSSI are contiguous with Newton Harbour SSSI and so this protected area is part of a wider area of nature protection.

The sea bed is a mixture of mud, sand and shingle with rocky outcrops of Bembridge Limestone. The soft cliffs of the bay contain the Bembridge Insect Bed, where fossilized plants and insects have been discovered. Over 200 insect species have been recorded in this area. [3] [4]

A small unnamed brook enters the sea in the middle of the bay after passing through a marsh.

Little Thorness Farm, a beef farm near the bay has 18 acres (7.3 ha) of protected marshland under stewardship and is a SSSI because it is home to wildlife not found in other areas.

Holiday Park

Thorness Bay also has a holiday park run by Parkdean Resorts. It has a direct footpath leading straight to the beach. [5]

Land ownership

Institutional landowners that own land within Thorness Bay SSSI include the Crown Estate, the National Trust and the Ministry of Defence.

References

  1. "SSSI detail". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  2. "Protected Planet | Thorness Bay". Protected Planet. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  3. "Site Name: Thorness Bay SSSI" (PDF). www.english-nature.org.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016.
  4. "Thorness Bay". UK Fossils Network. 29 July 2010.
  5. "Thorness Bay Holiday Park". Parkdean Resorts.