Glion Darragh

Lying in a remote valley with reminders of a historic past, Glion Darragh is predominantly a monoculture conifer plantation, but with exciting hints of its former vegetation shown through the presence of remnant oak-hazel woodland with associated woodland flora of interest, including Hairy Woodrush (Luzula pilosa). MWT will be restoring this species-poor conifer plantation back to temperate rainforest, the original vegetation cover of our Island, turning a degraded habitat into a haven for wildlife and people alike.

Location

Glion Darragh
West Baldwin Road
IM4 5HA

Marown & Braddan

IM4 5HA

OS Map Reference

SC34958133

View on What3Words

kneel.wreck.sailors

Know before you go

Size

70 hectares

Parking information

Street parking at West Baldwin, near village (SC353811) near to the village recycling bins.

Grazing animals

Yes

Walking trails

A network of access tracks exists throughout the reserve. Please note there is no access to the uplands from the reserve.

Access

Only from footpaths PRoW 152 (Millennium Way) and U196 Ballagrawe Lane. Paths are steep and uneven in places.

Dogs

On a lead

Please keep dogs on a lead (owing to livestock and ground-dwelling birds like Woodcock). Please clean up after your dog.

When to visit

Opening times

The nature reserve is open 24/7 – except during Yellow, Amber or Red Weather Warnings for wind when the reserve is strictly closed for safety reasons.

Best time to visit

Dawn in spring for the dawn chorus and Autumn for the woodland fungi.

About the reserve

Glion Darragh means ‘Glen of the Oaks’ in Manx. Covering an entire valley at the headwaters of the River Glass it is our largest reserve and our first ‘whole landscape’ reserve. The reserve was acquired by a kind gift in 2024, and over the coming decades will be transformed into a temperate rainforest.

Species

Habitat

Management

We are currently drawing up a long-term management plan to convert this monoculture plantation into a temperate rainforest via a variety of management methods and planting. Watch this space!