About the reserve

The Nature Discovery Centre stands between the quarry, source of the limestone which built Castletown, and the triple lime-kilns on the shore. Displaying maps, diagrams and data, the Centre introduces the complex geology and fossil remains of the Scarlett peninsula. A short film shows off the areas rich coastal flora and bird life. A marked Nature Trail explores these features on the ground, specifically the limestone pavements and volcanic rocks such as the Stack. This is an exhilarating walk at any season, especially when spring flowers including spring squill, thrift, bird’s foot trefoil and stonecrop, carpet the rocky outcrops and the turf. In addition to the many and varied seabirds of Castletown Bay, wheatears, stonechats and meadow pipits dart among the rocks in summer and the disused quarry lake attracts hawking swallows and martins.