geo.wikisort.org - Sea

Thorness Bay is an 86.2-hectare (213-acre) Site of special scientific interest 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 3 km from Salt Mead Ledge in the west to Gurnard Head Nr. Gurnard Bay to the east.

Thorness Bay

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location	Isle of Wight
Grid reference	SZ455935
Interest	Biological and Geological
Area	86.2 hectare
Notification	1966
Location map	Natural England

The sea bed is a mixture of mud and sand.

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 (73,000 m²) 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.

References

• Natural England citation sheet

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