The Isle of Man Travel Guide examines the local attractions, places of interest, entertainment and offers useful tourist information and advice for travellers. The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea off the coast of North West England. The island has been referred to as a hidden gem and boasts its own history, currency, government and language. There is plenty of history on show here with Neolithic monuments combining with modern day attractions too. The Isle of Man has always been fiercely independent; it has the unusual distinction of belonging neither to the UK or the European Union and has its own laws and parliament among other things.
Overview and Attractions
The Isle of Man is a very compact island approx 33 miles in length and 13 miles in width and has a landscape that includes wild moors, rugged glens, beaches and verdant hills squats. It is located half way between Liverpool in England and Belfast in Northern Ireland in the middle of the Irish Sea.
Touring the island is fairly easy given the compact size of the island, the island has become internationally famous for its Isle of Man TT motorcycle races, which have taken place each summer since 1907, the races attract motorbike enthusiasts from around the world to see the exciting and daring racing around the streets of the Island.
Douglas is the capital of the Isle of Man and lies on the east coast of the island. Douglas is an interesting mix of Victorian grandeur and contemporary development. It is the location for the seat of the Manx Parliament and is an important offshore commercial centre that has restaurants, pubs golf courses, family attractions, shops, casinos, amusements and a vibrant nightlife. There is stylish architecture on display at the Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre complex. From Douglas tourists can explore the whole eats coast, using steam and electric railways, boat trips, car and cycle hire and buses. Family attractions include the Superbowl, Noble’s Park and Jungle World.
Castletown was originally the capital of the Isle of Man. The increase in the tourist trade required a larger port and in 1869 the capital town passed on to Douglas. Rushen castle is a well-preserved example of a medieval castle and is open from Easter to October, it is best to check exact times prior to visiting. The village contains the site of the old Manx Parliament, the House of Keys. There are tours of the restored building available. Picturesque walks are available at the Silverburn Trail which follows a path from Castletown to Rushen Abbeyand.
Peel is on the west coast of the Isle of Man. It is stretches of sandy beach and a dominant castle. The town is believed to have a long history and remains have been found in St Patrick’s Isle from going back to Mesolithic times. The Castle at Peel was founded around 7th or 8th century by monks and later transformed by the Vikings. House of Manannan heritage centre has exhibits that include a Viking ship.
Port of Erin lies in the south-west of the Isle of Man. It is regarded as a good holiday destination for all the family and has sandy beaches and some dramatic countryside. The town itself is a nice place to use as a base when touring the best of the sights of the Isle of Man and is particularly nice to be in around the summer months.
The Old House of Keys located in Castletown, upon arrival everyone is greeted at the door by the secretary of the House of Keys and moved into a small area outside the Chamber. The House of Keys is opened and all the tourists and public take a seat. There is a list of items to be voted on before each member, but that is taken in turn. There is a speaker who leads the proceedings; there are good audio and video presentations throughout the debates. This provides an opportunity to see how democracy developed on the island sometimes ahead of their neighbours in the UK and the effect that political decisions have had and can continue to have on the Manx nation.
Castle Rushen is a well-preserved medieval castle that was created during the Norse period in the 12th century. The castle has an interesting history; it was once conquered by Robert the Bruce and later became the home of the Viking King Magnus, in addition to several kings. Visitors can tour the castle and see period displays with figures in costume and historic furnishings. The Castle is at Mann's historic capital, Castletown, and is among the best preserved medieval castles in Europe. The Castle was developed by successive rulers of Mann between the 13th and 16th centuries. Filled with history and character a visit there makes for an interesting one.
The Grove House is located close to Ramsey and was developed in the mid 19th century by Duncan Gibb. Mr Gibb was a shipping merchant from Liverpool and developed the house as a summer retreat for his family. It is a modest sized Victorian villa that has a series of period rooms containing mainly original furnishings and fittings, has a costume room, and other general displays which include the possessions of some three generations of the family. There is adjoining farmland and at the rear there are early vehicles and agricultural equipment these include a restored horse-powered threshing mill.
The Manx Museum is located in Douglas and boasts something for all ages inside the national museum. Visitors can see the Film Theatre to watch a short presentation about the history of the Isle of Man. Then visitors can see the National Art Gallery, where you can look around the exhibits and admire the art on show. The majority of the Manx Museum is interactive thus allowing visitors to sample visual, audio and exhibit items, which are of interest to them. There are exhibition rooms that have interactive material catered for children. There is a cafe for refreshments and Heritage shop close by. A visit here gives a good insight in to the history and culture of the Isle of Man.
Snaefell is the only mountain on the Isle of Man and there are two ways up the mountain one is by walking and the other is by going up to the summit (2036 ft) by the Snaefell Mountain Railway. This is single-track and runs for four miles from Laxey to the summit. The railway was built back in 1895 and at the steepest part of the track has an incline of 1 in 12 and caliper brakes grip a central rail to help control decent. There is one stop midway on the journey for those who wish to join the train half way. During the journey, visitors are treated to the great scenery of the area. Indeed on a clear day, Manx tradition stipulates you can see no less than six kingdoms from here, these being England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Mann and the Kingdom of God. There is a Summit Cafe that provides welcome refreshments.
The Manx Electric Railway was first opened back in 1893 and is a narrow-gauge tramway that runs from Douglas to Ramsey. All the trams running currently are still original they were built between 1893 and 1906. The route from Douglas to Ramsey has stops at places like Onchan, Groudle, Baldrine, Balla Beg, Fairy Cottage, South Cape, Ballaglass, Cornaa, Ballajora, and Ballure, there are many others and stops can be requested by passengers by notifying the conductor of any required stops. The full journey takes around 90 minutes to complete and offers visitors some truly stunning views of the countryside and sea along the way. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available from which to enjoy your trip.
The Isle of Man is a walkers paradise, there are many footpaths to offer visitors, these include the long distance Raad ny Foillan (Road of the Gull) coastal footpath and the Island-long Millennium Way, others include Bayr ny Skeddan (Herring Road) and the old Railway Lines. In addition there are shorter paths that run through towns, villages and the countryside. Walkers can book the walks they wish to participate in. There are walks and social events during the Isle of Man Walking festival can be booked too, the festival is in the summer and exact dates should be checked to confirm the details. There are ghost walks at night around Peel, which has a great castle on the rocks by the sea.
Theatre fans can try the Villa Marina and Gaiety Complex that presents a year round programme of theatre, entertainment, film, arts and music. At the Villa Marina there are major shows in the Royal Hall during the Summer Season. Summer Cabaret is in the Promenade Suite from the end of July to the end of August. There is also family entertainment and there are several shows daily. Children can be kept amused in the indoor Children's Adventure Play Area. Located in beautiful Gardens visitors can relax and bask in the sunshine in summer. At the Gaiety Theatre there are summer shows in July & August.
Those looking for a quality dining experience on the island may wish to try Ciappellis Restaurant. Located in Douglas, the restaurant has an A la Carte menu that includes an exclusive choice of dishes, drawing inspiration from many international styles and cuisines. It has built up a fine reputation as one of the premier dining establishments on the island. There is a luxurious decor with award winning international cuisine and great service. Being a popular place, diners are advised to book a table in order to avoid disappointment.
The Liverpool Arms is a pub located in the countryside between Douglas and Laxey. It is a former coaching house and is the embodiment of a country pub. There is a friendly atmosphere at the bar where visitors can relax and enjoy a drink. There are bench seats surrounding a small pond and, in the summer months, there are flower pots and hanging baskets that add to the pleasant surroundings. The Liverpool Arms is well known on the island and aims to provide a great place for visitors to stop off enjoy drinks including real ales and have a bite to eat.
The Isle of Man is not always in tourists thoughts when thinking about a place to visit, the island has its own character, culture and attractions making it an interesting place to visit for the discerning visitor. If you like something a bit different, somewhere the crowds can be avoided and somewhere new to tour then the island is worth considering. The island has good transport links around the island and the train and tram can be used to get around the island. Getting to the island is easy too, there are regular flights from UK regional airports and there is a SeaCat and Ferry crossing are available from Liverpool. The island makes for a great place to visit for a weekend or short break.
Disclaimer: The information given in on this website is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If there are any discrepancies in no way do we intend to mislead. Important travel details and arrangements should be confirmed and verified with the relevant authorities.
