A tour of the Isle of Man
The Isle of Man is more than just motorbike racing and cats with no tails. There is a wealth of history and archaeology, from the Stone Age through the Viking, Scots and English occupations to the Industrial Revolution and its Victorian Tourist heyday There is even a theory that King Arthur held his Court of Camelot here
The countryside is widely varied with rolling farmland, marshy wetlands, woodlands, heather clad moors, and mountains sweeping down to rocky coves and sandy beaches. There are numerous golf courses, excellent river, reservoir and sea fishing, and wonderful walks (400 miles of footpaths including those through the seventeen National Glens). The beautifully restored Victorian Gaiety Theatre provides a variety of entertainment as does the newly refurbished Villa Marina complex. There, are several swimming pools and facilities for other sports such as tennis and croquet.
Wild life is varied, particularly bird life including such rarities as choughs and hen harriers and, a wide range of sea birds, ducks, gulls, terns, guillemots, fulmars, shearwaters, and many more. Seals abound and the huge basking shark is a summer visitor. The wild flowers are prolific, encouraged by late cutting of verges, and include several varieties of orchids, Manx gorse, fuchsias and many others.
Public transport is excellent, with frequent bus services all over the Island, and a range of railways, steam to the South, electric tram to the North, and a mountain railway to the top of Snaefell, at over 2,000 feet the highest point on the Island. Rover tickets are available for all of these. Horse trams still run the length of the Promenade during the summer.
Use the links alongside to take a tour of the Island, or click on the map below.
Isle of Man
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