Last time we covered Castle Rushen, Peel Castle, the Laxey Wheel and Tynwald Hill, four landmarks that between them give you a good feel for the island’s history. This time we’re heading out to the coast and up into the hills, taking in the spots that show off the island’s wilder side, along with a couple that most first-time visitors don’t hear about until someone local points them out.
The Sound and the Calf of Man
Right at the southern tip of the island is the Sound, a dramatic bit of coastline looking out across the water to the Calf of Man, a small uninhabited island now run as a bird observatory and nature reserve. Grey seals gather on the rocks below the visitor centre in decent numbers, especially through the autumn, and it’s about as reliable a spot as you’ll find on the island to see them without booking a boat.
The Sound Visitor Centre has a good cafe and views that stretch right out across the water, so it’s worth the stop even if you’ve only got an hour to spare. Boat trips out round the Calf run through the summer if you want a closer look at the seabird colonies.
Snaefell
Snaefell is the island’s only mountain, at 2,036 feet, and on a clear day the old claim is that you can see six kingdoms from the top: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Man, and Heaven. Whether you manage all six or not, the view across the island and out to sea is genuinely one of the best you’ll get anywhere on Man.
The easiest way up is the Snaefell Mountain Railway, an electric tramway that’s been running since 1895, so you can reach the summit without the climb. There are marked footpaths too if you’d rather walk it. Either way it’s worth doing.
Groudle Glen and the Camera Obscura
Groudle Glen sits just north of Douglas, a wooded valley running down to a small rocky bay, and it’s home to the narrow gauge Groudle Glen Railway. The little steam and electric trains run along a cliff edge route out to the old sea lion enclosure at Sea Lion Rocks, and the whole place has that well-loved, slightly nostalgic feel to it. There are seasonal events too, including summer concerts and Hop tu Naa specials around Halloween.
Up at Douglas Head, the Great Union Camera Obscura is a rare surviving Victorian attraction that projects live moving images of the coastline onto a viewing table using nothing but mirrors and lenses, no electronics at all. It’s a small thing, but it’s been running since the 1890s and there are only a handful left in the world.
Cregneash Village
Up in the southern hills, Cregneash is a preserved traditional Manx crofting village, thatched cottages, Loaghtan sheep grazing the fields, and craft demonstrations running through the summer. It gives you a proper sense of what rural life on the island looked like a century or more ago, and the walking routes around it take in some of the best coastal views in the south.
Manx Museum, Douglas
Back in Douglas, the Manx Museum ties a lot of this together. It covers the island’s history from its Viking and Celtic roots through to its more recent story as a holiday destination and finance centre, and it’s free to get in. Good option for a rainy day, and also a sensible one to visit early in your trip if you want a bit of context before heading out to see everything else on this list.
Planning Your Route
Between the landmarks in this post and the ones from part one, you’ve got a fairly full itinerary that covers the whole island, from the top of the mountain down to the southern coast. Basing yourself somewhere central keeps the driving simple, wherever you’re headed that day.
Take a look at our Isle of Man accommodation to find the right base. OPUL Express at Inglewood is a solid, no fuss option, while OPUL House at St Helliers and OPUL Boutique at Admiral House offer a bit more character if that’s what you’re after.
Between the castles, the coast, and the hills, there’s a lot more packed into this island than most people expect on a first visit. Get in touch and we’ll help you find the right stay for it.
